Hunter/Jumper or Show Jumper?

Hey everybody, so I've been riding off and on since I was young, but have recently leased a horse and rode western for five months or so. However I ended with the lease and started English lessons not too long ago because I want to jump. I'm not ready to jump yet but I'm looking into both hunter jumping and show jumping for when I am ready. I just want to hear from some of the people out there that do either hunter jumping or show jumping. Why did you choose this? Also, I'm 15. Which jumping is more popular among teens such as me, and why? Thanks in advance.

I find Hunters more popular for that age, but that's just my area... I was taught that I had to master in the Hunters before moving onto the Jumpers ring, with the tighter turns, speed, combinations.

I enjoy the Hunters more, just always have, guess I like the classical look to it, and my horse is more of a Hunter.

That makes sense about mastering the Hunters first. I want to learn more about it and will for sure ask my trainer, but are there any good books or websites you know of that I could use to just become more familiar before I begin?
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"Hunter jumper" isn't really a discipline. There are hunters and there are jumpers. Sometimes people will say hunter jumper to clarify that they aren't talking about breed show hunters.

I personally think that hunters and equitation are great ways to start off jumping. It will teach you the value of finding a distance, making balanced turns, being smooth and consistent, pace, etc. it's a good foundation for the jumpers (show jumping) to then start working on speed, technical courses, etc.

I'm currently showing more jumpers these days bc that's what I have in training. It's a little bizarre actually bc I'm a hunter princess at heart. :) I love the challenge of making 8 perfect jumps and riding smooth. I'm not a speed person at all! But I also love the technicality of a challenging jumper course. I've had fun with it and done well but I'm hoping to show more hunters soon!
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In the defense of jumpers... It's nice that you can miss a distance or lead change and not blow the entire round. And it's nice that if your horse isn't a super fancy mover you still have a chance as long as they're talented and can jump.
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One of my favorite books is by Geoff Teall, it's called Riding Hunters, Jumpers and Equitation. And of course Hunter Seat Equitation by George Morris...

Yes, in jumpers you can miss distances, miss lead changes, etc... but I have seen so many people that just speed around the course missing distances and having a dangerous ride, some horses and riders being seriously injured. That's why I think you should have a good foundation in the Hunters before moving onto the Jumper ring.

I never knew that about it not really being a discipline, makes sense.
So generally do all the best jumpers come from people who mastered the hunters first? Or do most people that start with Hunters generally just sick with that?

I'll be sure to check those both out when I get home, thanks!

I'm for sure going to at least start in the Hunters and get that foundation, and just see where I want to go from there.

In the US, progressing up the the hunter and equitation divisions before moving over to the jumper divisions is still the most common route.

It is possible to show in unrated or schooling jumpers without the hunter/equitation background, but those riders tend to "top out" pretty quick in the 3' - 3'6" divisions. If you don't have the foundation developing pace, balance and direction and keeping a steady rhythm and consistent arc around the entire course, being able to "turn and burn" only gets you so far.

If you look at US show jumpers, including Nations Cup and Olympic riders, the majority came up through the hunter/hunter seat eq ranks. I can't think of a single one who *didn't* come up throught those ranks.

Now, in other countries, the hunter and equitation "feeder system" doesn't exist; and they produce competent jumper riders without it, but their rider's educations and show experiences are also very different from ours. (No 18" Table C classes )

So I recommend you get a good, solid foundation in hunters before going over to the dark side.

That's absolutely true and my biggest pet peeve is when people tear dangerously around a 2"6 course and win simply bc they're fast. I think they top out more like 3" bc they don't have the foundation to ride the technicality of a higher class. What I meant was that sometimes it's a relief that you can make a small mistake like a late change and still have a chance to Be ok. I've been in many classes were I've had a stellar round except one chip and I'm out of the ribbons.
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