What do Hunter Jumper Judges Look For?

Hunter Jumpers are horses that combine two different equestrian disciplines into one sport of jumping and showmanship. Judges tend to be strict in this discipline because not only do the horses need to perform the physical aspect of the sport, but they need to look and act a certain way as well.

  1. Definition

    • Hunter Jumper originates from three equestrian sports; hunter, jumper and equitation. Hunters come from the days when horses were used in hunting with hound dogs. As such, horses were groomed to look clean for the hunt. Hunters are judged on appearance as well as jumping form. The horse's body should not look slumped or lazy when hurdling the fence. Timed jumper classes focus more on the agility and speed of a horse over a tough course of tall jumps and tricky turns. Equitation, or Hunter Jumper, involves both jumps and high grooming standards.

    Grooming Standards

    • Your horse needs to look clean, trimmed and polished for a turn in the arena. Generally, this means that your horse's mane needs to be combed and braided along the neck, or tied up with ribbons; some shows will allow manes that are simply combed and trimmed. Tail hair may have similar rules for grooming. Polished hooves are a must, as well as a clean, brushed coat free from dirt and other debris. Judges will also look at conformation, or the shape of your horse's legs and back and the size of head in relation to the body, to determine quality.

    Physical Attributes

    • Not only do horses need to be groomed, but they must be able to perform the course well. Simple hunter/jumper courses will usually have fewer, smaller jumps. Generally, judges want a horse that can smoothly jump over obstacles without stopping, skittering or bucking. Other penalties include knocking a pole off of a jump, not staying within the time limit, jumping out of sequence or your horses' complete refusal to jump the fence.

    Manners

    • Judges look for a quiet, well-mannered horse that turns gracefully and keeps a consistent pace. At the same time, judges watch for a good rapport between horse and rider in which a rider can correctly give cues and a horse responds accordingly with no refusal or skittering. A good team will transition smoothly between gaits and complete the course in a timely manner.