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 Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 6:13 pm
I'm relatively new to showing Hunters and I really don't know what I'm looking for. Can someone please help me?
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Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 1:36 pm
Flat classes / hunter under saddle or jumping classes...?
In flat classes, you generally just want a nice calm horse that looks easy and fun to ride with a long, flowing stride and good form (proper headset and self-carriage required).
In the jumping classes, basically the same thing is looked for only you throw jumps into the equation. The horse AND rider are judged on their form over the jumps as well as how calmly and easily the horse clears the course. Time is not an issue. smile The classes are judged according to who had the best ride.
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Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 2:02 pm
I ride over jumps, but just low ones still. What I'm asking about is that I don't really know what the proper heatset and self-carriage are. Could you show me some pictures or something so I can understand?
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Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:21 pm
I was told if you go to the Discovery or Animal Planet website you can buy the season DVD of Horse Power. If you havent seen it, it is a reality show about a group of young riders working through their season towards the Maclay Finals (a HUGE equitation final). It is totally unrealistic compared to the average hunter competitor because most people cant go to that level. But it is excellent to show examples of great hunter horses and riders. Beyond that....
Your Horse - the head set should be natural, the poll a few inches above the withers and the face a few degrees in front of the vertical (if you don't understand these terms just ask). The horse should round his neck to engage his back making it possible to really bring his back legs up under him for a round, soft gait. All of the gaits should be "working" nothing too collected or extended. The horse should be pleasant looking with his ears always pricked forward and his tail quiet. His gait should stay even the whole way around the course, not speeding up to his fences. He should be flawlessly groomed and be in good weight.
You - You are a very important component. Your position is VERY closely scrutenized. You should sit tall with your spine NOT falling down into your pelvis, your back flat and your shoulders hanging relaxing to the back. Your leg should have a good angle at the knee and your lower legs is probably the most looked at part. Your reins should be collected with a quiet following hand and your eyes should ALWAYS be up looking for your next fence.
I think Hunters are one of the best disciplines because it shows you how much your position influences your horse and it pushes you to be the best rider you can be. I hope this has helped
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Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 8:17 am
are u doing QH hunters, or regular hunters? and are u showing in strickly "HUNTER/JUMPER SHOWS" or are they open shows with just hunter in them? that effects the intensity of it.
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Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 5:24 am
Brat_and_a_half are u doing QH hunters, or regular hunters? and are u showing in strickly "HUNTER/JUMPER SHOWS" or are they open shows with just hunter in them? that effects the intensity of it. Not QH, just regular. I ~think~ it's just Hunter/Jumper shows. I've just been doing equitation at schooling shows at my barn, since I don't have my own horse.
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Posted: Mon May 28, 2007 8:14 pm
-Don't cut your corners; use ALL of the ring.
-Don't cross-canter/canter on wrong lead.
-Canter through the course. If you have to, trot to the first fence, then canter the rest.
-Make sure you get the correct number of strides in a line.
-Don't circle!! Circles are counted as refusels.
-Don't forget your two-point!! don't just sit flat in the saddle over a jump, but don't "duck" onto the horses neck. Also, release over the jump. Give your horse his head several strides away from the jump.
-Try your best not to leave long, or ad a chip-step. Count, "1,2,1,2,1,2" ect for each canter step toward the jump. it helps me find the right distance all the time. If you end on a "1" before you take off over the jump, you should get "1" on your other jumps if you keep the pace steady (at least thats how it works for me).
-As soon as you land from one jump, look to the next.
Thats all i can think of right now. it is a lot though sweatdrop
i've been riding/showing hunter for 5 years now, so i think my advice is trust-worthy wink
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 9:25 am
Thank you for the tips!^^
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