The Difference Between Hunters and Jumpers: Part I

If I've heard it once, I've heard it a thousand times: People mistakenly clump the two types of show horses together and believe that hunters and jumpers are one in the same. I'm sure there are many horses out there that can do both types of jumping, but that is my point: they are two totally different types of riding and are judged based on completely different criteria. Today we'll talk about show hunters. Tomorrow a description of the differences and what makes a good show jumper.

Show hunters are meant to simulate the vintage style of fox hunting, the "gentle person's" sport of the past when ladies rode sidesaddle in long flowing skirts, and men sipped brandy from miniature flasks that tucked neatly into their hunt coat pockets. There is a "politeness" that a judge will look for in a good show hunter, which includes the rider guiding the horse around a courtesy circle before beginning the course of obstacles, all of which should have a natural look to them.

In the ring, a show hunter should canter along at a pleasant pace ~ never rushing, but not sluggish, either ~ and should jump out of it's canter stride effortlessly. They are judged on a combination of things, which include "manners and way of going."

Manners means just that: the horse doesn't chomp at the bit, but rather accepts the riders aids and does as requested. They do not flick their tail, kick out in annoyance, or trot when asked to canter. They are interested in what they are doing, and show this by a keen expression with their ears forward, knees tucked neatly under their chest, and their eyes looking ahead to the next fence.

"Way of going" refers to the length of stride and the ease with which they go over the fences. They should have a touch of the pleasure horse in them, but with a little more spirit and athleticism required. There are five points of jumping an obstacle: Approach, take off, flight, landing, and getaway. The show hunter should leave the ground the same distance from the jump as he or she lands on the other side, and the highest point of the arc should be at the center of the jump. The horse should lift it's forelegs and tuck them squarely under his/her chest, and the topline should have a nice arc from the poll (the knobby spot between the ears on top of the head) to the tail, giving a gentle curved look, like the outline of a football (not sunken, flat or hollow).

A show hunter should never "suck back" when approaching a fence, but should move toward it at a steady, even pace. Neither should they wiggle from side to side, or rush after the landing. A polished show hunter will also switch leads without being asked at the proper place, but this is more often than not something an experienced rider will have to "suggest" at the appropriate time.

Tomorrow we'll delve into what makes a show jumper good, and the differences between the two.