What is show jumping?
Show jumping is an equestrian event where each horse-rider combination must clear a number (on average 15 to 20) of obstacles on a set course and within a specified time. The ultimate goal for each combination is a clear round. Faults or penalties are collected:
- if the horse refuses to jump an obstacle
- when it brings down the highest element of an obstacle
- when the combination exceeds the time allowed.
History of show jumping
Show jumping is a relatively new equestrian discipline. In the late 18th century jumping obstacles or fences became a feature of the sport of fox hunting. An act of parliament in the UK stated that those whishing to pursue the sport of fox hunting needed horses which were capable of jumping fences.
Others suggest that show jumping started off in Paris in 1866. 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. Soon after the introduction of these parades fences began to appear in the arena. This was originally called 'lepping'. Later on this was also brought to Britain and by 1900 most horse shows had 'lepping' classes. At this time most riders used a backward seat during show jumping competitions. It was the Italian instructor Captain Fiederico Caprilli who introduced the forward position as we know it today in show jumping. The main advantage of this forward position was and is that it does not impede the balance of the horse when jumping fences.
In the early 1900's there was no uniformity of rules for show jumping and courses were built with little imagination. This was changed in 1925 with the formation of the BSJA (British Show Jumping Association). A similar evolution occured in the USA leading to the American Horse Shows Association today know as the USEF (United States Equestrian Federation).
Faults and penalties in show jumping
The original list of show jumping faults introduced by the BSJA in 1925 was:
- Refusing or Bolting at any fence
1st: 2 faults
2nd: 3 faults
3rd: debarment
- Fall of horse or rider or both: 4 faults
- Horse touches a fence without knocking it down: 1/2 fault
- Horse upsets fence with
Fore Limbs: 4 faults
Hind limbs: 2 faults
- Water jump
Fore leg in: 2 faults
Hind leg in: 1 fault
- Upsetting or removing the water fence: 1/2 fault
In those days the time element did not count.
Today the most used scoring table in show jumping is Table A:
- First disobedience: 4 penalties
- Obstacle knocked down while jumping: 4 penalties
- one or more feet in the water jump or any imprint on the lath defining its limits on the landig side: 4 penalties
- First fall of horse or competitor or both: Elimination
- second disobedience: Elimination
- Exceeding the time limit: Elmination
- Exceeding the time allowed: 1 penalty point for every four seconds commenced
A detailed overview of all penalties can be found on the FEI website (see references at the bottom of this article).
Main Show Jumping competitions
Olympic Games
Show Jumping is an official Olympic discpline. The Olympic Games are held every four years. The last edition of the Olympic games was held in Athens (Greece) in 2004. The reigning show jumping champions are: Rodrigo Pessoa (individual gold medal) and The USA (team gold medal).
The next Olympic games will be held in 2008 in Hong Kong (China).
FEI World Equestrian Games
The FEI World Equestrian Games (World championship) also take place every four years (in the even years in between two Olympic Games). The latest edition were held in 2006 in Aachen (Germany). the show jumping champions here are: Jos Lansink from Belgium (individual) and The Netherlands (team).
The next World Equestrian Games will be held in Kentucky (USA).
Continental Championships
These are held every two years in uneven years (in between Equestrian Games and Olympic Games). The latest European championships were held in 2005 in San Patrignano, current title holders are Marco Kutscher from Germany (individual) and Germany (team). The next European championships will be held in 2007 in Mannheim (Germany).
The counterpart in America are the Pan American Games, these are held every four years in the year before the Olympic Games. The latest Pan Amarican Games were held in 2003 in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic). The show jumping winners here were Mark Watring from Puerto Rico (individual) and The USA (team). The next Pan American Games will be held in Rio De Janeiro (Brazil).
FEI World Cup™ Jumping
The FEI World Cup™ Jumping, consisting of indoor competitions held between October and April is open to individual competitors qualified on the basis of the World Riders' Rankings. This series culminates in a yearly final. The 2005 FEI World Cup Jumping Final was organised in Las Vegas (USA) and was won by Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (Germany).
FEI Nations Cup
The FEI Nations Cup Series, the equestrian world's oldest and most prestigious team show jumping competition dating back to 1909. Besides the Olympic Games and the Championships it is the only competition in which official teams representing nations compete against one another.
Other show jumping competitions
Show jumping competions for all levels from beginner to professional are held by national and regional equestrian organisations. Check our link directory for websites about show jumping competitions and national equestrian organisations.
Show Jumping Horses
Many breeds of horses have been and are succesful show jumpers, even horses of uncertain breeding have been great champions in show jumping. Most show jumpers are rather tall horses, 16 hands or more, they are usually of Warmblood or Thoroughbred breeding. But most important is that they have the athletic ability and the courage to jump large fences.
References: BSJA, FEI, HorsesDaily, Wikipedia,
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