Hunter horse flatwork?

Question

I'm training my horse in Hunter (mainly over fences) riding. Should his flatwork be dressage or is there another type of flatwork that just hunters do? How does dressage and Hunter flatwork compare? I know that sounds a little dumb, but I'm a former eventer and I'm a bit confused here. Help would be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

If you dont do proper flat work your horse will always never reach his/her full potential over fences. You need to do transistions(lots) and leteral work such as sitting trot  on a figure of eight and leg yeilds and counter canter etc.

Answer 2

The hunter frame is different from a dressage frame and is more natural. The hunter frame has them hold their head lower and their neck not so arched.

My new mare used to be a dressage horse but I do hunters with her now and my trainer thinks she actually prefers the hunter frame compared to the dressage frame and goes better in that frame. But on the other hand, the dressage training has made her really light and she is really floaty and does really great lead changes. So there are good benefits either way I suppose.

Hope I could help!

Answer 3

Although I've been out of touch for some years, I showed hunters at the A-circuit level many years ago. Hunter flat and dressage flat are very different. In hunters, you want a long, low line. You do not want the neck up, strong poll flexion, and a vertical headset of dressage. You want the neck further down, in a relaxed manner, and the head can be carried closer to a 45 degree angle. Your reins should be much looser than in dressage.  Remember that your goals in the hunter ring are to make this ride look completely effortless!  You want your horse to appear that he is very easy to ride, and moves evenly and smoothly with no help from you.  His/her strides should be longer and with less "action" than in dressage.

Of course, it's a lot of effort to achieve that look!!

Answer 4

for me, i do dressage when were doing flat work, because

1. it really really builds up his top line and gives him great muscles

2. it calms him down and puts his attention on me and not all the distractions

and 3. it helps my posture and my horse's too

=]

Answer 5

I am not really sure on American comps, but basically, flat work and dressage are the same thing. Schooling exercises are also flat work and dressage.(it all adds to the same thing) All kinds of schooling/flat work will help your jumping. To sum up, the idea is to make the horse more responsive, to balance him and make him supple. The level to which you take things depends on the experience of yourself as his trainer/rider and his natural ability (determined through his breeding.) Good luck and have fun.

Answer 6

I jump hunter and ride in local shows

It's mainly equitation and pleasure riding

Traditional W/T, W/T/C or W/T/C/G

You know depending on how advanced you are

When I ride, before I put her over any fences, I always walk until she is calm and walking willingly and not too fast, change directions and do the same thing, then move to a trot in both directions till its perfect then canter in both directions. Shes also really witty so I constantly put her in circles [not too small] and out think her before she out thinks me. Also I always have my trainer there to give me tips as to how to get my horse to give and also remind me of my posture because thats what hunter riding is all about. POSTURE POSTURE POSTURE!