What do they mean when riders call a horse Scopey?

The dictionary definition of scope among many, is extent or range. When riders speak of a horse’s range, they are referring to the horse’s ability to jump hurdles with ease. A horse that leaps with little effort and infinite power is considered “reach.”

The scope is a very valuable commodity in the world of horse jumping. Riders and trainers are in constant search of animals that can easily jump over the biggest obstacles. The largest classes reach heights in excess of 1.60m and reach becomes an absolute must for success. Horses with enormous reach are few and far between, and demand huge sums of money to buy. The great equine athlete who has this jumping power is as hard to come by as a great human athlete. Michael Jordan was ambitious. Authentic, Beezie Madden’s Olympic mount, was roomy.

So does that mean that horses that don’t jump the grand prize-size jumps never have reach? No, horses may be suitable for their relative divisions. You may have a freshman green hunter with a 3 ‘6 “reach that can move up to regular working hunters (4’). You may have a kid’s reach jumper that may or may not be able to climb in height, but it is wide in that division, everything is relative.

Range, however, is not all you need for a good jumper. You also need a horse that is careful. A careful horse is one that wants to jump clean and not do the jumps. If you have scope without being careful, you don’t have that much. On the other hand, if you have no scope with your care, you have nothing at all.