Think Twice, is that…Ruxton?
[QUOTE=Propped Up;2516201]
Things were different then. The horses had to be able to jump much higher. None of this 3’ stuff, and none of the inbetween divisions. Green horses showed open as well as green because it was all one hunter division. All hunter courses were big fences…4’ to 4’3" and we did the real hand gallop around the course. The horse poking around the ring with the big round back was not in vogue in those days…and would have been laughed out of the arena. So critique away if you like…but really…it is like comparing apples to oranges.[/QUOTE]
If we could post video, I suspect the outside course rides of yesterday would look, to today’s riders, like some strange hybrid of Hunters and Eventing cross country.
Europa, too slow to run and too big to hide. Never had brick breeches when I was younger. But, I have two pairs now. 
Oooooh, a straight line from bit to elbow!!! :sadsmile: I’m all verklempt! What gorgeous photos!
Part of it the horses of yesteryear were GALLOPING on an outside course, not mincing down the steady 5 in a ring. The jump on a lot of the horses today is manufactured. The oldies are actually going forward at a good clip. Hence what appears to be flat and stiff is a jump out of a real gallop.
[QUOTE=Seal Harbor;2516880]
Part of it the horses of yesteryear were GALLOPING on an outside course, not mincing down the steady 5 in a ring. The jump on a lot of the horses today is manufactured. The oldies are actually going forward at a good clip. Hence what appears to be flat and stiff is a jump out of a real gallop.[/QUOTE]
well said. i tip my cap.
[QUOTE=Seal Harbor;2516880]
Part of it the horses of yesteryear were GALLOPING on an outside course, not mincing down the steady 5 in a ring. The jump on a lot of the horses today is manufactured. The oldies are actually going forward at a good clip. Hence what appears to be flat and stiff is a jump out of a real gallop.[/QUOTE] could be a bad analogy… Chaka vs Paris.
If you do have a video, you can post it on youtube.com.
I would love to see a video of how the courses were rode in the past.
So a lot of people’s explainations of the differences between the hunters of yesteryear and the hunters of today do really make sense. I am still shocked, however, that I seem to be the only one that likes the “look” of the photos of today better (only insofar as the horse goes, not talking rider position at all). But then again, I wasn’t the only one that said HOLY COW at ThinkTwice’s photos so I guess in a way, some people agree. And I am all for horses actually picking up a good gallop and jumping out of it - but I don’t think today’s hunters are the bane of the universe either. I think there’s a reason why cross country is cross country and fox hunting is fox hunting. But bringing back a little more nature to the ring suits me just fine.
Precisely…bring on the aikens, oxers, riverias, logs and coops!!! How bout a good old triple bar for good measure!!
Thanks to all those who loved my photos! I wish someone would send them to George Morris…I bet he would know who my instructor was [Capt. Littaur…not George!).
Three things happened that changed hunters and releases too.
First: they moved into the ring…where riders began riding more equitation style, in order to win. Pace had to slow and percision was rewarded.
Second: The crest release (George…who is responsible for that?) became a very easy release to learn (it should be as it is the INTERMEDIATE release) So many riders found it simpler and more secure rather than learning the more difficult auto release/following arms with the straight line from the mouth to the elbow!
Third: Slowing the pace, exagerating the bascule, became the “real/wow” way. Now if you hang off the side, you can really show off that great bascule! I love a great bascule…you really can do it with following arms, and sitting properly
Oh well, times change…the “fox hunter/field hunter” doesn’t show any more, as it can’t compete with the “showy pampered…show hunter!”
I would love to train riders to use following arms…someone should!
I’m in Maryland, still young enough to want to help young riders learn how to be riders, and trainers.
If " hunters" were like that today…I’d certainly be doing that!!! My horse loves solid jumps…
If only I lived in Maryland.
I just turned 30 this month, am I young enough?
Here is one of my Mom as a junior in the Mid 60’s - early 70’s.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/Adagio2016/Alexjump.jpg
I have posted these before but they are so cool and it has been awhile since I posted them. (None of them are me) My step mother was going to throw away a box of photos and these were some of them. (I have been told that I spelled Dave Kelley’s name wrong but haven’t figured out how to change it)
Since somebody mentioned it earlier in the thread- I think the Rodney Jenkins one is taken in Detroit.
Hopefully the link will work.
Rodney on Quiet Flight!
What great photos!!! Those were the best days! Such outstanding riders. So very classic! I love that snake rail fence it is gorgeous.
That is Rodney Jenkins on Quiet Flight, correct me if I am wrong!
I adored Rodney’s riding, he was the most wonderful sensitive rider, with timing, and skill to envy! Plus he is a wonderful human being. I got to talk with him back in the late '60’s and he was so unpretentious, and gave me great insight that I still rely on today! A fine horseman!
The rider over the big oxer looks like Bernie Traurig…but I am not sure
My guess is Susie Hutchison
Think Twice, I noticed that you never used a following hand in any of your photos. From that one would assume that they were more likely in the late 70’s than the early 70’s.
Would that be a correct assumption?
Sonny’s Mom, that photo of Betty Meister is jaw dropping. Given that she’s on an outside course doing the fences at a hand gallop, the front end on that horse is amazing.
Speaking of Captain Littauer, there’s a new edition of one of his books out, edited by Phyllis French. It was published March 2007, and is called
“Jumping the Horse”.
http://www.amazon.com/Jumping-Horse-Vladimir-S-Littauer/dp/1432513990/ref=sr_1_3/002-7715764-7400037?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182553948&sr=1-3
