[SSacky]

I'm curious, I've seen quite a few big hunter classes live streamed and I've seen quite a few of the riders take 2 or 3 strides after the jumps to return to their normal canter seat. Made sense to me considering these horses have to have really round jumps to compete in hunters at that level, plus these were classes at 4' which is quite big for a hunter.

I was at a show this weekend and saw this happening in the 3' classes with some of the pro riders in my area, so now I'm confused, is it a voluntary thing that riders to in order to get the best jump out of the horse, or is it just a reaction to the roundess?

[pixie]

A good Hunter is going to land off the jump softly not pulling you anywhere.
There is not the factor of gaining immediate control after the jump like in the Jumpers.
Also, when the rider doesn't react to get the horse back the horse will usually stay softer...so staying forward keeps you out of the horses way and less likely to react.

[pippinpony]

Please keep in mind I am NOT A PRO. I am an amateur that is fairly successful.

I never understood the point. I always sit right back up(not bolt upright immediatley after), as if I'm in an equ class. It's easier for me to collect my horse, do a change if nessesary, and get back to bussiness.

I don't have that 'recovery period'. None of the horses I've ever ridden put up with being dropped after the jump, and I've even ridden a few that would take advantage of that 'rest'. If I don't start riding fairley soon after, I find my horse just gets really low and kinda running; messy.

The pro's do not often look like that though, so maybe it is something to do with training of the horse? Probably to do with the superior quality of riding, too! I'm sure that there is a purpose, I just don't know what it is. Someone help me?

[Fluffie]

I don't have that 'recovery period'. None of the horses I've ever ridden put up with being dropped after the jump, and I've even ridden a few that would take advantage of that 'rest'. If I don't start riding fairley soon after, I find my horse just gets really low and kinda running; messy.

What you've described above IS the purpose of not gaining control--to show that the horse won't "take advantage" of being left to carry himself. It is also often a trick have the horse appear to jump big and round; it takes a stride or so to "recover" from the excellence.

[Westlake Farm]

It's usually to allow the horses to finish the jump plus it also helps to show the judge that the horse stays soft after the fence as well. Hunters is all about softness, keeping the same rhythm, "no emotions" etc..

[CBoylen]

Staying over after the jump allows the horse to finish the jump and to make the most out of the first few steps in the lines. Sitting up is a collecting move and can interrupt the rhythm. You'd rather allow the stride to be established in the beginning of the line so that you can balance at the end for the best jump out, versus having to ride up to the out at the end.

[Summit Springs Farm]

Staying foreWard after the jump indicates to the horse, go forward with a flowing stride.when the rider sits up he is saying whoa, or steady, or balance for the next jump, it's all very subtle oe it should be.
We have one horse that when he jumps super round he throws me so far forward, I couldn't snap back if I wanted too!

[Kryswyn]

The best horseman I knew could make any horse he rode look lovely, smooth, round and stabilized over a course of fences. But if you looked at his position you would swear he'd never had even one lesson with Littauer, let alone been a full time student of his.

After many, many years of training horses he had what I call "the trainers hunch" always perfectly balanced over the horse's center of balance (just behind the withers) with a rock solid leg position. If he needed to, he could easily drop into the saddle and collect or push, but mostly his position gave the horse the freedom to go forward and find their own balance and stride.