From: mary@dakar.watson.ibm.com (Mary McHugh)
Subject: Re: A Basic Glossary
Date: Tue, 01 Sep 92 17:09:31 GMT
Distribution: usa
Reply-To: mary@dakar.watson.ibm.com (Mary McHugh)
Organization: IBM TJ Watson Home for Tired Hackers

>How does hunter style differ from jumping?  
>	Jumpers differ from hunters in that the jumps they jump are much 
>taller, broader, and bolder colored.  These jumps are not designed to
>simulate natural obstacles at all.  Jumpers are not judged on appearance
>or form at all.  The only judge is the clock and the number of fences
>they knock down.  Knocking down a rail gives the competitor a certain 
>number of fault points, exceeding the allowed time also causes the 
>accumulation of faults.  Touches do not count, however when jumping a water 
>obstacle there is usually a board which the horse must not step on or
>they accumulate faults.  The lowest number of faults determines the
>winner.

Not to be picky, but touches DO count depending on which table is used to
score the jumper class.  The most basic difference between hunters & jumpers
is that a hunter is primarily judged upon his form over fences while a 
jumper only has to make it over the fence cleanly, regardless of his form.
However, the better form a jumper has, the easier it is for him to clear the
fence (USUALLY).  I believe there are four tables in the AHSA rule book.
The tables that I am most familiar with are Table II, Sec. 2a, Sec. 2b, and
Sec. 2c.  (Table II classes are commonly referred to as "Knockdown" classes,
as rubs/touches don't count).  2a and 2b require you to complete the first
round without any knockdowns and within the time allowed.  If there is more
than one person "clean" in the first round, a jumpoff is held over a shortened
course and against time.  The person with the least jumping faults and the
fastest time then wins (with faults counting first, of course).  The difference
between 2a and 2b is that in 2a, the jumpoff commences after all entries have
completed the first round.  In 2b, if you are clean in the first round, you 
have to stay in the ring and do the jumpoff.  In 2c, (sometimes called the
"power and speed" class), the first round and the jumpoff round are combined.
That is, the first 1/2 of the fences are at the max. height and width for the
division (i.e. the power section) and the second 1/2 of the fences are timed,
(i.e. the speed section).  There is a set of timers between the last power
fence and the first speed fence.  If you complete the power section cleanly,
then you go through the timers and complete the rest of the course while 
being timed.  Touch classes (also called Rub classes) are scored by counting
1/2 fault for each touch in front, and 1/4 for each touch behind (or vice 
versa, I'm always getting that confused).

Hunter fences are designed to mimic what might be found in the hunt field,
(i.e. brush, post&rail, coops, etc.).  Jumper fences are designed to be 
more colorful and varied as it is also a test of a horses obedience.

two BTWs:  #1) Grand Prix rules state that the horse must "lower the
height of the
fence" to be counted as a knockdown.  So, if a horse jars the fence, and the
top rails stay put but the bottom one(s) are knocked down, the fence is NOT
considered to be knocked down.
#2)  There are new jumper divisions for those of us who can't devote as much
time, energy, and money as we would like.  The Adult/Children Amateurs
is usually a 3'6" division (depending on the show) which is becoming extremely
popular.  There are also two leagues, the Marshall & Sterling and the National
Adult Amateur Jumping League, where we can actually win some pretty good 
money AND qualify for some indoor shows (M&S has its final at Washington).

Sorry this got so long, but I love a chance to talk about what I do! ;^)

Mary McHugh