Opinions Please - Hunter or Riding Horse?

[xsamx]

Well, im putting my order in for Lizzie's new saddle tomorrow considering we wont be jumping again! When i first had her i was showing her as a riding horse..but then i wanted to do working hunter so started to show her as a hunter and have been doing all of 2007.

Do you think she is a Hunter or a Riding Horse?

It will either be straight cut saddle with a fancy browband or working hunter saddle with plain hunter bridle.

She is quite stocky in a fine way LOL!! I dont think she is really either. She looks miniature in a hunter class and huge in a riding horse class!!

Just general opinions would be great, doesnt matter weather you show or not, just what you would class her as.

This is the only pic i have with the fancy browband on:


And the tack i have been showing in this year:








Thanks in advance.

[megnum]

I would say perhaps hunter

[horsey123]

i would say hunter too

[emily99]

I'd say hunter.. how big is she though?

You may want to invest in a dark havanna wider bridle though, with a flat noseband+browband to show her head off a bit more.

If you want to do higher levels then a straight cut saddle would also help to show off her shoulder and complete the picture as your current saddle is a bit bright and draws the eye to it rather than to your horse.

[xsamx]

She is 16hh

I am having a havana one made ive shown county level in that tack all year and the judges loved it!! They always said it was nice to see something different for a change, i love my ginger tack lol!!

Hunter it is then

[emily99]

Good luck, will prob see you around then! i have to say your brave showing a complete grey!

[xsamx]

9 times out of ten im usually the only person with a grey LOL!!! I wouldnt have any other colour!! I always wanted a white horse

[cubic]

I think you'll find at local level you'll be better in hunter classes, but at county level you may be better in riding horses - as you say, due to her height and type she's a bit in between classes, but at local level the horses in the hunter classes tend to me more her size. For me she's more of a hunter type, but at county level other hunters would tower over her. Is there any chance she'd measure at 15.2hh without shoes?

[bumble]

I have the same prob with eddie hes a bit in between but always opt for the hunter class ;D
He won at county level this year so cant be too far wrong ;D
Shes lovely btw
heres my lad
bumble xx

[xsamx]

She just scrapes 16hh so without shoes she probably would just make 15.2 She looks massive when i ride her and little without any tack..it confuses me lol

[cubic]

xsamx said:

She just scrapes 16hh so without shoes she probably would just make 15.2 She looks massive when i ride her and little without any tack..it confuses me lol

That's an easy decision then. Get her measured at 15.2hh and you have a full up small hunter - one set of tack, and you can still do WH too. That's what I'd do if she were mine.

[specialsparkle3]

I agree with Cubic. My first thoughts were that she is a "Huntery " Riding horse, rather than a Riding Horsey Hunter, if you know what I mean. She would look tiny in Hunters at County level, but I agree she could do them at local level.

I suspect Cubic is wondering if there is any way you can get her measured at 15.2 without shoes, so she could be a Small Hunter, but from the photos, I don't think there would be enough of her, as they should be small middleweights. :)However, photos can lie. How much bone does she have ( just below the knee) ?

[specialsparkle3]

oops crossed posts, I'm so slow. Sam's looks like a Riding Horse on that photo lol

[xsamx]

Thanks for all your help!! I will probably go for a straight cut saddle with a flat noseband. I dont think i can go wrong with a straight cut saddle really!

I will mesure her bone tomorrow if i remember

[Cheryl Walmsley]

i know nothing about showing but she's gorgeous sam!