Hunter vs. Jumper

[Nikita88]

I have a couple questions....i havent really decided if i want to do hunter/jumper yet , i could do both but i have been told to stick with mainly one....any suggestions on which one i should mostly go with will be great :)

I am considerd in the novice part of jumping, so its kinda weird im asking this question, but i guess novice riders ask simple questions too! lol but since i've only been in jumper shows, i dont exactly know how hunter shows go. Like i know Jumper shows are more tight turns and stuff in the course, and hunter is pretty much strait on. But is there a difference in the judging? like for example, is hunter based on the horse and jumper based on the position of the rider? how exactly does that go? it would be cool to know, i have my first hunter show this saturday (24th)

i always get really nervous and forget alot of things when i go out in the arena...i usually always forget my curtousy circles!!! simple things like that, once i get over the first jump im much more relaxed, but is there other people who are like that also? im i the only one who gets that nervous? if so...how do you deal with it?

When we are doing a jump at a diagnal, we do them at a canter...i try to get my horse to switch leads (she does to flying lead changes, shes done them b4) i can never seem to get her to do them during a show (maybe shes just as nervous? lol) any suggestions with that??

Thanks a bunch!!!!

[Evol_or_revert]

Hey.

I attempt both hehe :D.

From my view...

Hunter is more about pace and an even rythem(sp) It is judged on how the horse approaches the jump, goes over the jump and lands the jump. You need a calm horse that is happy to stay at the same speed for a whole course. The course is made of natural looking jumps, they are spaced perfectly, with very clean lines and wide turns(sp). The marks appear as a % and you get to see the judges comments after your round. It is a tough sport as everything needs to be perfect for a winning round. But it does create a nice calm safe horse that is gerenally good out on the real hunt feild.

Jumpers is about a clean fast round. It is judged on faults such as time faults or knocking a rail down or a stop. The horse needs to have good brakes and speed and be respones to sit back on his hindquarters when power is needed for a clean jump. The course is made of colourful jumps and scary fills, with very tight turns. You need to be a keen rider as there is no looking back once ** in the ring it is all go.

Now days im a bit nervous going in to the ring, but once im over that first jump i forget everything but the course. Your only just starting it all so dont worry to much about forgetting little details. My worst one so far was missing 2 jumps in a jump off, i didn't relise at all till i got out of the ring hehe oh well ill never do that again :D To get rid of the nervousness just keep riding and jumping and everything, the more you do it the less nervous you will be.

I would say dont worry about the flying changes yet, it's not important. Go out there and have fun!

Good luck for your hunter show. I was ment to be riding hunter on the 25th but im not allowed at the moment :(

[kedwards]

E-o-R summed up the Hunters vs. Jumpers well. However, in the states, we don't get scores in Hunters, unless it is a "hunter classic" division. I might add that huntseat equitation may be a good alternative for you if you aren't sure. In eq, it is the rider that is being judged, rather than the horse. In the higher level of eqs, the courses are trickier and the "tests" are more challenging.

The other option, of course, is eventing. With dressage, x-country, and show-jumping phases, it can certainly provide a solid riding foundation.

I don't know about in your region, but where I am, there really isn't much action at the beginner level for jumpers. There are very few clear round classes. There are some "schooling jumper" type classes under 3', but these are still generally timed events with jump-offs. The downside, is that these sort of classes encourage people to ride too fast, which can be detrimental when the courses get trickier and the fences go up.

Edited to add: Lead changes are very important in hunters and equitation. If your changes aren't consistent, the best bet is to practice getting your horse to land on the correct lead after the jump. However, in certain "schooling hunter" classes, the rules will explicitly state that trotting between jumps is acceptable, so in the case of a class like that, you can do a simple change without being penalized.

[Nikita88]

Thanx a bunch to both of you :) it helped...i have thought about doing eventing, its a great idea...my horse i have now is a 10 year old mare, and she was a x-country horse before we got her, so i think we would do fine in x-country. I did notice that the jumps in jumper were very colorfull and they had flower pots there and just alot of things that could scare a horse, like we had to jump over a fence, bricks, etc. i have NEVER done any jumps like that so when i got to my last show (2 days ago) i was sooo nervous cuz i didnt know how she would handle it and we didnt have time to warm up on them except they let me go over the fence, and the bricks 2 times...i almost fell off going over the brick one! but i cought my self, and it was just a practice so it didnt count lol, hopefully this show will go alot better on saturday....ill keep it updated.

Evol_or_revert.....why cant you ride on the 25th?

[Evol_or_revert]

Opps sorry :s we get marks in hunters over here (we call it show hunter and jumpers showjumping :D)

In New Zealand I think we are very lucky we have alot of shows on very close. As a beginner rider, you could have some type of show every weeked for six months non stop, and never travel more then an hour and a half away from where u live :D.

Im going to agree with Kedward and say eventing is also a great sport ;)

The Doctors are trying to work out why im sick, so im on very limited exercise at the moment :(.

[jUmPingIsLifE]

everyone has summed up the hunter/jumpers

but remember there is also Equitation over fences. I do equitation and that is based on the riders position and ability to get the right spots. The cources are more complex then hunter cource, harder turns. but its not like the jumpers with roll backs and its not about speed. more grace and ease.