Children's & Adult Amateur Hunter Horses
for Sale & Lease — 3'

Buyer's Guide

Children's & Adult Amateur Hunter Horses for Sale & Lease | 3'

Elite Equine Marketplace connects families and trainers with children's hunter and adult amateur hunter horses for sale or lease at 3' from trusted sellers across the globe. The 3' children's hunter and adult amateur hunter divisions are among the most popular and beloved hunter divisions in the sport — welcoming riders of all ages and experience levels into the competitive hunter ring.

Children's Hunter Horses — 3'

Children's hunter horses compete at 3' for horses and are divided into two age sections: 14 & under and 15–17. The ideal children's hunter is safe, consistent, and beautifully moving — a horse that allows young riders to focus entirely on their riding rather than managing their mount. Children's hunters need to be forgiving enough for young and developing riders while expressive enough in their movement and jump style to compete successfully at local and USEF-rated shows. Many families searching for a children's hunter are looking for a horse that can safely guide their child through multiple show years — a horse that builds confidence, teaches correct habits, and produces consistent, competitive rounds.

Move-Up Horses from Ponies to Horses

One of the most significant transitions in a junior rider's career is moving from ponies to horses. The best move-up horses from ponies are careful, pony-like movers with a naturally quiet, forgiving temperament — horses that feel as safe and comfortable as a good pony but offer the scope and presence of a horse. Families searching for a children's hunter move-up horse specifically should look for horses with manageable strides, soft mouths, and a naturally balanced canter that helps young riders adapt to the bigger movement of a horse after years on a pony.

Adult Amateur Hunter Horses — 3'

The adult amateur hunter division is a separate division from the amateur owner division — adult amateur horses compete at 3' (not 3'3" or 3'6" like AO horses) and are ridden by non-professional adult riders 18 and over. Importantly, riders and horses entered in the adult amateur division may not compete in the amateur owner division at the same show. Adult amateur hunter horses need to be genuinely safe and enjoyable for adult non-professional riders — pleasant to ride, consistent in their rounds, and expressive enough in their movement to score well in a competitive field.

Browse all 3' children's and adult amateur hunter horses on Elite Equine Marketplace →