Show Jumps Require Saddles That Allow Both Rider And Horse More Freedom

Show Jumps is usually part of the English style equestrian competitions. This event can be on its on at a competition or it can be combined with a variety of different events like dressing, hunting, etc. The event with the jumps are known better as show jumping or stadium jumping.

There are a couple of classes of horses in these shows, one is the hunter class the other is the jumping class. The hunter class is judged by appearance, manners and style, whereas the jumper class is based on a number scale on the ability to follow routines, which jumping over show jumps is part of the routine. Hunter class require calmness and style while the jumper class requires the horse to be bold, fast, accurate, power and control.

There are a variety of different things that will create faults that will be given to the horse which will lower its score. Those would be knockdown or refusals as well as time violations. Note that there is no fault given to the horse if the knockdown did not result in making the jump shorter. That means it is alright for the horse to knock down a bar that is in the middle or the bottom.

If a horse refuses to do a jump he can receive four faults for that jump. If the refusal by the horse happens to actually interfere with the event itself, is when they will receive a penalty for the refusal.

There are time penalties during show jumps as well and that is based upon the average time it should take to run a certain course and if they go over the average time then they will receive one fault for ever second that they go over the allotted time.

There is what is called the combination fault and this is when the horse in involved with a course that must go over the same area of the course more than once. Should the horse refuse to do a certain part of the course every time he gets there, then it is four faults for each time. If the horse refused twice, the horse will receive 8 faults not 4 faults.

The type of equipment or tack they use are English style saddles with a design called close contact is a saddle that allows the horse and rider to have more freedom during a jump. They also will have bridles that are attached to a noseband and may or may not have a bit in the mouth. The bits are examined before allowing their use. They want to make sure it will not hurt the horse.

There are a large variety of events that showcase the horses such as the Grand Prix, the horses are required to complete 10 to 16 different obstacles, with heights going as tall as six and a half feet high. This type of event can even be seen in the Olympics.

Others you might find would be the Speed Derby, Puissance a course where horses must clear seven foot jumps, the Six Bar which is six different jumps going from shortest to highest, Gamblers Choice would be one that the rider picks out and not the judges, Maiden or Novice for inexperienced horses and many more.

The show jumps themselves vary as well. The Vertical is one where the horse must jump several different poles place on top of one another and there is no width for the horse to deal with. Another one is the Oxer and what that is, is when they put two Vertical jumps together adding some width to the jump for the horse. The Triple Bar is when they use a fence type jump with three different height bars. They have a Wall jump made up of material to look like bricks and many more types are available.

The types of horses used in show jumps are generally Warmbloods or Thoroughbreds that can measure as tall as 16 hands in height, although there have been some good show jumpers that have competed that did not come from such breeds.