show jumping - Overview, History of show jumping, Original scoring tariff, Tack, Types of Competition
Horse jumping over a course containing a variety of strategically placed fences. Most competitions involve all competitors having one attempt at clearing the fences. Those who clear the fences and incur no penalty points are then involved in a jump-off against the clock, where speed as well as accuracy is important. Points are incurred for knocking down a fence, or for refusing to jump a fence.
Show jumping, "stadium jumping" or "jumpers" is a member of a family of English-discipline equestrian events that includes dressage, eventing, hunters and equitation. Jumping classes are commonly seen at Horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics. Sometimes shows are limited exclusively to jumpers, sometimes jumper classes are offered in conjunction with other English-style events, and sometimes show jumping is but one division of very large, all-breed competitions that include a very wide variety of disciplines.
Overview
Jumper courses are held over a course of show jumping obstacles, including verticals, spreads, double and triple combinations, and many turns and changes of direction. The purpose is to jump cleanly over a set course within an allotted time; Jumping faults are incurred for knockdowns and blatant disobediences, such as refusals (when the horse stops before a fence or "runs out"). Tied entries jump over a raised and shortened course known as a jump-off;
The more professional the competition, such as "A" rated shows in the United States, or the international "Grand Prix" circuit, the more technical the course. For example, a course designer might set up a line so that there are six and a half strides (the standard measure for a canter stride is 12 feet) between the jumps, making it more difficult for the rider. A jumper must jump big, bravely, and fast, but he must also be careful and accurate to avoid knockdowns and must be balanced and rideable in order to rate and turn accurately. A jumper rider must ride the best line to each fence, saving ground with well-planned turns and lines and must adjust the horse's stride for each fence and distance, while avoiding knockdowns. In a jump-off, a rider must must balance the need to go as fast as possible and turn as tight as possible against the horse's ability to jump cleanly.
History of show jumping
Show jumping is a relatively new equestrian sport. Until the Enclosure Acts which came into force in England in the eighteenth century there had been little need for horses to routinely jump fences as there had been very few. This meant that those wishing to pursue their sport now needed horses which were capable of jumping these obstacles.
In the early shows held in France there was a parade of competitors who then took off across country for the jumping. This sport was, however, not popular with spectators as they could not watch the jumping.
At this time, the principal cavalry schools of Europe at Pinerolo and Tor-di-Quinto in Italy, the French school in Saumur and the Spanish school in Vienna all preferred to use a very deep seat with long stirrups when jumping. This style of riding was perhaps more secure for the rider, but it also impeded the freedom of the horse to use its body to the extent needed to clear large obstacles.
The Italian Instructor Captain Fiederico Caprilli heavily influenced the world of jumping with his ideas that a forward position with shorter stirrups would not impede the balance of the horse negotiating obstacles. The deep, Dressage-style seat, while useful for riding on the flat and in conditions where control of the horse is of greater importance than freedom of movement, is sometimes referred to with disparagement as a "backward" seat in some jumping circles.
The first major show jumping competition held in England was at the Horse of the Year Show at Olympia in 1907. many consisting of only a straight bar fence and a water jump. In the United States, a similar need for national rules for jumping and other equestrian activities led to the formation of the American Horse Shows Association, now the United States Equestrian Federation in 1917.
Show jumping was first incorporated into the Olympic Games in 1912 and has thrived ever since, its popularity due in part to its suitability as a spectator sport which can be viewed on television.
Original scoring tariff
The original list of faults introduced in The United Kingdom in 1925 was as follows:
Refusing or Running out at any fence:
1st: 4 faults 2nd: elimination
Fall off horse, rider or both: elimination
If a horse touches a fence without knocking it down, there are no faults, as they are only incurred if a pole or any other part of the jump is knocked down. For every jump that is knocked down four faults are incurred. For a water jump, if a horse lands with any number of feet in the water, four faults are incurred.
