Hunter AND Eq. Horse?

[gloryrider]

I'm in the market for a new horse. My barn just got a new horse from Florida, a pretty grey 16.2 hh TB gelding who was doing the 3'6" stuff before he came here. He's a sale horse, I don't think orginally sent up for me to try out, but I did anyway, and I love him. He's an awesome horse, really fun to ride, a bit strong but not overly so. He's got a super canter, huge stride, and an awesome (but hard) jump. IF we bought him, which may or may not happen (he's got a higher price than in the price range we were orginally looking for), I would show him in the Childrens and later the Junior Hunters. :D But I also really like doing the eq. stuff.

So, my question is, do you think he might be able to cross-enter into the Medals and Maclays and such sucessfully as well as the hunters? The only reason I'm worried is that his jump is really powerful, and people always say to get a horse that jumps flatter to do the eq. stuff (that was, btw, the orginal plan; to get an eq. horse that could do okay in the hunters as well). His jump is a bit hard to stay with, especially for me, who usually rode my large pony, who did not jump as hard or have as big as a stride. It's getting easier to stay with him, and I've only ridden him a couple times, but still, do you think it would be too difficult to have that good of a jumper in the eq. classes?

Thanks for your opinions, I'm torn.

[Pinnacle]

I definately think it is doable. Yes, the classic eq horse has a flatter jump, but in my honest opinion, a judge would prefer to see a rider that is able to sit a round jump than one who simply sits unjostled by a flat, easy jump. Try out the children's and the 3' medals.. my horse has been doing those. He does not by any means have a flat jump, in fact, he has an extremely hard jump to ride.. but we have always done very well in the medals, consistantly in the ribbons.

It's kind of up to you. If you want a horse that is going to do well in the hunters, you NEED one that is going to jump well and move well. If you want to do well in the eqs, you can either get a horse with a flat jump and do less work, or you can get one with a round jump and put a lot of effort into conditioning your muscles and learning how to stay with his jump. You could very easily do well in both hunters and eqs with a powerful jumper, but you would very likely have trouble being competitive in the hunters with a flat jumper.
I know someone who has a horse witha gorgeous jump.. round and tight, and she does the eqs and does extremely well. it all depends on how much effort you're willing to put in and how well you want to do overall. Like I said.. I think a judge would rather see a rider than can ride than a rider that can pose.. so if you're willing to actually learn to ride the jump, then go for it.
JMO :)

[IlovePizza]

I have a junior hunter that I show in the eq and it is totally doable. My horse has a harder jump than most eq horses, but you learn to ride it so that it looks normal, as in you don't look left behind - but you might not have the perfect eq body over fences which in my opinion does not totally matter in the eq...just make sure that the horse can do all the rollbacks and bending lines and trot fences and halts etc...also keep in mind that he might not be able to do the USET or the jumper medals which might change your mind about buying him...On my horse, I have had SO much fun being able to do the Junior Hunters as well as the eq as opposed to only the eq, so if you can handle the horse I say go for it...

[callais]

hey i have a hunter that i show in the juniors and all the hunter medals. He jumps super round, hes like a little ball, but ive learned to ride him, hes not easy to ride in the medals but its been a great learning experience and id say hes pretty competitive in both

[ProvidenceJRhtr]

Wow, same as Callais and Taylor, I use my Hunter as an Eq horse all the time, he doesnt always do the roll backs as smooth as the other horses so you just take the outside turns, it still has never kept me from being competitive at all. He does jump really round but I have learned to stay with it and make it look easily done, so you could do the same. Good luck with horse hunting or your new horsey!!! :D

[gloryrider]

Okay, thanks guys. I'm glad to hear so many sucess stories about it. I really like this horse, and thanks to you people, I'm now going to try extra hard to convince my parents to buy him. But, if we can't get him, then the search continues!