I was told by someone that there is 2 different ways to ride hunt seat. There was one referred to as a hunter type and a breed type. Can someone help me understand the difference? They also said, that the breed riding caused inverted back but the hunter type doesn’t.
They were probably referring to the Hunt seat classes in the Stock breed shows. These horses usually look like they are western horses with English tack. The riders usually have their feet on the dashboard, and the horses are so low in front/on the forehand that the notion of popping over a jump would seem dangerous. The term I’ve heard for this is “wenglish”.
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ASB also have hunt seat classes and many of those horses are washouts from saddleseat programs, yes they might have a tendency to invert due to their saddleseat training. Poll high, head behind the vertical, action is high showy trot as opposed to a lower daisy cutting trot, they run from high action to more low action… Most QH are expected to self carry so they have a longer rein and longer flatter head carriage with a very relaxed daisy cutting trot. With the lower head carriage and the expectation to self carry they probably invert less or not at all. The higher pinning horses at major QH shows are more standard hunt seat than Wenglish. I beleive Arabs and Morgans also have hunt seat classes.
They also have different equipment that is used customarily, so generally there is say a Kimberwicke for a Stock horse and a Full bridle for an ASB where one would expect to find a D ring snaffle or a pelham. Tails on ASB are carried high vs Stock where a quiet and low tail carriage is preferred. Both of the breeds have been found to use artificial means to encourage correct tail carriage, which is troubling.
There are examples on youtube though the standard Hunt seat are almost all over fences. Google ASB hunter over fences and you may get AQHA as well.
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What breed are you talking about? Breed shows require the horse to exhibit breed type and include it in the scoring. That make a big difference in how the horse will go compared with Open which looks for a single ideal despite breed or type.
Plus that there’s good breed show Hunt seat and bad breed show Hunt seat. Not all stock breeds go “ Wenglish” or saddle types invert, that’s bad riding/training.
Best thing to do is watch videos of the championship level shows, not depend on third party observations or less competitive shows. Even with Open shows there’s some pretty iffy riding and training not be assumed to represent the ideal. Just because you see it doesn’t mean it’s right.
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Yes, “someone” could be basing their comments on the failings of local coaches or shows. I’ve seen some horrific bitting setups at rated HJ show warmups BTW.
Looking up the videos of the best online and training your own eye to see correct movement is a great idea. Then you know when “someone” or anyone is correct and when they are just spreading malicious gossip.
I show aqha and have shown usef previously. A good hunt seat horse and rider is a good hunt seat horse and rider in either spots. The bad have a tendency to fit stereotypes. Heavy on forehand, short strides, crazy, won’t listen etc etc. but i can take my horse that wins on the aqha circuit to a hunter show and win there. And no one believes he’s a qh. And this has happened with numerous quarter horses. The stereotype does exist, but it’s just that. A stereotype. Most especially the good ones are not like that at all
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