Went to look at two horses. Activity if not progress. Didn’t ride either one. Why ride once I’ve seen a deal-breaker?
The first horse was a gorgeous palomino Quarter Horse. Not just yellow but a beautiful gold with flashy chrome. Not that I’m influenced by color, not in the slightest. Long legs. Nice build. Lots of Thoroughbred influence.
He was billed as a hunter. He was a fabulous hunter for Palomino Hunter Under Saddle. He had forward reach with his front feet, a lovely rounded neck/head carriage, and the hind end of a peanut roller. He will go to his National Show and beat all comers. As for the “real” hunter ring, not as suitable.
I’ve seen the same thing in saddlebreds. Initially, I though ASB Hunter Country Pleasure would be a fun niche for me. Now that I’ve seen several HCP classes, I realize that they do not want a hunter rider nor do they want a hunter horse. They want a saddleseat rider in long boots and a ASB in hunter tack. There is a slight change in head position from a full-on, three-gaited horse, but a far cry from the daisy-cutting feet and forward head carriage of a classic Thoroughbred hunter. The only place my specialized knowledge would come in handy is to organize a neckful of hunter braids without cutting the flowing three-gaited mane. I’ve braided worse.
On one hand, Breed Hunter Under Saddle. On the other hand, Hunter/Jumper Hunter Under Saddle. Both fine and lovely. Not at all the same thing.
Any experience with hunters in non-hunter venues that you would care to share?
Tomorrow, Horse #2.
Virtual Brush Box 
I had a lot of local hunter success with LYP (little yellow pony). He was a 15 hand palomino QH with really pretty movement and a lovely style over fences. We’d get outclassed in the flat classes sometimes (although he won his share) but we won a lot of the fences classes. Hunter judges have come a long way from the “brown TB” prejudice. With the popularity of the Art Deco line, paints and palominos have made big strides in even the top hunter shows. You might want to reconsider.
It wasn’t the color. It was the movement, or lack thereof. His back legs were classic Western Pleasure.
75% of local (and some rated) hunter judges don’t even look at the hind leg. They pay attention to the “pointy-toe”! Dressage yes (mostly). Hunters, not so much.