Water jumps were once at least 15 feet (5 meters) wide, although the water had often drained out of them before the last competitor jumped them. High jumping would start with a pole at around 5 feet but this was later abandoned, as many horses went under the pole. The international governing body for most major show jumping competitions is the Federation Equestrian International (FEI). FEI The two most common types of penalties are jumping penalties and time penalties.
Jumping Penalties: Jumping penalties are assessed for refusals and knockdowns, with each refusal or knockdown adding four faults to a competitor's score.Within the last several years, the FEI has decreased the number of refusals resulting in elimination from three to two, and this rule has trickled down from the top levels of FEI competition to all levels of horse shows (at least in the United States). An exhibitor with a refusal that results in the destruction of the integrity of a jump (displacing poles, gates, flowers, or large clumps of turf or dirt) will not receive four faults for the knockdown, but instead the four faults for a refusal and an additional penalty while the timer is stopped for the repair or replacement of the jump.
Penalties for knockdowns are imposed only when the knockdown changes the height of the jump. If a horse or rider knocks down a bottom or middle rail while still clearing the height of the obstacle, they receive no penalties. Penalties are assessed at the open water when the horse touches the water or white tape with any of his feet.
Time Penalties: In the past, show jumping would issue ¼ of a second penalty for each second or fraction of a second over the time allowed.Tack
Serious show jumping competitors use a jumping saddle, which has a forward flap and a seat that is slightly further back than other saddles. Other saddles, such as those designed for dressage, can seriously hinder a rider over large fences, forcing them into a position that may hinder the horse's movement or put the rider dangerously behind the movement of the horse. Girths vary in type, but usually have a contour to give room for the horse's elbows, and many have belly guards to protect the underside of the horse from its shoe studs when the front legs are tightly folded under. However, the ground jury at the show has the right to, based on veterinary advice, refuse a bit if it could cause harm to the horse.
Boots are worn by almost all the horses, due to the fact that they may easily hit their legs with a different hoof as they gallop, take tight turns, and go over the terrain of the course. Ankle boots are commonly used on hind legs, and open-front jumper boots on the fore legs, because they provide protection for the delicate tendons that run down the back of the leg, but still allow the horse to feel a rail should it get careless and hang its legs.
Martingales are very common, especially on horses used at the Grand Prix level. The majority of jumpers are ridden in running martingales, as these provide the most freedom over fences.
Types of Competition
Grand Prix: usually the most challenging competition with the highest purse money at a show. Six-Bar: riders jump six fences set in a straight line. Calcutta: A jumping event where spectators bet on which horse will win by means of an auction where the highest bidder has the exclusive bet on a given horse. Maiden, Novice and Limit: Jumping classes limited to horses with fewer than one, three or six wins. The juges decide the winning horse by the horse wich jumps the best.Types of Show Jumping Jumps
Vertical - a jump that consists of poles right above each other with no spread, or width, to jump. Oxer - Basically two verticals close together, to make the jump wider. It is a relatively easy jump although usually very wide. Crossrail- not commonly used in sanctioned horse shows, two poles crossed on jump standards so that the center is lower than the sides. Used at small shows and for schooling purposes to help the horse jump in the center of the fence. Wall - This type of jump is usually made to look like a brick wall, but the "bricks" are constructed of a lightweight material and fall easily when knocked. Hog's Back - A type of jump where the tallest pole is in the center. Combination - any number of jumps in a row, with a certain number of strides in between. The lack of filler makes it difficult for a horse to judge their proximity to the fence as well as the fence's height, making it a tricky obstacle usually found only in the upper divisions.The Horses
Some of the Great show jumping horses in history have been:
Abdullah Baloubet du Rouet Big Ben Boomerang Deister Dobels Cento Galoubet A Gem Twist Grannus Halla Heartbreaker Milton Monopoly Nimmerdor Ramiro Z Ratina Z Robinson Snowball Snowman StrollerOttoway
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