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  Discussion on Jumper to hunter
Author Message
New Member:
Astrea

Posted on Monday, Apr 17, 2006 - 11:50 pm:

How safe a/o wise is it to look in the jumper ring for a potential 4' hunter? I can't seem to find a nice 3'6" to 4' hunter that is affordable...
Member:
Aannk

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 18, 2006 - 10:58 am:

Just have to say, there is a reason you can't find an affordable nice 3'6" to 4' hunter, they are worth their weight in gold. Many jumpers end up there because they can't be hunters, but some jumpers just go higher because they could and the owner didn't want to wait around at hunter shows. So, you could find something nice, but you will probably have to look around quite a bit and you also need to consider the personality of the horse and how it was ridden. Some horses can do both in one day, but others, once ridden jumper, can't seem to get back.
Good luck!
New Member:
Astrea

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 18, 2006 - 7:39 pm:

Thanks for the realism! Do you think that a horse coming from the jumper ring is going to have more chances of having leg problems or is it all pretty much the same risk? I am hoping to find one with lots of talent who is just not happy doing the jumpers... Wishful thinking, hmm?
Member:
Aannk

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 19, 2006 - 9:31 am:

Astrea,
I think it really is more of an issue of how the horse is cared for and its fitness program than what it does, though jumpers is pretty tough on the legs. Racing is tougher, and if you get a sound off the track TB, you have one tough horse! Also, eventing is harder on the legs than jumpers. So, all in all, I would say that jumpers is a bit harder on the legs than say a hunter or a dressage or western pleasure horse, but there are sports that are worse.
I think it is much more common for a horse that isn't happy doing jumpers to move on to a non jumping sport than the hunters. Just my experience, which I admit is limited.
Alicia
New Member:
reeders

Posted on Monday, Feb 19, 2007 - 6:13 pm:

Astrea,
My second show hunter I have bought is an Irish TB mare. She was a 5'2" jumper unti the age of 14 and I retrained her to be a hunter. She's the most spirited and athletic horse I've ever ridden but she was willing to please. It took 6 months of flat work and re-training her in basic commands to get her to slow down her trot and canter. Once I got her to relax and stop being so stiff she began jumping around any hunter course with a steady pace. We've been champions at several shows after that first year of re-training. So it is possible to take a jumper into a hunter ring and be successful.
In my experience, if you have the patience to work and get a jumper to re-learn how to jump in the hunter style it is wise & even safer than taking a horse of the track or another dicipline. Jumpers are taught to never refuse a jump and be bold, hence they are not skiddish and are always looking for the next jump (and not around the ring at all the "scary" stuff.) But you have to be patient. I was also told horses are made jumpers because they aren't flashy or skilled enough at hunters. I believe horses are made to be jumpers because they are athletic enough and are maybe more challenging than the laid-back, push button horses people expect hunters to be.

Goodluck!
Shannon
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