Hunters

[Roheryn]

Hi--This question is mainly for UK riders but also for everyone else. Replies welcomed! I'm doing research for a horse story in progress--I'm also a curious horsewoman.

I've read on this board that "hunter/jumper" is an American discipline. My question is, is there an equivalent discipline in Britain? Here where I live people who enter hunter/jumper horse shows do classes both on the flat and over fences. In some classes the horse is judged, in equitation the rider is judged. No doubt some of the people and horses actually do hunt, but it seems the shows are more for "hunter-type" horses than for horses who are actually ridden to hounds. People who ride hunter/jumper don't do dressage or eventing; people who do dressage and/or eventing don't ride hunter/jumper. Tack is different, dress is different, riding is different, jump courses are different.

I'm curious to know if in the UK (and elsewhere) there is such a difference between riding hunters and riding dressage. Do hunter people also do show jumping, or is show jumping done mostly by eventers? Could the same horse-and-rider pair conceivably enter hunter classes and also do dressage?

Could there be a hypothetical yard or barn where both hunters and dressage horses are boarded and the riders aren't critical of each other's disciplines, either making playful fun of each other or more severely criticizing?

Just asking. I'm not taking sides.

[bellazebra]

I think the closest thing to a hunter/jumper class in the UK would be a Working Hunter. Basically the horse jumps a course of rustic fences (the type you would find out hunting) and then comes back in to perform an individual show. This is for horse's who aren't "pretty" but rather "workmanlike" and capable of hunting all day in good style and manner.

I show my two cobs. I also compete in dressage, show jumping, have evented, and hope to compete in driving soon. Most people who hunt seriously also event, lots of people who do dressage showjump, and lots of people who show jump and event also compete in working hunter! Tack, course, layout, and what the judge is looking for obviously vary for each and every discipline.

Of course there are people who do one discipline and stick to it. However, most livery yards are a real mixture of people and horses who compete in all disciplines (for example, at my yard there is me, and I show, there is a guy who competes at top level in RDA dressage, and then there is someone who has her horses mainly for pleasure). The only yards where one discipline is focused on are professional competition yards.

I don't think there is a lot of snobbery between disciplines in this country. One discipline respects another, and although people may have their own opinions about what their stable mates do with their horses, they wouldn't necessarily comment or look down on them because of it.

[Black Beastie]

I agree on the working hunter thing the Bella says!!!

Are you writing the book???

Nikki xxxxx

[Roheryn]

Right now I'm writing a story; if it goes to book length that'll be great. Whenever I can't find a good horse story to read I start writing.

Thanks for posting replies

What is an individual show? Is it putting the horse through his paces to show what he's good at and what the rider's good at? Do you get to pick what you do, or is it written like a dressage test?

[Laura+Phantom]

Originally Posted by Roheryn

What is an individual show? Is it putting the horse through his paces to show what he's good at and what the rider's good at? Do you get to pick what you do, or is it written like a dressage test?

Yes it's exactly that - showing the horse's pace's and obedience, and the rider will perform their own show that they've made up, which consists of walk, trot and canter on both reins. In working hunter classes horses are expected to show gallop too, and the judge will ride the horse on the flat, to see what kind of ride the horse gives, and if he is well mannered, yet forward going.

[Roheryn]

Thanks, Laura+Phantom.

An individual show seems to me to be a really good idea. Sort of like a happy middleground where dressage and hunter-jumper disciplines could meet, if it were done at shows here; I mean, one hunter in the arena at a time showing what he could do. I like the idea of the judge trying the horse. I used to read about horse show classes where the riders had to switch horses as part of what they were being judged on, but I don't recall ever actually seeing that done at any show I've ever been to.

Here the hunter classes on the flat are group classes with everyone doing walk or trot or canter all at the same time around the arena. All I've ever seen each horse and rider pair do individually is back up when asked, once the judge has called all the riders into the middle of the arena.

[bellazebra]

Sometimes you see people go back in if they haven't got a clear round - especially if the judge really likes the horse and the fault was down to a silly mistake!

[Herbie's mummy]

Yup
Some judges are really nice as well, depends on the judge,show and how many are in the class