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Differences between hunters and jumpers?

9K views 63 replies 15 participants last post by  finn113 
#1 ·
I understand the basic concept of each, but how do you determine whether your style of riding is more of a hunter or jumper? And how do you know if your horse is more hunter or jumper?
Put as much detail as possible thanx!!
 
#2 ·
Ooh, I had a lecture on this last month :p

Hunters:
Conservative
Lower, natural looking jumps
Based on Judges opinion (and a scale)
Red coats are only for Master of Hounds (manager of show I think? Lol)
Plain horses
Slower horses with good form (both horse and rider)
Originated from English Foxhunting

Jumpers:
Not quite as conservative
Flashy horses
Timed only, judge doesn't matter
Red Coats only for international teams
Higher, unnatural jumps (such as bright and flowery/3D)
Fast, big strided horses
Originated from Steeplechase

And..of I can find my binder I can write the whole list down, these are the main points I remember.
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#3 ·
Is there a discipline that combines hunters and jumpers? Because I like the hunter way of riding and the more slow strided horses but the bigger jumps of jumpers.
And how do you know which discipline best suits your horse?
 
#4 ·
I believe the higher level hunters have bigger jumps, but nothing like the 6ft puissance or the such.
I show western, so I'm not positive..but I'd imagine if the horse can gallop to a high jump and clear it without hesitation (flashy, remember) that they could probably do jumpers. If the horse just can't jump with good form over high jumps or likes to refuse that they'd be better suited to hunters.
But, colour has a lot to do with placing..the best pinto hunter in a class will probably place under (or not at all) half decent, plain horses with little White (say a sorrel or bay with only a little White). As opposed to Jumpers where it doesn't matter how you (or your horse) looks. You could probably hang off the side of your horse the whole jumper round and will still win if you have the lowest time without penalties.
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#6 ·
Just because you are doing hunters doesn't mean the the jumps are going to be small. You can jump at least 4 foot still doing hunters or equitation.

I think you would prefer jumpers if you like doing a fast course, like tighter turns and enjoy much more complicated courses.

You would like hunters more if you like a slow, controlled course that looks effortless. IMHO a good hunter course looks kind of boring because the horse and rider make it look so easy.

My favorite part about jumpers is that it's you against the time/faults. There is a judge but in general they don't effect the score too much. You can have a horse that doesn't move well, cheap tack and inexpensive clothing and you can still win the class. I really hate the politics of hunters. That said, if I could have 2 horses to show, I would ride one of each =) they both have their good points.

You sound like you'd prefer hunters, just the bigger classes.
 
#7 ·
I do but I'm just not sure whether my horse would be better suited as a hunter or jumper, we will just have to see. The reason I like hunters more is because I have more of an arched back. Thanx for posting!
 
#9 ·
That's actually what I used to think, but I heard in hunter your back is supposed to be more arched
 
#11 ·
Oh we'll I wasn't sure that's just what I heard, besides my horse is way to green to already think about hunters or jumpers, we are still learning the basics, I was just looking ahead into the future.
 
#15 ·
Ok thanx, if I'm wrong please correct me, I love learning new things and if you have better answers to my initial post that would be much appreciated too. I have a little bit more info now, but I'm sure you have more to add. Thanx!!!
 
#17 · (Edited)
Hunters:
Based on your equitation and your horses movement, and your turn-out, not timed either, some classes judge on confirmation as well, and the quality of your round (example: when a course is posted, it will tell you how many strides in each combination) . Excellent manners, comfortable gaits are a big for Hunters.

Jumpers:
You are timed. you can get defaults if you have rails down, refusals, falls. Not based on your turn-out, for example: Higher level Hunters you need to wear tall boots, Jumpers you can wear half chaps.
Whomever has the fasted times after their faults goes into a "Jump Off", basically it's a harder course then what was in the class; sharper turns, roll-backs, etc. Your horse is aloud to wear jumping boots, martingale, draw reins, etc, where as Hunters you are not aloud

This is my attire in the Hunters:




And the Jumpers(I still wear tall boots, I like matching my colors for fun, but I am "concervant" you would say and like to look classy lol, a lot of jumpers have bright colors) :
 
#18 ·
@ Fullford15- I thank you very much. I think I prefer hunters though over jumpers, I like that classy look. Is there any specific way to tell which discipline your horse prefers, like anything I should look for? Thanx!!
@iseul it's totally fine. Thanx for your help!
 
#43 ·
@ Fullford15- I thank you very much. I think I prefer hunters though over jumpers, I like that classy look.
You can absolutely wear the classy look while doing jumpers, you just don't have to.

The primary difference is that in the hunter classes you are judge on form, in jumpers you are judged on performance.

In hunters, you can ride a beautiful round with auto lead changes, correct striding between jumps etc. and still do pretty well having a fence down.

In jumpers, no one cares if you are on the wrong lead as long as you clear the fence. If the fence stays up and you have put some bizarro striding in there and it was a miracle the fence stayed up - fine. The fence is up and that's all that matters.
However, to do well, all of the things that apply to hunters, should be used in jumpers. You are not going to be terribly successful if a rider is hanging on for dear life and barely making it around the course.

