Just curious… how do your horses jump? Flat? Soft? Round? Hard and pop you out?
Also, if you could have your dream horse out there, how would you want them to jump?
I would like mine to jump softly, but give me enough comfort that they’ll easily clear it. :yes:
It depends on the horse, the terrain, the jump, footing, etc. and how badly I screw them up on the approach.
My horse is relatively new to jumping in the hunt field – this is his first season hunting first flight and jumping with the crowd.
He isn’t sure how high he has to jump (inexperience) so he generally clears every fence by a foot or two :D. We have some serious air time over the more solid fences and that suits me fine. I have to restrain myself from yelling out “Wheee!” He’s got a very round jump and tucks his feet up by his chin.
I suspect that over time his exuberance will subside but what I want in a hunt horse is:
The first season I took my current mount hunting, he would flat out gallop ( drag me to the fence) abruptly stop, look over the other side, then jump the 3 ft coop from a stand still and canter away as if it were perfectly normal to do that. NOT. FUN.
We are in season three and he’s closer to my ideal, but still needs a little work. He understands that he must wait his turn to jump. I make him stay off the person in front by 2-3 strides. I want them to have landed and be riding off before we are at our take off point. He will allow me to rate him before a fence. This was unheard of the first season. He will let me change my mind and go around the fence at the last minute, but won’t try to run out on the next fence. On new fences that we have never seen before, he will sometimes canter quietly to the base, stop look, and then jump. His jumping style over fences was not wonderful at first ( hard to have good form from a stand still). He now has a nice round jump, knees tucked nicely. He only over jumps the new fences, and I have to say, I do love the hang time, WHEEE!
He is 14.2 and in his 20’s. He doesn’t buck, rear, kick, or bite. He honors hounds and could care less when he has to reverse field, or if the hunt needs to get by. He will ride away from the field and do so at a walk or gallop. He is very forward (except when he wants to check the landing side of a new fence), I have never needed more horse. On the contrary, sometimes I wish he was just a little bit tired. He was bought as my son’s trail pony, but I started hunting him when I had to retire my other horse. I hope I get 3-5 more years out of him. I am totally dreading the whole horse shopping thing.
Well, I’ll start with my ideal jumper in the hunt field.
NO STOP. I hate a horse with a stop in him/her.
Independant, forward thinker. I like a horse that can size up a fence and get the job done regardless of rider input, good or bad.
Scope. Most of the fences we encounter would make a mess if a horse crashed into it, so I like one with enough scope and style to make it look (and feel) easy.
Now, what I currently ride.
Has a stubborn stop. Won’t jump unless the entire field goes over said fence first. I hate this about her.
Is a totally backwards thinker. Would rather look for the gap/easy way out.
At least she has good scope and a smooth jump. When she is getting the job done, she does it with style and it’s a smooth ride.
So, my mare’s saving grace is that she’s 100% solid citizen in the hunt field, has perfect manners and will follow the horse in front of her anywhere. As long as we delegate ourselves to the “pick and choose” field, we’re a-ok.
Not so much fun for a rider (me) who wants to be up front behind the hounds jumping everything in sight on a fire breathing jumping machine, but mare and I have a long history and I’d not soon sell her. Horse #2 will come along soon enough, and that one will be my ideal field hunter.
After a century of not jumping at all I just took a jumping lesson last week on my Quarter horse mare that I bought in August. These are lessons in confidence buildling and in time, to be able to pop over some of the smaller coops in the hunt country. The mare was very, very cat like in her jumping ability and we were trotting over 2’ fences- small walls- in no time flat. The instructor foxhunted all her youth life, and well into adulthood, though she specializes in show ring hunters at a national level now. Right away she picked on my “fox hunting leg” and made suggestions on how to alter it. 
I want my mare to trot obediently up to a fence and jump with her knees up to her ears and go away at the gait I select. This year in the hunt field I am getting all the other important things done- teaching waiting, go where I want her to go in the field, lead, follow and get out of the way. She is fine with horses blasting past her and understands that she doesn’t select the gait we travel in, that comes from me.
My dream horse has an uphill build and jumps flat like an equitation horse- smooth and steady. 
[QUOTE=Daatje;5202519]
Well, I’ll start with my ideal jumper in the hunt field.
NO STOP. I hate a horse with a stop in him/her.
Independant, forward thinker. I like a horse that can size up a fence and get the job done regardless of rider input, good or bad.
Scope. Most of the fences we encounter would make a mess if a horse crashed into it, so I like one with enough scope and style to make it look (and feel) easy.
Now, what I currently ride.
Has a stubborn stop. Won’t jump unless the entire field goes over said fence first. I hate this about her.
Is a totally backwards thinker. Would rather look for the gap/easy way out.
At least she has good scope and a smooth jump. When she is getting the job done, she does it with style and it’s a smooth ride.
So, my mare’s saving grace is that she’s 100% solid citizen in the hunt field, has perfect manners and will follow the horse in front of her anywhere. As long as we delegate ourselves to the “pick and choose” field, we’re a-ok.
