May be a stupid question...build of hunter vs. eventer horse

[Crown_Royal]

When I see top hunters, they often have heavily muscled, cresty necks while a lot of top eventers have well muscled toplines, but without the crestiness.

Is this because eventers are more “marathon” type athletes with a different type of conditioning (gallop sets, for example) so they’re naturally leaner while hunters are fit, but not as lean? Does it have anything to do with their natural build or can any horse end up with that big crested neck if developed up to that level?

Sorry if this sounds stupid, I’m just genuinely curious and am not an upper level rider and do not have upper level horses so didn’t know. It’s just an observation (and obviously not all horses competing at the same level look the same). I think both types (eventers and hunters) are gorgeous athletes though.

[SnicklefritzG]

I think there are a lot of factors to take into consideration. There are a lot of TB’s i eventing or part-TB and they are naturally leaner. Also, there have been a couple of threads in the H/J forum where people have commented on the extra weight that some hunters are carrying. I’ve also heard some hunter people talk about wanting their horses to be “show plump”.

I think it’s also partly the nature of the competitions as well. Look at pro cyclists when they are in the height of racing season. Then look at them in the off season, or during retirement. They don’t look the same. I think it would be tough for some event horses to work the way they do and to look show plump.

[netg]

I think weight is one of the biggest factors.

Interestingly, as a dressage rider, I see both out there - the heavier, crestier from extra body fat types as well as the leaner, muscle mostly shows types. An eventer at the upper levels simply can’t carry that extra body fat. Hunters may put in a lot of effort while going over a jump, but overall are not stressing their bodies nearly in the way eventers do.

[BeeHoney]

The differences are due to weight, fitness, and type of work. Though, some of the difference is also due to the chosen breed (more TBs in eventing, more WBs in hunters) and also the chosen type of horse. A skinny looking TB who doesn’t have much of a natural neck isn’t as likely to be selected as a hunter prospect.

[Doctracy]

The last time I watched some a hunter class I was shocked at how obese the horses have become. Coming from the QH/APHA world, where the preference for a long,lean TB type is still in style, I have a hard time getting used to the obesity. Seems like it’s gotten worse in the past 5-10 years.

[GoodTimes]

Very few top level hunters that I know are actually “obese”. Do they carry more weight then most jumpers or eventers? yes. But do they have actual fat deposits over the crest, behind the withers, or beside the tailhead? No.

[findeight]

Think there is a different build involved. The Hunter folk like a level to slightly uphill build, might even sneak very, very slightly downhill in there. That build produces the type knee action desired and tends to occur mostly on fuller bodied horses of any breed. Nice shaped neck that comes out neither too high or too low is a plus too. Of course they need the step. No matter the breed, it’s a type.

Eventing has different needs, appearance is farther down the list and the body type that is most successful is leaner and more uphill. They do work harder too.

Fat or lean does not change that basic type best suited for the job. But, yeah, some Hunters are past pudgy but that not the sole cause if what OP is seeing.

[roamingnome]

I think it’s a bit more breed vs. weight. I’ve got a Dutch WB who is cresty no matter what- 8 months off and no muscle? Big crest. Very in shape, lean? Big crest. Super chubby and apparently pregnant with twins (kidding!)? Big Crest.

My TB is in great shape, and has great muscle in his neck, but, no big crest, a very slight one, but I doubt it will ever come close to my WB’s.

(Not saying this is true, just my experience)

[findeight]

My TB Hunter mare has a bit of a cresty neck, not thick but just has a nice arc…everybody thought she was Dutch. Air fern too.

[SnicklefritzG]

I wish I had the metabolism and bodyfat of my TB

[Doctracy]

What body score is considered obese? I’d swear some of the Hunter’s are a 7.

[findeight]

Some of the WBs are pretty beefy, almost drafty, not really that fat. Really don’t see that many that are really porked up jumping over 2’6" regularly, like two or three times a week. Certainly not 3’6" hitting the circuit all year.

