Why do people show hunters?

Question

personally, i hate it. WITH PASSION. the only respect i give to the "sport" are the poor ponies and horses that work so hard for the rich kids. now im not saying everyone that competes/schools hunters is rich, or doesnt work hard, but i have seen way too much:

bad crest release(as in leaning on the neck)

over exxagerated posture (gymnast-like)

ducking over puny 2'3'' fences.

on the forehand

loose lower leg

this does NOT in now way RESEMBLE the hunt field.

or does it?

please explain how it does.

Answer 1

The whole point of showing is to let everyone see what you're capable of, what you can learn. It's also to show off the animal you have worked so hard to mesh with.

Do any other disciplines RESEMBLE real life? Thoroughbreds surely do not hold their own races out on the plains for the fun of it. I'm sure the warmbloods over in Europe don't jump six foot walls because they want to. Who cares what it 'resembles?' It's a sport that requires hard work and time, same as all the others. Some people are a little more gifted than others but the same holds true for every single sport out there. And as for your respect, well, you're allowed to throw it wherever you feel like. Maybe you should broaden your horizons a little before you decide to be narrow-minded about these things.

I'm tired of quarterbacks that get sacked and wide recievers who fumble and a line of defense my mother could collapse, but I'm not complaining.

Answer 2

I've seen many of the things you hate, but I still love the sport.  Plenty of kids work their way through, owning and caring for their own animals and not having anything handed to them.  When they get in the ring, though, the idea is to make it look like it's easy!  Keep that in mind.  It's a lot of hard, hard, work to make it look effortless.

In the hunt field, things tend to be a bit more rough and ready, riding wise, but traditionally the grooming, braiding, attire, and horses are much the same.  I hunted when I grew up, and things had to be immaculate, even though you were going to sweat and splash through mud and generally return a mess.  Jumping in a group, people aren't quite as cool and collected and it can get...  let's just call it exciting!  ;)  Equitation can definitely suffer.  Nowadays, I think it's all more casual, but you'll still see a lot of the same stuff as in the ring.

Answer 3

Hunters are judged on how "pretty" you and your horse look over the fences and around the course.. anyone who has the bad problems you mentioned.. will not win..

people do it because they like it.. same like everything else..

I started out riding at a hunter/jumper stable.. but fell in love with arabs and switched...

NO  - not everyone who rides hunters is rich.. there was one hard working kid.. he worked at the stables after school... his mom was poor single parent.. this boy saved up his money and bought a wonderful QH x and was one of the best owners in the stable.. he turned into a good hunter/jumper rider..