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.

Faults for jumpers can be given for a variety of different infractions. Knockdowns and refusals are the most commonly issued faults against the horse and rider. When it comes to knockdowns there is an exception to the rule, if the horse does not change the height of the jump and only knocks down the middle or bottom bar, he will not receive a fault.

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.

Combination faults is when the horse refuses to jump the same area of the course more than once, sometimes in the same event the rider and horse will be expected to go over the same part of the course as part of the entire event. In that case, say the horse refused twice, then the total amount of faults would equal 8 not 4.

The type of tack or saddle the horse wears is different for show jumps than for the other types of competitions. It is an English saddle with what is called a close contact design. This gives both the rider and the horse more freedom when they are performing their jumps. They usually have square white saddle pads, the stirrups are shorter. The bridle can be used with any kind of noseband and bits are allowed as long as the official event vet deems that it will not harm the horse.

There are several different types of events that show jumps can be found in. One would be the Grand Prix. Here the horses are expected to complete ten to sixteen obstacles with the heights going as high as six and a half feet. This particular event is included in the Olympics.

Other types would be the Speed Derby, Puissance, a competition where the show jump can get as high as seven feet, Six Bar, riders and horses are required to jump six show jumps that are in a row beginning with the lowest in height to the tallest, Gamblers Choice, the rider picks own course, Maiden or Novice, for horses with only one to six wins, courses are easier and time limits are longer and a lot 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.

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Tags: Horses