Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Take Your Time When Looking At Hunter Jumper Horses For Sale

By Frances Keith


When looking at advertisements for hunter jumper horses for sale, give careful consideration to the type of horse you wish to buy. Quality horses of this type are expensive. It may be difficult to recoup your purchase money if you find you have bought an unsuitable mount.

Perhaps you are hoping to show your new mount. If so, there are certain criteria you will be looking for. Classes for these horses may be held on the flat and/or over obstacles. The former will require a handsome, well-conformed horse. His ability to jump will not be so critical. If you wish to enter classes which test the entrants over obstacles, your horse will need to be both well-conformed and able to jump well.

Good conformation is essential. Without it, he will not be considered in the show-ring. The horse should stand squarely. An attractive head will catch the judge's eye. The forehead should be broad and the profile preferably concave or straight. The eyes should be large and friendly.

A nicely arched neck will fit well into a sloping shoulder. The withers should be well-defined. A straight shoulder will make the gaits short and choppy, giving an uncomfortable ride. In order to jump well, the hindquarters should be strong and muscular. The back should not be too long. Avoid a horse with a narrow chest as this means less room for the heart and lungs. The ribs must be well-sprung.

A horse with faulty legs will never succeed in the show-ring. The legs should be straight. The bone must be hard and strong with no blemishes such as splints or spavins. The hooves should not point in or out. The front hooves are often more oval in shape than the back hooves but each pair must be matching. Sloping pasterns are important as they take the shock of landing after a jump.

When you go to view a horse, inspect it first when it is standing quietly. Look at it from every angle. Ask the owner to walk and trot the horse away from you then straight back towards you. Look for straight action without excessive throwing of the feet to the sides. Then stand to one side and have the horse trotted past. The steps should be even with the hind feet stepping past the imprint made by the forefeet.

Check that it allow all four feet to be picked up one by one. Ask the owner to ride the horse before riding it yourself. It should stand quietly to be saddled and bridled. The owner should be able to mount without the horse moving off before being told to. Ask the owner to demonstrate its jumping ability if this is important.

After seeing the horse ridden, you can ask to try it yourself. Be content to walk it around for a while first. It should feel as though it is stepping in a regular rhythm. It must be obedient to your commands. And don't forget, when viewing hunter jumper horses for sale, the colour of the horse is the least important factor.




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