Back to Results Index

UNDERSTANDING HUNTERS
BY Diana De Rosa

Those involved in the hunter industry understand what a good hunter is, but what if you are not a rider or even a horse enthusiast. I chatted with the judges at the Legacy Cup and asked them how they would help spectators understand what to look for when watching the hunters in action. Here's what they had to say.

George Wallace - Raleigh, North Carolina
To begin with, the Legacy Cup is going to help the sport of hunters by making it more exciting to watch. It is going to help the general public understand the sport. It will also make it more interesting because there are so many different categories. In any one class they are vying for a variety of awards. The fact that the scores are given after each round is a huge help. The scores really help to keep people in tune, whereas at the regular hunter horse show you watch trip after trip and there are no numbers and no categories. You have to sit for a long time before you find out what the standings are. In this system after each trip you know what is going on. If you come to watch someone you know immediately how well he or she did.

Someone new to the sport should look for evenness and a horse that jumps all of the fences the same. I think it is easy to see when one makes a major mistake or when something different
happens, such as a fall, refusal, or touching the fence.

PATRICK RODES - Argyle, Texas
Patrick was not only wearing the hat of a judge but also was the course designer.

ABOUT THE COURSE - I've tried to change the course and make it more interesting and throw some other ideas in so that it gives it a different look. There was an aiken, aiken in and out that I put in because I like a jump that is full of brush because the horses jump it well. It's got a lot of presence and they seem to jump it better. They get used to the same type of fence so it is a different look, but yet an old look. It perks them up a little bit.

WATCHING THE CLASS - I would try to explain to those watching what we are looking for in a nice horse. We want an attractive horse that presents himself well, moves well, jumps well, canters around the ring evenly and smoothly, jumps round and is soft at the jumps.

HUNTERS - I think hunters are more of an acquired taste. For the newcomer it is going to be hard for them to appreciate it. There are very few and far between good hunters. I think it is a very fine line. There is so much that makes a great winner. There are a lot that do different things well, but to put it all into one package is hard.

LIZA DENNEHY - Denver, Colorado

HUNTERS - Figure skating is judged on style and performance. You judge on the quality or style of the horse and how did they go that day and how was that particular performance. It is easier for people who know horses. They tend to look the same to people who haven't done it. You could explain major faults. Everyone understands smooth and even. They wouldn't have a clue if you said even hunter pace. It's not just the knees; it is the whole athletic movement. A lot of horses can use their knees well but they are not athletic. You are looking for an athlete. They all do the same job - a lot of horses can jump eight jumps but it is how they jump the eight jumps. The two main things are the consistency - just every jump matches - all the jumps the same and then the quality of the horse and the performance. How many jumps did they hit - or did they go rub clean. It depends on how hard they hit it. You definitely want a clean jumper. You have all these things to consider. How much do I like this horse? Did they hit the jump in front and in back? Most people would agree that one or two rubs are okay - but once they rub four plus jumps they will be taken down quite a bit for it. It shows they are not awake. Not that they will be penalized as much as those making worse mistakes.

JEFF WIRTHMAN - Island Lake, Illinois

HUNTERS - I think the beauty of the hunters…It's like ice skating…Everything should be invisible - all of the moves should be invisible and when they do something they do it like a 10. They get points for manners, way of going and movement. A horse can jump beautifully and move poorly. It takes away from the beauty of the round. It is choppier.

Hunters are like the hockey of our sport. All of the top jumper riders were at one time great hunter riders - Katie Prudent - Leslie Burr Lenehan - Margie Goldstein - all of them rode hunters. And they were great hunter riders but now they specialize in the other venues. Margie Goldstein Engle rode Sneak Preview - January's Best's mother. She never rode jumpers back then - she rode all hunters. The horse's head was bigger than her.

Holly Hays is just starting to change and go into the jumper ranks. She's at the top of the heat in the hunters and now she's going for the jumpers.

SCOTT WILLIAMSON - Wellington, Florida

Hunters - I would try to explain that it is very similar to ice skating and gymnastics. It is judged on the form, style and accuracy, where this is judged on their style of jumping, their smoothness and their overall appeal. It is much more discreet - subjective to the eye and the opinion of the person judging. They would have to become interested in learning the beauty and style of the sport to appreciate it.

JOHN ROPER - Franklin, Tennessee

Hunters - Look for the horse that has a nice big stride that jumps slow and meets his fences right in stride. The system of doing hunters is great for teaching children their basics, to get a good sense of pace. It's great groundwork for going on to the jumpers.

BRIAN LENEHAN - Southern Pines, North Carolina

Hunters - Looking for the best one on any given day - it's very subjective. A nice horse that is going around, is athletic, has all the tools, is well turned out and properly prepared. Athletic meaning uses all his parts - great balance and you can tell by his expression he enjoys what he is doing. You look at him and know that no parts are restricted and he has a nice round jump. The one that comes in and stays even and jumps them all the same and effortless is going to be the winner.

Rider - I like somebody that is very relaxed and not stiff. Riding their horse forward - loose and a forgiving forearm and hand - nice balance with their seat - the less they do the better; Also, not too much pushing and pulling.

RUSSELL FREY - Hume, Virginia

Hunters to me is similar to ballet, everything should be smooth. There shouldn't be any dramatic transitions. Everything should flow together and be well orchestrated as opposed to watching some of the jumper rounds that look more like championship wrestling, which in theory is the last one standing wins.