[StockHorseGirl]

Sorry, this is a stupid question...

I always see people talking about hunter horses, and I've always though I had a general idea what it was. But what exactly is a hunter?

[NotFadeAway]

A hunter originates from forxhunting. Supposivley what a horse should be to be a good foxhuting horse. Basically, a hunter is a big attractive animal, who moves well, jumps good, is consistant, good mannered, calm and responsive to the riders aids. They can make the strides don the line and consitantly get good distances.
Hunters ushually jumps a fairly straight forward course, and they are judged on all those things. The best horse wins....Mostly. Lol.
Not any horse can be a hunter. This is a common misconception. Some people dont seem to understand that if your horse doesent meet the criteria, then he most likley wont win in a hunter class.The hunter is a fairly specific genre of horse.

[royalrox]

ok hunters are supposed to be the perfect field hunter although we'e strayed pretty far from that but they should:
-be good movers with a large flowing stride and not a lot of knee action
-they should jump carefully with tight legs(for saefty in the "field") and with a large bascule meaning very rounded, usung their necks well
-their canter stride should cover lots of ground but (in a line one stride has to cover 12 feet)
-their manner should be relaxed and calm, and htey should look like they enjoy their job
-in a hack they should also be ridden "long and low"

[buck1173]

sort of OT but I always wondered why saddles had 3 billets, while girths only use two, I was told it originated from hunting, a backup in case one broke.

[BriLeigh]

Yes I was told that when people would be out riding or running or whatever they would have one break so they needed the extra one.

[Showrider]

And they now have Show Hunters, which is performed at hack shows where the horses have to be built bigger, riders dressed in tweed jacket with olive jodphurs and a plain browband. Its basically the same as a hack class, except there's a hand gallop included. Show hunters just means its in a ring as a class and you do not have to prove you can jump.

Just in case you're wondering LOL

[StockHorseGirl]

Thanks guys. Can someone show me an example of a horse with lots of knee action and a horse with little knee action? I'm not sure I know what that means.

Is the stride length actually measured in a show class?

[royalrox]

Just on the topic has anyone heard anything about this new hunter division for rated shows...I forget what they're calling it but it's supposed to relate more back to field hunters with the jumps etc and the fences will be going from 3'6"-4' and there is PRIZE MONEY yay lol hunters rarely pays off financially lol

[Erika]

Originally Posted by royalrox

Just on the topic has anyone heard anything about this new hunter division for rated shows...I forget what they're calling it but it's supposed to relate more back to field hunters with the jumps etc and the fences will be going from 3'6"-4' and there is PRIZE MONEY yay lol hunters rarely pays off financially lol

I heard about that too, I think I read it in Practical Horseman! It sounds like an awesome division!

[royalrox]

Originally Posted by Erika

I heard about that too, I think I read it in Practical Horseman! It sounds like an awesome division!

yea I saw it in some magazine lol, it sounds like a nice change