What makes a mini a good hunter/jumper?

[seahorse]

What should I look for if I want a mini that will excel in hunter/jumper? Should I look for a certain personality? Are there any specific conformational features that are helpful? Thanks!

 

[Leeana]

This is all just my personal opinion, and that is worth very little lol buuuuut ....

The horse has to have GREAT ground manner and be able to read your body language. I think its important for the horse to know what its supose to do, before you ask it to ....that may be bad, BUT it can be good too! Also, a horse that responds well to pressure on the halter, this to me is verrrry important. They should instantly react to just the slightest pressure applied to the halter noseband or the poll.

Also IMO, i think its important (especially for hunters!) to almost 'neck rein' over, my horses know when i lay the lead on their neck, they move off of it. My gelding, LTD's White Chief, if he even senses the slightest move in the lead towards his neck he moves off of it. It is such a handy concept to teach your jumping horses.

Also, i like a horse that will trot at the end of the lead, i dont like a horse that is right up on me, now i wouldnt ask them to do that at a show, but i dont want a hose pushing me around a jump.

Physically, i think a horse with a nice hip would be able to propel themselves up over the jump easier then a horse with a cruddy weak hip, which could make their form better too. A horse that is conditioned and in shape can jump nicer then a horse that is overweight (or even underweight) and no in top physical condition.

Most of my horses have a little extra spark to them, however, my best jumping horse though is my calmest horse, Chief.

 

[Alex]

Well, Leeana pretty much said what I was going too.

 

[Mercysmom]

Leanna said it perfectly...

My two cents now: The hunter and jumper horse must gauge how to read both classes - in one, the hunter horse must be a good representative of his/her large horse counterpart - a safe horse in the field who will take care of his/her rider/handler (in the case of minis this translates into a horse that is willing to work with his/her handler).

The jumper has to know how to take care of himself/herself as he/she has to negotiate the obstacles yet work and trust the handler to present him/her correctly to the fence.

Both classes are about partnership and trust and to me, exemplify the strong bond minis and their handlers can have. To horses in training, for me it is developing that trust so the horse feels confident enough to try and succeed.

I would often say to my riding students- you speak English and your horse speaks another language. It is up to you to convey trust, reassurance and confidence to lead your horse and he/she will follow once he/she understands that trust.

Denise

Silversong Farm

 

[sedeh]

I think that any horse with good conformation can jump. A nice hip and just a hint of cow-hock makes the best jumpers. But what it really comes down is attitude and confidence on the handlers part!! I have trained 3 young minis to jump now and each had different personalities and each I had to approach a little differently with training. My stallion was very honest, but lazy and a chicken over certain obstacles. I had one mare that loved to jump and I never had any trouble with her.......I let my niece jump her and she was a whole different horse! Totally picked up on my nieces nerves. I finally took her back because I need to get more points to finish her Pinto Championship and she won her next 2 classes. My last filly has a big stubborn streak and would "duck out" any chance she got. She had the ability to jump but didn't particulary like it at first.......now she seems to like it just fine. Anyway, I think a lot has to do with the handler with the minis. You can buy a horse that has been jumping just fine for it's handler and when you try the horse won't jump at all! Honestly........you probably weren't misled, it just takes some work to develop the partnership. Good luck!!

 

[MinisOutWest]

Hunter tips. Presentation, consistancy, presentation, consistancy. helps if a horse has a hunter look, needs to tuck up tight when going over, and very consistant in the speed they have all around the course. presentation of the handler can win it or lose it for you too. I treat it as a showmanship class, ALWAYS have braids, mane and tail. starting a horse? teach them showmanship first and hunter will come natural in the movement area of the class. My over Hunter gray horse can do showmanship and hunter without a halter. he tucks really nice , so all I have to worry about is me. but start your horse with cavellitti's on the ground, then raise to 4 inches, then work your way up from there, only start with one jump, do not add another jump until you have a constant start speed, over speed and follow thru speed, then you must work on the second jump added with the approach speed, over then follow thru again. GO SLOW in the progression, do not attempt to jump your horse with 6 jumps off the bat, too many bad habits will be created. I hope to get my Nationals win jump video here soon, when I do I can post it some where and let you know. I use to hate Hunter and jumping, but now I love it. go to my site and look at my gray gelding and my bay gelding hunter/ jumper pictures. www.minis-out-west.com

 

[mondak]

It all has to do with attitude too. Any horse can jump, some of the ugliest horses (conformationally) can make the best jumpers because they have the heart to do it. A good jumper lives for it! When they see a fence they want to JUMP it. They are bold, curious, trusting, and have that athletetic attitude. Coming from the jumper world conformationally speaking, a longer back helps spring over the fences, with a long femur (hip to hock lenght) which makes rocking back on the hing legs easier. "walking the tight rope" also makes a nice jumper, that is if the horse is a bit base narrow or narrow chested. This helps them tuck their front legs.

Courtney

 

[txminipinto]

In hunter, it's consistancy that will make or break your run. If you're horse starts the course at a trot, keep them at a trot. If they start at a canter, keep them at a cantor. It should look like a hunter horse going through a hunter course. Nice, clean, and pretty.

In jumping, a horse that stays with you (not ahead or behind) is important. One that moves off your body around curves and into jumps. There's nothing more frustrating that going at full speed and having to pull a horse back or push it away from you as you run.

 

[MySweetElegance]

not tryin to hijack the post

my new mare loves to jump but im lost on how to get her to trot next to me and jump the jumps any ideas??

also what is the standerd hight for the hunter class??

 

[Alex]

Like said above, teach her showmanship!

 

[MiniHunterHorseFan]

The max height for the hunter class jumps is 24 in. What a judge looks for in a Hunter horse is one that has a smooth gait, nice low neck set, perferably a stretched out trot that is not super slow nor excessively fast, just quick. The horse should jump the jumps in the center, tuck his legs up nice, and have a nice rounded bascule. That is a smooth curving look to his jumps, sort of like a dolphin. The horse should not overly jump the jumps like a jack rabbit, nor jump to low so as to knock the poles. The horse should stay about 2 feet away from you in order to center the jumps right.

 

[MinisOutWest]

few photos of some hunters/ jumpers

hunter horse, hates jumping- likes looking pretty!

hunter horse, but LOVES jumping

AMHR Hunter, Under

AMHR Jumping- speed

AMHA Jumping-height, not speed

 

[seahorse]

Thanks for all the replies! (and pictures!

) You all have been really helpful!

Tailers/minis out west, I love that gray! He/she looks just like a full size hunter!