Show jumping is a competition where participants try to jump over a course of obstacles while keeping their horse under control. The rider must be very precise with their aids and use their body language to communicate to the horse where they want to go. In addition to this, the rider needs to be able to judge the distance from the jump to the horse at all times as they cannot lean forward or lean back to see what is behind them as they need to keep their balance. There are a number of different types of jumps that are used in show jumping with some being more difficult than others. The different types of jumps are:- The Cross- Crosses are a staple of show jumping and are usually the first jump of a course. They are the same height as the course itself so the horse has to jump over a wooden plank.- The Vertical- These jumps are usually only used for training purposes as they are very difficult to jump.- The Steeple- Steeple jumps are usually used in show jumping for the first few rounds of the competition before moving onto the other types of jumps.- The Barrel- Barrel jumps are used mainly in hunting events and are designed to be jumped from a galloping horse. The rider needs to be very careful when jumping these as the horse can easily lose its footing if they hit the edge too early.- The Vertical Wall- This jump is more commonly used in eventing competitions and usually consists of a vertical wall with a large, open space on the other side of it. These jumps are extremely difficult to jump and are usually only seen in high-end shows.- The Double- This is a combination of two different types of jumps, usually a vertical and a vertical wall. They are usually very difficult to jump and can only be jumped by very experienced riders.- The Z- Z- Jumps are also very difficult to jump and are usually only seen in advanced horse shows.- The Double Z- A combination of two Z- jumps that are even more difficult than the regular Z- jumps.- The Biggest Jumps- These jumps are usually only used in very prestigious horse shows such as the Olympics.- The End- These are the final type of jump and are usually used in the last round of a show to finish off the course.
Show jumping is a very physical sport and therefore requires a lot of physical preparation before competing. It is crucial to build up your horse’s muscles through a lot of exercise before the show season so that they are fit enough to jump the course without tiring too easily. You should also ensure that your horse is fit enough to jump by making sure that they are ridden frequently and do not have any hoof issues that could cause them pain while jumping. When you prepare your horse for show jumping, you should make sure that they are used to wearing a Western-style saddle. This is the most common type of saddle used in show jumping and there are many different designs depending on the type of competition.
Before the show starts, you should make sure that the course is well lit and that there are plenty of people around to help the horse get used to the course. You should start by taking the horse for a walk through the course and make sure that they are comfortable with the terrain. Once the horse is used to the course, you should ride them at a slow pace so that you can correct their position if they start to get off course. You should also take your time and be patient as the horse might not be used to the noise and commotion of a show. It can take a while for a horse to get used to the noise of the crowd and the sound of the jockeys.
When you get to the ring, you should start by making sure that your horse has plenty of time to warm up before jumping. You should make sure that they are out of the stable for at least 45 minutes before the show starts to let them get used to their surroundings. It is also important to make sure that the ring is well lit and that your horse is comfortable with the footing in the ring. You should make sure that your horse has been well rested and is fit enough to jump confidently. It is also important to make sure that your horse is wearing the correct equipment and that you have all of the correct aids to make sure that they can jump the course.
The Cross is the first jump in a typical show jumping course. The Cross is the same height as the rest of the course so the rider must keep their horse under control and make sure they jump over the cross at the right distance from it. The rider needs to be very careful when jumping the Cross as the horse needs to jump over a wooden plank which could lead to a fall if the rider is not careful. The rider should make sure that the horse is well rested and warm before jumping so that they don’t tire out halfway through the course.
The Vertical is another staple of show jumping and is usually the second jump of a course. The rider must make sure that the horse jumps over the vertical at the correct distance away from it and that they do not hit the edge of the jump. The rider should make sure that the horse is well rested and warm before jumping the vertical to make sure that they don’t tire out halfway through the course.
The Steeple is usually used in show jumping for the first few rounds of the competition before moving onto the other types of jumps. The Steeple is a very difficult jump that only the most experienced riders can jump correctly. The rider must make sure that the horse jumps over the Steeple at the correct distance away from it and that they do not hit the edge of the jump. The rider should make sure that the horse is well rested and warm before jumping the Steeple so that they do not tire out halfway through the course.
The Barrel is used mainly in hunting events and is a very difficult jump to jump. The rider must make sure that the horse jumps over the Barrel at the correct distance away from it and that they do not hit the edge of the jump. The rider should make sure that the horse is well rested and warm before jumping the Barrel so that they do not tire out halfway through the course.
The Vertical Wall is a very difficult jump to jump and is usually used in eventing for the first few rounds of the competition before moving onto the other types of jumps. The rider must make sure that the horse jumps over the Vertical Wall at the correct distance away from it and that they do not hit the edge of the jump. The rider should make sure that the horse is well rested and warm before jumping the Vertical Wall so that they do not tire out halfway through the course.
The Double is a combination of two different types of jumps, usually