Show Jumps Include Vertical Jumps

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.

You will find several different classes competing in these English style events, the hunter and jumper classes being the most common. A horse in the hunter class will be judged on appearance, style and the type of manners that it exhibits. On the other hand, the horse in the jumper class will be judged by a number system that includes the different types of jumps the horse completes with as few faults as possible and in the shortest amount of time. Hunters require calm and a special kind of style. The jumper class must be bold, strong, speedy, accurate and have a lot of 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.

Refusals are up to four faults and generally occur when there is damage or disruption of the jump area by the horse refusing to make the jump. If the damage interferes with the event it is then they get faulted. The number of faults given depend upon how long that it takes to make the repair during the event.

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 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.

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.

There are different styles of show jumps that the horse may have to jump over. The first would be the Vertical which is several poles that are placed one on top of another and no width for the horse to jump. There is the Oxer and that is when they take two of the verticals, put them together so that there is more width for the horse to jump over. The Triple Bar is a fence like structure that uses three different bars that are set at three different heights. The Wall is a jump made to look like a brick wall. A combination is where the horse does the same jump two or three times during the course. Plus many more different types of jumps.

The two main breeds that frequent these types of competitions are the Warmbloods and of course the Thoroughbred. The competitions however; are not limited to just those two breeds, many horses that have not come from this stock have competed successfully.

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