Hunter Jumper?

Whats the difference between normal SJ and these HJ classes? Looks the same to me (at the risk of sounding thick lol) apart from its sunny - if that's the difference then I think sunshine is a great advantage
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If you look at the way of riding, there seems to be no striding, I think this is the american version of working hunter but from what I can see it looks like the horses are on their forehand and doing everything whilst the rider looks pretty? so just trying to see as I'm sure there is some benefit?
 
I don't have a lot of time for American hunters. Its all focused on how smooth the round is, and how much the horse bascules over a fence. The horse tends to go long and flat, and as you say, poke its nose. The riders are very passive. Good hunters, even ones only jumping 2ft6 [if pony] or 3ft-3ft6 [if horse] can go for anything between 50-200k, because the discipline is so reliant on a particular type of horse. It is often the style younger riders are introduced to jumping in because it is comparatively easy, and focused on style compared to the faster, competitive jumpers.

The advantage is that the horse goes and jumps in a flowing natural sort of way, but it is not the sort of thing I would enjoy. I like to feel that a horse is collected and powerful, and really engaged beneath me. However I do think it has its place there for more novice riders and ones learning to jump because whilst they are less balanced, they are taught a discipline where they do not interfere so much with the horse.
 
It is a showing class, like Working Hunter in this country. Some of the different breed societies do Hunter Jumper classes as well, such as Morgan.

Lost of young horses do Hunter Jumping classes, but it has never caught on in this country.

The style of jumping is marked, so rushing around would be marked low. The fences aren't all that big, but the horse is proceeding quietly, on a gentle contact and just jumping easily.
 
It is marked as a showing class, rather than SJ where it is based on penalties. It all comes down to the judges discretion. It is judged on turnout, and on the style of the round [smooth, making the right number of strides down the lines, good bascule over the jump, smooth changes etc].
 
I find that quite strange, not seen it before, so tail coat and crash hat for SJ is good turnout for them, as is going strung out on almost no contact...

I don't understand!
 
I just choked on my chocolate brownie! $120K for a 17 hand horse that can jump 3 foot? I'm going to ship my dressage horse to the US, advertise him as a hunter jumper & flog him for $150K as he can jump the huuuuuuugggggggggeee height of 4 foot
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It did look on its forehand the whole round didn't it - or was I just imagining it? Could be wrong but it didn't look particularly happy behind either. Seemed to me that if you asked it to jump much bigger than the fences in the video it would struggle?
 
Yikes, that is serious money!! I might send a couple of mine out there, both have soundness problems but can still manage 3'!!!!
(Only kidding, before anyone starts shouting at me!!)
 
That tailcoat looks a bit daft flapping about like that. Not sure I like it - not a fan of the strung-out, lollopy feel to it. It's as if there's no power behind, and the horse wouldn't be able to jump any higher.
 
Just because it is different it doesn't mean it is wrong. The USA judges are very strict and demand a lot.

Nor do they spend hours looking at the horse. They can assess a class quickly, look at the action and the way of going. Then they have the horses lined up and assess conformation. I have only ever had to strip a horse in a championship class. The judges in the classes I have entered have never ridden the horses. It means that one showing classes doesn't take all morning and you can go to a show and enter 3 or 4 classes.

On the other hand, I have a friend who showing hunters in England and her horse has often gone up in the places after the ride, because he is so nice and well mannered for the judge.
 
I posted the link to this vid
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I think their hunter classes are to show the horse is easy to ride, hence they ride along on (what I think of as) a loose rein. Our WH classes are like that too I guess, in that its meant to be a horse the judge would want to take out hunting (so needs good manners etc.). But the Americans seem to like their horses a lot more relaxed than we do here, we prefer them on a contact and being nice and active etc. Ive watched a few shows there and even in their ridden showing classes (ie. breed classes) they seem to ride all strung out too.

Just a different way I guess!

They do however command a HELL of a lot for their horses in the US! CRAZY money! Ponies jumping like 2'9 can easily be well over £20k! Whereas here its almost EXPECTED any pony should be able to jump that...!
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