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Hunt Seat

A horse that canters gracefully from fence to fence, effortlessly taking off at just the right spot, snapping his legs up evenly and rounding over the jump to land smartly on the other side and continue on course is worth his weight in gold in the hunter ring. The discipline of hunt seat has its roots in British fox hunting, hence the name. But most show hunters have never seen a jump outside of the show ring, since it is primarily an arena sport, offering both jumping and flat classes.

Hunt seat is extremely popular in the United States, and is the English discipline most often seen in riding arenas across the country.

Riders compete in a variety of classes, including equitation, where the rider’s performance is judged either on the flat or over fences; and hunters, where the horse’s form and style on the flat or over fences is judged. These classes are held within different divisions, based on the age and expertise of either horse or rider. Any number of breeds can participate in hunt seat classes, although Thoroughbreds are by far the most popular breed for this discipline.