| Probably the best known discipline, jumping | | | | sometimes a short one. The jumps are set up |
| is frequently shown on TV. The excitement of | | | | with approaches that can be challenging and |
| watching horses power over the brightly | | | | even with multiple possibilities available |
| coloured fences is a delight to horse lovers | | | | depending on how handy the horse is when |
| from all walks of life. But, while leaping | | | | making turns. Many jumps are deceptive in |
| over large barriers may seem to be all there | | | | their construction either unusually thin, |
| is to the jumper ring, there is more to it | | | | sloped to one side or another or otherwise |
| than that. | | | | intimidating to the horse. It takes a very |
| | | | honest and brave horse to be successful in a |
| Any breed of horse can jump, but not all | | | | truly difficult course and sometimes only one |
| horses have the ability to show well over | | | | or two riders will get a clear round. |
| fences. It takes a very special horse to | | | | |
| make it to the top levels of the discipline, | | | | The courses are judged on a number of things. |
| and a very special rider to take it there. | | | | First there is a maximum time allowed to |
| | | | complete the course. Sometimes this is quite |
| Most jumpers that you see are Warmbloods, the | | | | tight and requires a fast ride. If you go |
| product of selective breeding programs that | | | | over the time allowed you receive a ¼ |
| primarily use bloodlines imported from | | | | time fault for each second. The next thing |
| Europe. You will also see other breeds at | | | | judged is whether you hit any jumps. If your |
| the higher levels, but generally the horses | | | | horse knocks down a jump you get 4 faults. |
| that make it that far have been specifically | | | | Sometimes a jump will stay up even if |
| bred for the purpose. On the other hand, at | | | | rattled, other times flat cups make it much |
| the lower levels you will find a wide range | | | | easier to knock a rail flying. A horse who |
| breeds represented. Since jumpers are judged | | | | is intimidated and refuses gets 3 faults. If |
| on performance rather than in a subjective | | | | a fence is refused three times the horse is |
| manner like most other disciplines the breed | | | | excused from the class. A fallen horse or |
| or even the conformation type is not as | | | | rider is automatic dismissal. |
| important as the horse's physical and mental | | | | |
| ability to handle the job. | | | | If a horse and rider gets a clear round they |
| | | | will be invited back for a jump off. The |
| Jumpers need to be brave. They need to be | | | | jump off consists of a shortened course |
| able to approach any type of fences from the | | | | including several elements of the original |
| mundane to the truly weird and jump it | | | | course. Time is the most important thing in |
| without hesitating or knocking down any | | | | a jump off. You still get faults for knocked |
| rails. The ideal jumper is built uphill, | | | | rails and refusals, but they are added into |
| with its primary power in the hindquarters so | | | | the time rather than just as faults. The |
| that it can push itself over the larger | | | | fastest time wins the class. |
| jumps. Good conformation in the front end is | | | | |
| also important as there is a ton of downward | | | | There are several other ways in which classes |
| force as the horse lands after a big jump. | | | | are run that do not necessarily include a |
| | | | jump off. Special classes may also be set up |
| In the lower levels many riders just race | | | | that allow the rider to pick his own course |
| around the courses trusting their horses to | | | | with a time limit to collect points, or to |
| get them out of any jams they might find | | | | test for the horse that can jump the highest |
| themselves in. This is ok over small fences, | | | | and the widest. Each class is evaluated in |
| but as the heights go up a lot more thought | | | | its own way, but the basics remain the same: |
| and riding skill must go into a course. Wide | | | | get over the fence and don't know down any |
| jumps require a longer stride while high | | | | rails. |
| jumps require the horse to set back in order | | | | |
| to make the height. When these kinds of | | | | Jumping is an exciting sport and is often the |
| jumps are combined together they can make for | | | | first thing non-horse people think of when |
| a very challenging ride. | | | | they think of riding. It is a lot of fun and |
| | | | can be very challenging. While beginners |
| Jumper courses are much more technical than | | | | should take their time learning in the hunter |
| hunter courses. The distances will vary | | | | ring, many hope to make it to the jumper ring |
| sometimes requiring a long stride and | | | | in the long run. |