Not so much fun for a rider (me) who wants to be up front behind the hounds jumping everything in sight on a fire breathing jumping machine, but mare and I have a long history and I’d not soon sell her. Horse #2 will come along soon enough, and that one will be my ideal field hunter.[/QUOTE]
You just described my gelding.
Economically. A good hunt horse quickly learns to save itself for what might come over the rest of the day. Not to mention, a horse that wants to stand back and jump everything big is not a good thing for a drop fence or trappy fence going into heavy woods.
Safely. I don’t care about ‘show ring style,’ but I want a horse with survival instincts; if I just be sure to keep a leg on either side the horse will get me where I want to go.
I’ve always trained mine to be more point and shoot, making sure they have the skill set to adjust to their own preferred distance or cope with getting to an awkward spot.
dream horse?!!
Jumps best without me…for sure!
Hilltoppers Rule!
:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p:p
My ideal hunt horse …
[QUOTE=ride29;5201343]
Just curious… how do your horses jump? Flat? Soft? Round? Hard and pop you out?
Also, if you could have your dream horse out there, how would you want them to jump?
I would like mine to jump softly, but give me enough comfort that they’ll easily clear it. :yes:[/QUOTE]
Mine jumps everything…would prefer not to wait but will…I dont have to do much thinking about it…just point and shoot…Funny thing…he’s a bit of a nut in a ring (my daughter does jumpers with him…I dont…
I would love to see some pictures! If I can find some, I’ll post mine.
A few photos
I hope this is the public link, if not will fix later. These are hunting horses jumping though not all in the hunt field- one field hunter class and a couple of pair races.
Beverly - Thanks for posting photos!
Loved scrolling through the photos of your lovely hunt horses. You make it look effortless! :yes:
Awesome!
Beverley,
Beautiful form on both you and the horse! I love your follow through the air release. You even have a shadow between your hand/arm and the horse’s neck. I wish I had gotten to know you when you were here in Va. Do you ever come back to visit?
Beverley - I never get tired of looking at photos you post. They are, without exception, terrific.
I love your horses, and your form. Wish I could ride half as well as you do.
Hey - I think they’re still using those red standards at Warrenton. :lol:
[QUOTE=Beverley;5203868]
Economically. A good hunt horse quickly learns to save itself for what might come over the rest of the day. Not to mention, a horse that wants to stand back and jump everything big is not a good thing for a drop fence or trappy fence going into heavy woods.
Safely. I don’t care about ‘show ring style,’ but I want a horse with survival instincts; if I just be sure to keep a leg on either side the horse will get me where I want to go.
I’ve always trained mine to be more point and shoot, making sure they have the skill set to adjust to their own preferred distance or cope with getting to an awkward spot.[/QUOTE]
Wow, could. not. have. said. it. BETTER. :):) No matter where or what horse I’m riding.
Wow Beverley!!! You have the release that GM admires, beautifully straight line from elbow to bit. Lovely, lovely pictures.
Gee thanks y’all…rest assured that there probably exist a whole lot of pictures of me that show how NOT to do it!
Whicker, I do get back thataway now and then- last day I had in Virginia was a lovely cubhunting day in September 2009. My new job (promotion) may have prospects for more frequent trips, which of course would require trying really hard to schedule them so as to say, stay the weekend! At least to get out and car follow though lots of friends have kindly offered me a horse if I can get there!
Presently plotting with a friend to see about making it to the MFHA annual do in NY in late January…hubby says he doesn’t want to go so fine, I don’t even care if I don’t have a date!
[QUOTE=Daatje;5202519]
Well, I’ll start with my ideal jumper in the hunt field.
NO STOP. I hate a horse with a stop in him/her.
Independant, forward thinker. I like a horse that can size up a fence and get the job done regardless of rider input, good or bad.
Scope. Most of the fences we encounter would make a mess if a horse crashed into it, so I like one with enough scope and style to make it look (and feel) easy.
Now, what I currently ride.
Has a stubborn stop. Won’t jump unless the entire field goes over said fence first. I hate this about her.
Is a totally backwards thinker. Would rather look for the gap/easy way out.
At least she has good scope and a smooth jump. When she is getting the job done, she does it with style and it’s a smooth ride.
So, my mare’s saving grace is that she’s 100% solid citizen in the hunt field, has perfect manners and will follow the horse in front of her anywhere. As long as we delegate ourselves to the “pick and choose” field, we’re a-ok.
Not so much fun for a rider (me) who wants to be up front behind the hounds jumping everything in sight on a fire breathing jumping machine, but mare and I have a long history and I’d not soon sell her. Horse #2 will come along soon enough, and that one will be my ideal field hunter.[/QUOTE]
Oh my goodness this really made me laugh : ) I am eventer who started working for a fox hunter a little over a year ago and recently after started dating a avid out every weekend fox hunter. Here are the little things I have noticed that a ideal hunt horse needs when jumping.
[QUOTE=ashley1069;5208676]
I’m always surprised when people come out without studs, heals or, at least, borium. These days we have the dreaded hard frost over hard ground. It might as well be frozen, and yet, people have no additional traction and are slipping all over the place.
If you have great sandy footing that may be one thing.
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