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.

The conformation of a horse is very important. If he is not well put together, he will not be able to perform to the best of his ability. Horsemen speak of good horses as having 'a leg at each corner'. This means he stands squarely and in a balanced manner. He should have an attractive head with large eyes, a broad forehead and preferably a straight or concave profile.

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 inspect a horse that is for sale, firstly view him from all angles. Have him walked and trotted away from and towards you. He should travel in a straight line without throwing the legs out to the side. Watch the horse from the side too. That way, you will be able to tell if he is stepping short with one leg. A horse that moves well will use his hindquarters properly will overstep the imprints of the front hooves.

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.

If the horse seems safe and obedient, you may want to try it for yourself. Let it walk around for a short time before asking it to trot and canter. The gait should be even and regular underneath you. You should feel in control. And remember, when looking at hunter jumper horses for sale, the last consideration should be its colour.




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