| English riding is divided into a variety of disciplines, or | | | | should stretch its head and neck over the fence |
| styles or riding. From pleasure riding to competitive | | | | bringing its knees up towards the chin. The |
| events, each of these disciplines is unique and has its | | | | hindquarters should follow smoothly with tight hocks |
| own set of priorities and requirements. One of the | | | | and form without undue effort. Observers should get |
| most common disciplines in North America is the | | | | the impression that the entire performance is |
| hunters. | | | | effortless. |
| Once hunters were based on the sport of fox hunting. | | | | Between the fences the horse should be calm and |
| Several horses and riders would follow the hounds | | | | relaxed. Turns should be made with wide, smooth |
| across country to chase down foxes. While this sport | | | | corners. Speed is not a priority, so the softer, more |
| is alive and well, the modern show hunter is a | | | | even way of going will always pin over a fast, choppy |
| completely different type of horse. | | | | ride. The ideal carriage of the horse varies from judge |
| The early show hunters were solid animals, suitable for | | | | to judge, but generally the horse should be long and |
| both the ring and the fields. They were cherished for | | | | relaxed with its head slightly above the vertical so it |
| their versatility and athleticism. A good hunter was | | | | can see ahead of itself in order to approach the |
| expected to be calm and rideable, yet be athletic | | | | fences. |
| enough to make it around a series of jumps without | | | | Courses are designed in a combination of straight lines, |
| undue stress for horse or rider. | | | | bent lines, single jumps and diagonals. The plan is |
| As time passed judges began placing the finer, fancier | | | | generally quite simple and easy for horse and rider to |
| animals higher in the classes than the old-style often | | | | follow. When looking at the jumps themselves, they |
| less flashy horses that were better suited to racing | | | | are generally painted in natural colours and are |
| across uneven fields in the foxhunt. Thoroughbreds | | | | designed to look like things that you might find when |
| and Thoroughbred crosses became highly popular in | | | | riding out in the fields. |
| the ring because of their lighter build, long stride and | | | | On the flat, horses are judged on the quality of their |
| athletic ability. Soon the hunter ring was filled with bay | | | | movement, which should be long and low, with little |
| thoroughbreds and the heavier field hunter type was | | | | knee action. If the horse has a little "float" to their stride |
| rarely seen. | | | | it will catch the judge's eye. Transitions should be |
| Modern hunters are generally solid horses who are | | | | smooth and immediate. At no point should it look as |
| refined, but still have substance. They are prized for | | | | though the horse is giving its rider a hard time, nor |
| their long, low movement with as little knee action as | | | | should the rider show signs of difficulty in the ride. |
| possible. With three clean gaits and a long, relaxed | | | | While equitation is not a priority, a rider who can "sit |
| carriage they appear to be gentle, relaxing horses to | | | | pretty" will show a horse to better advantage |
| ride. | | | | compared to a sloppy, yet effective rider. |
| So what is a show hunter exactly? A hunter division is | | | | While some people ridicule show hunters as being |
| divided into four classes, three over fences and one | | | | boring and easy, there is a lot of training and riding skill |
| on the flat. There are specific divisions for children of | | | | that goes into a top hunter. Admittedly hunter jumping |
| various age ranges, for ponies of different heights, for | | | | is not nearly as trying or complicated as jumping for |
| green or experienced horses, for amateur riders and | | | | the jumper ring, but a truly excellent hunter has every |
| for professional riders. Each division is set at a specific | | | | bit as much talent as a top jumper. |
| height that is designed to suit the expected ability level | | | | Showing in the hunter ring is a great way for riders to |
| of horse and rider. | | | | get started in the horse show world. By building up |
| Over fences the horse is judged on a smooth, even | | | | good habits over fences and on the flat both horses |
| way of going with effortless jumping ability that does | | | | and riders set up a solid foundation for more strenuous |
| not throw the rider out of the saddle. The horse is | | | | competition in the long run. It is a great discipline for |
| expected to canter the course with an even 12' long | | | | riders with confidence issues with many lower-level |
| stride (slightly shorter for ponies). The horse should not | | | | divisions available. |
| speed up or pull back from the jumps as it approaches | | | | The show hunter ring is highly competitive and can be |
| them. Each jump is judged individually on the horse's | | | | a great direction to focus your riding skills. While the |
| style as it goes over the jump. Ideally the horse should | | | | higher levels can be very expensive, the lower levels |
| jump with a nice bascule that utilizes the horse's back | | | | can be enjoyed with just about any horse and by just |
| and arcs the horse over the fence in a nice, smooth | | | | about any english rider. |
| line. With tight knees that are even in front the horse | | | | |