Have seen some at lower level deliberately kept out of shape but those don’t get off the local level or see any big jumps, niether do their “trainers”.

Most are just big boys to start with. They really do have big bones.

[Ibex]

Taking my horse from being an eventer to a hunter/eq horse, her body is changing in a big way. We’re not doing the same endurance work, so she’s holding her weight better. We’re also asking her to carry herself differently so she’s building a different topline.

[Crown_Royal]

I thought it may have something to do with more TB’s in eventing and more WB’s (or WB types) in hunters but didn’t want to get into that since there are so many exceptions. But we can just say body type preferred… that makes sense.

[Highflyer]

Even TBs change tremendously as they get fitter and stronger. My last guy changed tree sizes (from a MW to a M) and blanket sizes (from an 81 to an 84) and that was just going from competing at Novice to competing at Training and schooling Prelim. And he was 11, not a young horse at all.

[Sing_Mia_Song]

Case in point of the change in muscling and weight: take a look at Trading Aces as an eventer and now as an equitation horse. He looks dramatically different.

If you’ve ever seen the 4* event horses in person, it’s amazing how much leaner they are and how much smaller they seem because of it. At the end of the weekend, many of them actually look pretty rough. Being a UL eventer is a tough job, and they need to be super fit to do it, especially as they go in any footing in any weather. I have huge, huge respect for those horses and the horsemen that manage them.

[JenEM]

[QUOTE=Sing Mia Song;8361755]
Case in point of the change in muscling and weight: take a look at Trading Aces as an eventer and now as an equitation horse. He looks dramatically different.

If you’ve ever seen the 4* event horses in person, it’s amazing how much leaner they are and how much smaller they seem because of it. At the end of the weekend, many of them actually look pretty rough. Being a UL eventer is a tough job, and they need to be super fit to do it, especially as they go in any footing in any weather. I have huge, huge respect for those horses and the horsemen that manage them.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, for a while there was an interesting contrast at my old barn, of a couple 1*/2* star horses across the aisle from a PSG dressage horse. So at roughly equivalent “levels” in their respective disciplines, and very different in builds. They were all very fit, but in very different ways–the dressage horse was certainly “beefier” looking, but you certainly wouldn’t look at the eventers and doubt that they were powerful. It’s just different muscles and fitness, like the difference between a ballerina and a wrestler.

[Mukluk]

[QUOTE=SnicklefritzG;8361321]
I wish I had the metabolism and bodyfat of my TB :([/QUOTE]

Me too. And lets add photogenic to the mix!

[cleozowner]

[QUOTE=findeight;8361422]
Most are just big boys to start with. They really do have big bones.[/QUOTE]

I am a small-animal vet, and this is very similar what I hear from people with overweight pets. Earlier this week I got the “We just have a big dog” line. Yes, you do have a big dog–she was big last year when I saw her at 100lbs but a healthy body condition. Now, at 114lbs, she is both big and overweight. You can be both. The next line I got from this guy was “Well, I don’t like how ‘skinny’ dogs look.”

Unfortunately, in dogs, cats, and horses, people like to see big and round and cute. If you see if often enough, it becomes your new “normal”–people are often SHOCKED to hear their animals are overweight–but that doesn’t make it healthy. (Conversely, I have Italian greyhounds with healthy, trim body weights, and I have often been chastised by little old ladies in pet stores for not feeding my dogs enough.)

[arapaloosa_lady]

[QUOTE=findeight;8361422]
Some of the WBs are pretty beefy, almost drafty, not really that fat. Really don’t see that many that are really porked up jumping over 2’6" regularly, like two or three times a week. Certainly not 3’6" hitting the circuit all year.

Have seen some at lower level deliberately kept out of shape but those don’t get off the local level or see any big jumps, niether do their “trainers”.

Most are just big boys to start with. They really do have big bones.[/QUOTE]

Most are big but that doesn’t mean they’re not also fat. The hunter aesthetic is for an overweight horse (not obese, no fat deposits on top hunters).