What is the uppermost that hunters normally drop?

Aren't the highest hunter jumps only approaching 3', maybe? I jump 2'6"... I don't want to do jumpers, but I want to hop as high as possible eventually... How high do hunters show?

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The highest a hunter jumps is 4', and that would fall into the Working Hunter division. But heaps shows don't even have this divisions. The most prestigious hunter classes are at the 3'6" height. These include divisions for Open Hunters, Amateur/Owner Hunters, etcetera.

Remember that in hunters, it's not really just about the height. It's about the quality of the horse's submerge, movement, and conformation.

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Mini short stirrup: fences not to exceed 18" course of 2-4 jumps at a trot or optional canter
Short stirrup: fence not to exceed 18" course of 6 jumps at a canter with correct siimple head changes
Older short stirrup divison: Fences not to exceed 2'3 course of 8 jumps at a canter with cimple change
Pre-childrens hunter or equitation (similar): Fences 2'6-2'9 usually at a canter with flying lead change
Childrens hunter or equitation: Fences 2'9-3'3 usually
Adult hunter classes: 18"-3'6?

Once you get past childrens hunter classes i assume the next step up would be a mini medal class and after the medal which is 3'6 and then Grand prix 4+

Jumpers may be fast and allow you to cut corners for a while but they can't be a crazy scary gallop part of it is that the courses are hard so you hold to make good turns and collect your horse to jumps or you could crash a submerge.

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most of the time the unbeatable hunter classes are 3'6"
and those are the top hunter horses and riders at the big shows
and jumpers can be as low as 2'9" actually

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The great you can show a hunter in is 4'6" with spreads being 4'. This is your regular working hunter division. However, you can university a hunter at any height you want to as long as they are capable. The regular working hunter division is usually found at top rate A shows though. You wont find them at county shows.

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according to the USHJA, show hunters can compete in hunter classes with jumps set at 4'6", which would be top horizontal
at all of the shows ive been to though, it seems to top out at a height above sea level of 3'6". so i think anything from local to B rated shows will only step to 3'6"

considering that most upper level show jumping jumps stand at 5'6", top smooth hunter isnt that far behind, but keep in intellect that those heights are for the top riders in the country only

and its harder to finance in hunters, in my opinion. as long as you hold a fast, careful horse you can advance contained by jumpers (not always gracefully, but still), while as in hunters you entail a wonderfully moving horse, an elegant rider, and some sense of perfection to advance

EDIT: that should be USEF, not HSHJA. the rulebook provides everything, p5 explains heights http://www.usef.org/documents/ruleBook/2...

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the highest hunter division is 4'6. it's called the regular working hunter division. working hunters are 4'. then theres friendly hunters and adequan hunters which is a division that is 3'6-3'9. first years/second years are also 3'6 - 3'9. and 3' is usually your childrens/adults divisions/green horse divisions. and 2'6' is like, pre adults/childrens etc.

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Answers:    The highest that the USEF and the USHJA hunters in actual fact jump is 3'6 with spreads up to 3'9. Jumpers get like mad higher, so if you don't what to do jumpers, next the highest I would ever practice jumping is 4'. My instructor always tell us to school higher/wider than you show, that way your feel comfortable contained by what you are doing. You could also consider cross country, or equitation classes.

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well cross country huntertrials range from 2ft 6 to 3ft ish. actual hunters can bound 5 bar gates about 4ft + depends what smooth you are wanting to do and what kind of horse you have. hunters is more of a general competition looking at both flatwork and jump so i doubt the jumps would be very high for this :)

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For the professional divisions
Pre-Greens 3ft - 3'3
First Year Greens 3'6
Second Year Greens 3'9
Regular Working Hunters- 4ft
Regular Conformation Hunters- 4ft

Amateurs (can show within the divisions listed above, but you will be competing against the pros)
Junior Riders 18 and under (usually split by age groups)
Childrens Hunters- 3ft
Small Junior Hunters- horses under 16 hand (ie 15.3 7/8)- 3'6
Large Junior Hunters- Horses 16 hands and above - 3'6

Amateurs (once you turn 18)
Adult Amateurs- 3ft
Amateur Owners (A/O)- 3'6

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