More Newb questions. Jumping? Hunter? Dressage?

Ruby Tuesday · 01-22-2009, 12:33 PM

OK, sorry for all of the "newhb" (new Horse Boy-lol, I just made that up - I know, I'm a dork :P)

Besides the extremely obvious part, is there anything special to jumping? I'm assuming its done with english training only (feel free to correct me at any time if I'm wrong here). Are there other interacates or parts a guy should know about?

I hear alot of "I have a Hunter" or "Hunter trained". Whats that?

Don't wanna sound like a dumb arse, but I have no clue what dressage is. A little direction would be nice in that area.

Any othe rdiscipline areas I'm not thinking of?

No answer is too basic, please. Assume I don't even know what end is the sharp end of a horse, and I'll kinda sort through the info on my own needs, so to speak.

Thanx in advance for you answering these remedial questions and your time! ANY info is appreciated.

Picture Perfect · 01-22-2009, 12:39 PM

Having a hunter simply means that a horse must canter around a course gracefully, all on the correct leads, and have nice form. It's hard to explain... Maybe someone else can give it a go?

Ruby Tuesday · 01-22-2009, 12:45 PM

Thank you. That was the next thread I was going to start, about correct leads...but we'll get to that on that thread.

Even links to good explanitory web sites would be cool.

ohhellneely · 01-22-2009, 01:11 PM

Hunter: is judged on its movement, manners, and way of going, particularly while jumping fences.
If you want a more detailed explanation: Show hunter encyclopedia topics | Reference.com

Dressage is all about movement.
It's a lot of intricate moves and steps that the horse must preform.
If you go on youtube you could probably find a really good video and you can see what it is.

StormyBlues · 01-22-2009, 10:11 PM

Ok this is going to be LONG! Ok

HUNTER/JUMPER

Ok hunters jumpers are judged on the frame of the horse and how they look. Basicly you want the judge to think "I want to ride that horse."

EQUATATION OVER FENCES

This is where the judges look at your form over the fences. How you look, where your position is, how you give the horse the ques et cetera.

DRESSAGE

Dressage is a "dance" between horse and rider. It is flat work and is a set pattern of movements around an arena marked with letters. The highest leval you can get is Grand Prix(pronounced grand (long a) pre) some of the "high school" elements are a Passage which is an extremly collected trot where the horse's haunces(hind end) drop and he seems to be floating in mid-air between steps. A Piaffe is the highest collected trot possible. The horse is trotting in place. A canter-pirowett(have no clue how to spell it) is where the horse is cantering in a circle keeping his hind legs in the same spot while is front legs rotate around. Like those compass things you use in math. For the eventer moves are like the shoulder-in which is where you horse moves it's shoulder in to the left or the right while trotting. The haunches stay in the same place. Eventers also do a counter-canter. This is where the horse is cantering on a circle on the incorrect lead( a lead is the front leg that goes farther than the other front leg during the canter. It should always be the inside leg EXCEPT when in the counter-canter).

STADIUM OR SHOW JUMPING

This is jumping over fences that knock down and trying to beat the time limit and not get penelties by knocking over jumps or getting a refusal to a jump or a run out(where the horse runs to the side of the jump.) It is fast paced and fun.

CROSS COUNTRY

The second phase in three day eventing it is jumping solid obsicals over ruggad tarain outside of an arena. It useually lasts about 3 minutes for a beginner novice course. Beginner novice is the lowest USEA(united states eventing assosiation) regognized level. It usually has a water element which is where the horse will have to go through water and on higher levels jump jumps in out and during the water element. They can jump ditches, logs, tables(a jump that goes straight up, flatens out, and then goes straight back down), banks(a jump that the horse jumps up onto land like if you jump up onto a ledge.) and other natural objects.

If you have any other questions feel free to ask or message me!

Ruby Tuesday · 01-23-2009, 10:41 AM

WHEW!! That's not so bad! I thought it was going to be difficult! O.O

Seriously though, thank you all for your time and input! ANY info is appriciated. As we speak, I am putting together a propsal for some of our local barns / trainers for a time - personal training swap. If that fails, then out comes the wallet, I guess. My credit card cringed when I did a search on Barnes and Nobel for "horse training"...lol

I would like to learn to train some of these things, simply for the fact of spending time with my "pony"....but, if I can use this as a skill to be profitable as well, then so be it!

Anyways, love to hear anything anyone else has to say as well, and Thanx again!

hntrjmpr · 01-23-2009, 10:53 AM

There actually is a difference between hunters(also refered too as equitation classes or simply 'eq' classes) and jumpers.
Like what StormyBlues said in hunters you want the judge to think "Man, I'd love to ride that horse" You want everything to look pretty and perfect for both you and your horse..
Also in hunter classes the types of jumps are a lot more traditional looking.

Now jumpers is a WHOLE different story, and in my opinion a lot more exciting too

In jumperc classes it doesn't matter what you look like (to a certain point of course, you still want the correct leads and all that jazz) as long as you're fast, and leave all the rails up and not knock any down. There is a set time limit you have to stay within and the more rails you knock down the more time you get added onto your final time.
[still with me? :)]
Also in jumpers if doesn't matter if you 'knick' or 'chip' a rail, as long as it stays up, you're good. However, in hunter classes, chipping is frowned upon.
The types of jumps in jumper classes are a lot more fun and bright colored!

Even the wardrobe is different. In jumper classes usually one wears a nice polo shirt and white breeches. And the hunter classes wear traditional show clothes with beige breeches and a show coat.

I hope that didn't confuse you too much, if you have any questions feel free to ask!

Ruby Tuesday · 01-23-2009, 11:44 AM

Gotcha. 100%. Up untill breeches.

You mean those tight, almost spandex lookin pants?? Um.... I think that's going to stay in my book right next to sheath cleaning!! Lol Now I know why this is a female dominated sport...I dunno if I could go into a store and ask for breeches....kinda like those femine hygen thingusess. Lol

Anyways, yup, I'm followin everyone so far (just had to add a laugh there), and thanx all!

hntrjmpr · 01-23-2009, 03:07 PM

Lol lots of guys wear them! They aren't as tight as the womens but most places that sell womens breeches sell mens aswell :)

StormyBlues · 01-23-2009, 07:35 PM

Oh wow, I just got like so many mentale pictures! My brother used to ride and we still have pics of him in his breeches! And then there is my friend, Jacob who is a stick, lol! Great times! Yea I mentioned that jumpers is different, didn't I? Oh well!

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