Hunters is also judged on turnout, it's important for riders to to present their horse in an expected way, and attire tends to be fashionable.

Jumpers is not like that as you are only judged on performance. There's no need to braid, and you can wear half chaps if you want to - however I believe that any horse showing at any level should be well turned out.

From what I have personally witnessed, it's not always clear why someone places over another person in the hunter classes.

For me, personally, I have no desire to compete in hunter classes. I really don't give a hoot if my toe is turned out slightly or anything else. I'd much rather be judged on my results.

ETA - Hunters is pretty much an American thing, so I am still learning about it myself. So I might be off on some points, but it's my general understanding of it.
 
#19 ·
No problem! Like I have said in a different thread, start your horse in the Hunters first, get them used to the foundation of it, get a good balance and rhythm, once you master the Hunters, move onto the Jumpers. If your horse has more of a "mythogical" movement, then hunters. If your horse is speedy but knows it's footing well then jumpers...
The horse in your avatar picture looks like it would be a beautiful Hunter... Where I am, you don't see many paints in the Hunter ring. :)
 
#20 ·
Omg thank you soo much! Yeah with his forward ness I would think jumpers, but I have been told by many that he would be a great hunter. but right now with his training, he needs a lot more training before i decide what he is best for. And personally, now this will get a lot of controversy so I'm not looking to argue with anyone but IMO hunters is harder than jumpers. I mean for me to put it in a nutshell, jumpers is jumping and hunters is jumping PRETTY. So idk, just my opinion. That's why I like hunters better. Also, is it true that hunters generally have a more arched back cuz I wasn't sure on that. Thanx for your help!
 
#21 · (Edited)
Personally, I think that both Hunters and Jumpers can be equally as hard as one another, I have competed in higher levels of both.

Also, is it true that hunters generally have a more arched back cuz I wasn't sure on that.
Everyone has their own way of riding... In my picture my back is flat. I know many Hunter coaches teach having a arched back, when I was little thats all I was taught "arch your back, arch your back".... terrible for your body, I am 20 and have to go to the chiropractors twice a week because of that.... After that "arch your back" phase, I began riding Dressage to help my Hunter/Jumper foundation, and no you don't need a arched back. But again, I notice a lot of coaches train it, but I think it is improper.

There is a difference between sitting tall and arching your back.... Arching your back causes you to "hover" foward in your seat, versus sitting tall and using your seat bones.
 
#22 ·
Oh ok, I was just wondering because my back is naturally more arched lol so I was wondering if that would be a problem for hunters or not. Also, even when I do straighten my back it still looks like I have an arch because my butt is big lol. So I was jw thanx!! And do you know any good hunter books, or horsemanship books, pretty much any horse type book. Thanx again!!
 
#23 ·
My 2 favorite books are Geoff Teall: Riding Hunters, Jumpers and Equitation & Hunter Seat Equitation by George Morris, and also one for jumping exercises to keep your horse from getting bored 101 Jumping Exercises by Linda Allen :)
 
#25 ·
Oh and is it also true that you can't use a square saddle pad or half pad? And will they allow bell boots?
 
#27 ·
Oh well if you use a numnah, can you still use a half pad? Also(sorry I'm full of ?s), this is rather irrelevant to my initial post,if I do do hunters and my horse oversteps so I use bell boots(he gets four shoes), since I can't use boots in the hunter ring, would it be smart/easier to just have him get back shoes? That way when he oversteps he doesn't throw a shoe? That is my only concern about hunters with him. I don't want to use bell boots schooling and in the show ring not use them and have him pull his front shoes offnor cut his fetlock. So should I just pay for back shoes?
 
#31 ·
I have been told a red coat is earned by being on a fox hunt-the fox is killed & the "neophyte" riders get the blood rubbed on them-maybe on a cheek? Not sure, but then they can wear a Red Coat.[/QUOTE
Oh well I don't fox hunter...... No red coat for me lol I much rather prefer black, navy, or grey colored coats.
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#32 ·
Bump again:) If there is nothing else to add then that's fine but I have a feeling that someone has more info up their sleeve that they should share ;)
 
#34 ·
Seamus is exactly right about red coats in show jumping.

Red coats in fox hunting are different, and have nothing to do with being blooded. Red coats are worn by paid members of the staff, such as the huntsman and whippers in, and by male members of the hunt who have earned their colors. Earning your colors allows you to wear the red coat with the hunt's colors on the collar and the hunt's buttons. Traditionally, women did not wear the red coat, but just the collar and buttons, unless they were also hunt staff, but that is changing. You used to be able to tell the difference between professional hunt staff and members by the way they wore the ribbons on their hunt caps, but safety helmets have done away with that tradition too. Hard riding junior members can be awarded their buttons as sort of a half step towards earning their colors, a junior who earns their buttons usually earns full colors shortly after their 18th birthday.

Earning colors is supposed to indicate competence in the hunt field and service and dedication to the hunt club, but there's always some nasty gossip and speculation about whose "service" was writing a big check. It usually takes several years of regular hunting and work with the club to earn colors, sometimes more. But the core idea that a red coat means someone of experience and authority is sound, you just shouldn't overlook the lady with just the collar and buttons, or the junior with just buttons, they may have just as much experience.
 
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