Hunter Horses
Hunters compete in classes where the horse is being judged by their movement and conformation. Conformation refers to how a horse is put together, for example, if he has a desirable and functional physique. When being judged in both jumping and flat classes, each horse is judged on soundness and the presentation of your performance.
An ideal hunter is one that has natural capabilities for the tasks being asked to perform. One that has a calm flowing rhythm and jumps safely with a bascule arch form over the fences in a hunter over fences class. Manners are important in the hunter division if your horse is pleasant when being asked different queues he is considered to having good manners.
A hunter course usually has 8-10 fences made up of natural, colored jumps, with single and Oxer jumps. Around the course there will be lines where the horse has to make it down the line in a certain amount of strides and there will be individual jumps also.
Hunter divisions at horse shows are divided into the following categories:
- Green Hunters: inexperienced horses, conformation hunters where horses are judged on their performance and conformation
- Conformation Hunters: where horses are judged on their performance with extra emphasis placed on the horse’s build
- Working Hunters: with large fences for experienced horses
- Pony Hunters: for ponies (horses under 14.2 hands tall) only
- Junior Hunters: for riders 18 and under
- Amateur-Owner Hunters: for non-professional adult riders
- Amateur-Owner Hunters: for non-professional adult riders
- Short Stirrup Hunters: for young children just learning to ride
