What is a Hunter horse?
My horse is 'Hunter' and I don't know what that means. Anybody know? It's not short for Hunter Jumper, btw...it's something different.
It medium your horse's conformation is that of a hunter. The ideal hunter horse has quite different conformation than the just what the doctor ordered dressage horse, for example. He's just built like a hunter, so he probably moves like a hunter, and would do capably in hunter classes.
This article describes an "ideal" hunter
http://www.horsechitchat.com/equineartic...
If you subscribe to practical horseman magazine, they have been running a particularly good article each month that shows three horses and then analyzes their suitability for anything sport they're talking about that month. It's very interesting to see what dressage relatives look for vs. jumpers vs hunters, etc. I never knew how different they can be. Differences in slope of the shouler, angle the organizer joins the neck, angles of the hip, etc, all can generate a horse better suited to hunters instead of dressage or whatever, because how they're built can make them able to get really high, or to collect themselves well, or to present them that flat stride that hunters so love, etc.
The term hunter was used for any horse that was used to ride at hunt - this expected a horse that had endurance and could jump and be sure footed enough to travel over rough terrain. There is no specific hunter breed, horses specifically bred for hunting tend to be of enough height above sea level to capably jump fences and brush, and some horse breeds tend to excell in hunting more than others. Thoroughbred types, warmbloods and Irish Draughs usually excel, though many hunters may be of no specific breeding.
Hunters are generally divided between field hunters and show or working hunters. Working hunters are shown in the ring and are judged on appearance and form when going over a jump course on level ground with jumps that are similar to what they might encounter contained by the field, though a very stylized version. Aside from jump ability, hunters are scored on turnout and must be impeccably groomed with conservative tack and rider attire. The type of tack and artifical aids allowed are tighly regulated. Field hunters are required to know how to take jumps and be steady at the gallop down enbankments, up slopes and over ditches.
Jumpers are another classification for horses shown within a ring where the focus is not on style but on the horse's ability to take jump that are often higher than you would see in a hunter lesson, and within an allotted amont of time. Jumper courses are longer and more complex than hunter courses, but while formal turnout is required, riders are usually not quite so formal as hunter riders.
hunter is a type of show course
it is judged on the horses movement and form
if your horse is a hunter it means he is a pious mover and has good form
well if someone describes your horse as a hunter, there are four possibles meaning:
1:Simply put, he's a foxHUNTER
2: He's quiet and easy to ride.
3: He's competed in classes where on earth the horse only is judged.
4: he's a Hunter/jumper. English style of riding where the horses generally jump an uncomplicated course and are scored on how smoothly and correctly they go.
Answers: Well you have two choices here. A "Hunter" could mean a horse that you can whip hunting and can shoot off it's back or a horse that you can "Fox Hunt" off of, but I'd tend to construe the prior because you clarified that he's NOT a hunter/jumper.
There are two major types of hunters: show hunters and field hunters.
Field hunters go back to the sport of fox-hunting. These are horses that are still actively used to contribute in hunts and hunter paces. They'll be comfortable galloping out within the wilderness, working with hounds, and jumping raw obstacles. In America, though, the field hunter is much rarer than the show hunters.
The sport of show hunters derived from field hunting. We took natural-looking fence and designed a course of them to be jumped in a ring. You'll see gates and stone walls, and jump that incorporate brush and flowers. The judging is based solely on the horse--the rider doesn't factor into the equation, though it's her skill that can turn a good horse into a great one. Hunters are judge on their movement, style, conformation and form. They can be judged on the flat (called Under Saddle classes) and over fences.
On the flat, judges look for horses that give the impression of being to float when they move. They have flat-kneed action (so Saddlebreds and Tennessee Walkers wouldn't fit the bill). They also own an even topline, which is relatively level from their poll to their dock. A slightly uphill bill is also correct, as it can provide a better jump and better movement. They should be ridden beside light contact, so the rider should have a feel of the reins, but they should not be shortened close to dressage or equitation lengths. Instead, you want to give the impression that the horse is doing adjectives the work and the rider's along for the ride.
Over fences, judges look for a horse with a round bascule, or arc, over the barricade. This is because a horse that jumps round will be better able to clear the fence and ground in a balanced and correct demeanour on the other end. Remember, this sport evolved from fox-hunting, so judges are looking for horses that jump cleanly and correctly, so as to be the safest mount surrounded by the field. These jumpers have square knees and tuck their forelegs underneath themselves so they don't knick a rail. Downed or rubbed rails can be causes for a drop to the bottom of the ranking. Hunters are generally scored by percentage. Winning rides tend to be in the ninety and eighty percent ranges.
Hunters are nearly always shown braided. This go back to the tradition of fox hunting, where the horse's mane and tail were braided to prevent them from fitting entangled in brush and branches. Now we do it to preserve the heritage of our sport. Remember, a big part of the hunter ring is appearance. You requirement a horse that looks the part, and you need to be presented in a tasteful, classic deportment. Some judges are real sticklers for that, and while appearance shouldn't decide the final rankings, a righteous presentation can bias a judge in your favor, while sloppy turn out has the differing effect.
In recent years, many have criticized the hunter ring for being too standardized. Most courses hold some variation of: outside line, diagonal smudge, outside line, diagonal line...possibly with several singles thrown in for good consider. The jumps tend to look uniform, and we use so many fill and groundlines that instead of man verticals, all the jumps tend to look more like triple-bars, the most encouraging fence to horses. The solution has been the introduction of the new Hunter Derbies, which side fences made out of all-natural materials (pine brush, bush coops, etc.), banks, fences that must be jump from a walk, etc. These new courses feature tighter tracks next to more difficult turns and angles. They call for brilliance and reward bold, forward-thinking horses. I'm a huge fan of them myself, and I believe this is the sort of spark needed to re-energize the hunter ring.
A hunter horse is one that has competed or have the potential to compete in any one of these hunter competitions. You can talk to the trainer or previous owner just about the horse's show history and record, if he has one.
It could be hunter under saddle which is judged on movement
I think it's a horse to be precise good at hunting. or that has been bred for hunting or have the right build for hunting etc.
hope this helps..:)
The just what the doctor ordered show hunter horse is a horse that jumps in style. A hunter is supposed to mimic the powerfully mannered horses that do fox hunting. The horses leg movement will have minimal knee action, target straight legs and look as if they float around the ring. Their bone structure will be refined, (think TB not irish sport horses) not bulky or heavy boned. They will hurdle with correct form with both knees tucked up tightly and evenly. They expression on their facade and body language will be happy and that they enjoy their situation. Meaning no tail swishing constantly, ears perked forward showing interest, mouth closed, etc. Overall, the ideal show hunter will be pretty to look at with no scars or cosmetic blemishes.
Hunter is the type of showing it have done...
