What Makes A Good Eq Horse?

“They have to be super brave, they can’t be spooky and chicken and in general you like them to be quiet.” He points out that “the really high ended equitation horses are beautiful movers and beautiful jumpers. The really good ones are fancy horses.” Today’s equitation horse is successful in multiple rings.

What do equitation judges look for?

Horses are judged on several points, including: hunting pace, movement, style of jumping, and manners. Riders are judged on their position (equitation), ability to communicate and control their mount with invisible aids, and ability to execute the questions posed on course.

What is good equitation?

Dressage, eventing, and even trail riding all require good equitation as well. Great riders help their horses move and jump well with a classic position: heels down, base of position is centered and with the motion of the horse, legs at the proper angles, upper body in balance with the horse’s motion.

How do you win an equitation class?

To win an equitation round of class the rider has to get the judges attention. It will be flawless and flow smoothly and immediately catch the judges eye as soon as the entry comes in the gate. For ‘flat’ equitation classes, riders should use invisible aids.

What is the difference between an equitation horse and a hunter?

Hunter Equitation
A good way to remember the difference between hunter and equitation is that in hunter classes, the rider shows off the horse. In equitation classes, the horse shows off the rider. In equitation, the rider’s job is to “make it look easy”. Riders are judged on position, style, and quietness.

Do you sit the canter in an equitation class?

Seat: You should sit in the saddle in an equitation class, feeling your saddle with your seat bones. You will use this deeper seat in all gaits unless asked to hand gallop. Don’t use a half-seat at the canter!

Do you jump in equitation?

Show jumping, is a part of a group of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. Jumping classes are commonly seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics.

What is big EQ?

Medal Classes (Big Eq):
Medal Classes are the bigger, more challenging version of Equitation classes, with separate phases and testing. They are called Medal classes because when they began in the 1930’s, riders were awarded actual medals! Even though now it’s down to big ribbons, they name has stuck around.

Can your horse wear boots in equitation?

Jumper Equitation Extras
In jumper equitation classes, it’s expressly allowed to use bit converters, nose nets, and conservatively colored boots and bandages on the legs (no bandages or wraps can be used anywhere else, including belly bands).

What is a good seat in riding?

An effective seat allows riders to feel what the horse is doing. It’s soft and following. The rider’s core is engaged but not tense; her core muscles tighten and release in rhythm with the horse’s back, picking up the signals it sends without static interference, and without causing discomfort to the horse.

Can you wear a green coat in the equitation?

Riders are required to wear conservatively colored coats (black, blue, green, grey or brown) which are free from adornment which in the judge’s opinion is overly distracting. Shirts must have a choker, similar collar or tie. Breeches may be buff, canary, tan, rust or white.

What’s the difference between equitation and pleasure?

English Equitation: Judged on how well the rider can handle the horse and their balance. A pattern is usually involved. Western Pleasure: Similar to the other pleasure classes as it is judged on the horse, but the horse must move like a western horse (i.e. at a slower rate than in English).

What is equitation discipline?

This discipline is also referred as the horse ballet as the riders and their horses are judged for their accuracy of movement, calmness, suppleness, and flexibility by five judges. Here the horse’s form and its enthusiasm to perform each element with minimum inciting and motivation from the rider is judged.

Is hunter or jumper easier?

Because of its straightforward scoring system, show jumping is usually easier for beginners to appreciate.

Are hunters harder than jumpers?

A few other differences between jumpers and hunters are that hunters courses are generally pretty easy and straightforward whereas the jumper courses are more difficult with harder turns and trickier combinations.

How do you judge hunter equitation?

Equitation is judged on the rider and her/his effect on the horse wile executing a pattern. The class is judged 75% on pattern work and 25% on rail work (usually following the pattern work). While judged on the flat, the class provides a base for natural progression to over fence class.

Which leg do I ask for canter with?

If the horse moves the haunches (“Traverses himself”) in, ask for the canter with your inside leg at the girth. This way, you will control the inside hind and stop the horse from coming inside the arena. Use the outside leg slightly behind the girth with straight horses. Do not put your outside leg too far back.

Is it OK to canter on hard ground?

If you’re worried about hard ground and the effect this could have on your horse, try to limit or avoid cantering on it where possible, we recommend maintaining a slower-paced gait – walk or trot, so the force going through your horse’s joints isn’t as strong.

Which leg goes first in canter?

The rider initiates the canter by using his outside leg because the horse uses his outside hind leg to push off the ground and to initiate canter: If it’s the left-lead canter, the right hind leg starts to push off the ground and if it’s the right-hand canter, the horse starts off push off the ground with the left hind

How often should you jump your horse?

Repetitive jumping is not something that is good for you or your horse due to the impact of jumping on both of your joints. So, jump schools should be limited to no more than three times a week.

Why does showjumping have 4 faults?

The “faults” include knocking down poles or elements of a jump, refusing to jump an obstacle, running past obstacles, the rider falling off or the combination taking longer than the time allowed to complete the course.