hey, i'm a western rider interested in getting into english, jumping is where i'm wanting to head. i was just wondering what the difference is between hunter and equitation? and also, what is the purpose of a double bridle?

hey! welome! i think its cool you wanna start riding english and jump. first, you need to learn how to ride english on the flat, then youll prob start jumping. its alot different than western!


in the hunters, its all about the horse. they judge your horse on the way he/she moves through a course. if he rushes the course and makes it look sloppy, or shows manners through out the jumps. there is usually a flat phase, like jumping, its judge on ur horse. also, in the jumping and flat phase, ur horse does need to move pretty and look relaxed. it is not timed, and like all classes that has jumping in it, your chances of winning r over if u get a rail down, if ur horse refuses to jump, and of course if u fall off your horse.



in the eq, its the rider. eq is alot more complicated, yet very fun! you learn alot and doing good in the eq will def make ur future with horses bright. most of the popular eq classes, its for junior rider, riders who r under 18. when jumping a eq course, make sure to show off ur style. and have good postion! your not going to win if your flopping all around. like in the hunters, there r flat phases and you cant fall and ur horse cant refuse to jump. but, if u get a rail down, you may still place in the top 10 or so, because unlike the hunters, the judges may decide that ur horse didnt jump high enough. or they may think you caused it. in eq course, you will encounter roll back, when you jump a jump and take a tight turn that tests u, and jump another jump. you may also come ascross wingless jumps, jumps with no standers. horses may spook at these. but it is very fun and i think you should def. do it once youve mastered the basics. HOPE THIS HELPS! GOOD LUCK



ps. double bridles are used in dressage, where there is no jumping. they are bridles with two bits.

oh i get it its like horsemanship and western pleasure in western riding. i did a fair bit of showing in western when i was younger mostly barrels and poles. at the moment i'm training horses for a near-by ranch, which is inside a provincal park (i live in canada). so i have tons of trails to ride through and stuff.

theres a huge cross country course in there that i go to and jump the lower ones in my western saddle, which is a little uncomfortable but they're aren't any english saddles laying around so its the best i can do.

my mom says i'm dead if she ever hears i've been jumping haha, cause shes paranoid. anyways the only thing is i have nobody to teach me or give me pointers so i basically am learning from my mistakes, and its also a lot more difficult by the fact that my horse started jumping when i did, she is really good at it so far, but if i'm atempting a jump thats a little to high for my comfort zone, she refuses it, but i eventually get her over it no matter how awkward she does it haha otherwise i'll have a problem later on

double bridles are a practice in subtlety...ie only used by educated horses and riders (hence dressage riders 4th level+ using them). You most certainly CAN jump in them and they are frequently seen in fox hunter classes.

yeah, i've seen double bridles in jumping and stuff, but i heard that the snaffle you use for turning and stopping and the curb is for flexing at the poll...?

^ not really, a full cheek snaffle is for turning because it increases the pressure on the side of the mouth.

the double bridle amplifies the movements of the hands....one pound of pressure on the reins equals more on the mouth, therefore the rider can communicate in very minute movements with the horse. One of those movements being having to use less hand to gain poll flexion, steering, half halting ect...

yeah i get that, but why use a double bridle verses a regular snaffle or other choice off bit? besides if it is required in a class or anything

well, in dressage above 4th level is is required that you use a double bridle. For hunters it can be a preference for tradition, plus it shows you and your horse aare advanced enough and understand enough subtlety to use such a piece of equiptment.

If you are teaching yourself, maybe you should go to a small local show and see how you are judged and ask the judges for pointers, or you could go to a big show like washington and watch riders there and study how they ride. also, ive never watched them but iheard that there are lessons on youtube.

ok thanks, yeah right beside the ranch i'm riding at is the MHC (manitoba horse council) and they have hunter jumper comititions a couple times a month and i ride over and watch. but maybe i'll go check out those videos thanks

no prob