Hunter and Jumper classes are offered at most miniature horse shows. The concept is the same except instead of riding the handler leads the horse around the course.

For a great article on teaching your mini to jump, click here by Jan Easter of Easter Acres Farm.

For the official rules of the American Miniature Horse Registry, log on to www.shetlandminiature.com. For an excerpt about jumping, see below:

Part 20 – Jumper and Hunter
A. General Rules for both Divisions

1. The courses for hunter and jumper classes must be posted at least two hours prior to the scheduled time of the class. Course diagrams must show, with arrows, the direction each obstacle must be taken, and markers or a line must indicate the start and
finish of the course.

2. The minimum age for a horse to enter the jumper or hunter class is 3 years old.

3. The person showing a jumper or hunter cannot jump the course with the horse.

4. Hunters and jumpers may show with braided manes and tails in the manner of their larger counterparts.

5. Judge(s) and Steward shall walk Hunter/Jumper course with designer and exhibitors prior to start of class.

6. All jumps used in performance classes must be collapsible.

B. Jumpers

1. Jumpers are judged on accumulated faults only, unless there is a tie, in which case there will be a jump-off. The jump-off is described in Part 3, below.

a. Knockdowns – an obstacle is considered knocked down when in jumping an obstacle, a horse or handler, by contact, lowers the
established height of the fence in any way – 4 faults.

b. Refusals – stopping at an obstacle without knocking it down and without backing, followed by jumping from a standstill is not
penalized. However, if the halt continues or if the horse backs even a single step, side steps or circles to retake the fence, a refusal is incurred:

1st refusal .............................................. 4 faults
2nd refusal ............................................. 4 faults
3rd refusal................................. disqualification

c. Circling – any form of circle or circles whereby the horse crosses its original track between two consecutive obstacles, stops advancing toward the next obstacle, or turn away from the next obstacle, except to retake an obstacle after a disobedience. Crossing your own path (i.e. circling between fences, NOT retaking a fence from a refusal) – 3 faults.

2. Elimination:

a. Three (3) refusals
b. Off course
c. Fall of horse and/or exhibitor

3. Jump-off: All ties in a Jumper class must be jumped-off. The jump-off will be held over the original course. The height of the jumps shall be increased not less than one inch and not more than six inches in height. The jump-off will be timed by a stopwatch and the horse who has the fastest time and the fewest faults in the jump off round will be declared the winner. An elimination in a jump-off does not eliminate the horse from final placings.

4. Jumps: There will be a minimum of four fences and a maximum of six fences. The fences can range in height from twelve to twenty-four inches (in the jump-off this will change to a minimum of twelve to a maximum of thirty inches). Jumps should be of attractive design but constructed of a material so as not to cause danger to the horse. All jumps must be at east five feet in width, no wider than six feet, with a minimum of twenty feet between jumps, with the exceptions of an in and out. All jumps must have a ground pole. Jump standards may not be higher than 40”. No wings or additions are allowed outside the jump standards.

5. An In and Out Jump is considered one obstacle and scored as such. Refusal of one element of an in and the horse backs even a single step, side steps or circles to retake the fence, a refusal is incurred:

1st refusal .............................................. 4 faults
2nd refusal ............................................. 4 faults
3rd refusal................................. disqualification
c. Circling – any form of circle or circles whereby the horse crosses its original track between two consecutive obstacles, stops advancing toward the next obstacle, or turn away from the next obstacle, except to retake an obstacle after a disobedience. Crossing your own path (i.e. circling between fences, NOT retaking a fence from a refusal) – 3 faults.

2. Elimination:

a. Three (3) refusals

b. Off course

c. Fall of horse and/or exhibitor

3. Jump-off: All ties in a Jumper class must be jumped-off. The jump-off will be held over the original course. The height of the jumps shall be increased not less than one inch and not more than six inches in height. The jump-off will be timed by a stopwatch and the horse who has the fastest time and the fewest faults in the jump off round will be declared the winner. An elimination in a jump-off does not eliminate the horse from final placings.

4. Jumps: There will be a minimum of four fences and a maximum of six fences. The fences can range in height from twelve to twenty-four inches (in the jump-off this will change to a minimum of twelve to a maximum of thirty inches). Jumps should be of attractive design but constructed of a material so as not to cause danger to the horse. All jumps must be at east five feet in width, no wider than six feet, with a minimum of twenty feet between jumps, with the exceptions of an in and out. All jumps must have a ground pole. Jump standards may not be higher than 40”. No wings or additions are allowed outside the jump standards.

5. An In and Out Jump is considered one obstacle and scored as such. Refusal of one element of an in and out requires the retaking of both elements. The distance between the two jumps in an In and Out should be 10-12 feet. In and Out should never be the first jump in the course.

6. Whips: Whips may be carried in jumping classes

C. Hunters

1. Hunters are to be judged on style, manners, and way of going, with preference given to those horses who cover the course at an even pace, with free flowing strides, as in a brisk trot or canter, but must maintain same gait throughout the entire course. Circling once upon entering the ring and once upon leaving the ring is permissible. Charging fences, or not maintaining the same gait throughout the entire class should be penalized. Upon completion of the entire class over jumps, finalists will be trotted past the Judge(s) for soundness check. Any unsound horse will be eliminated. Horses shall not be required to re-jump

the course.

2. The course design for hunters should follow the same requirements as the course for jumpers.

3. Fences – same size and height requirements as for Jumpers. Obstacles should simulate those found in hunting, such as natural post and rail, brush, stone wall, white board gate, hedge, oxer, etc.

4. Causes for elimination in Hunter classes:

a. Three (3) refusals
b. Off Course

c. Crossing your own path (as in circling between fences, not as in retaking a fence from a refusal or when following a course design).

d. Fall of horse or exhibitor

e. Jumping of obstacle by exhibitor

f. Carrying a whip

g. An unsound horse

5. Major faults to be scored:

a. Knockdowns

b. Touches

c. Refusals

d. Bucking or Kicking

e. Spooking or shying

f. Wringing of tail

g. Showing an obstacle to horses

h. Not maintaining an even pace