Showjumping

Photo: Tomer Arazy

It's a joy in itself to own and look after horses, but for many people, there is a lot more fun to be had! 

The feeling of working hard and training your horses to the best of their ability to become athletes in their own right and enjoy the thrill of competition is a feeling unlike any other, and one of the most challenging, yet rewarding aspects of this is competitive Show Jumping.

We know most of you are likely familiar with Show Jumping - if not experienced jumpers yourselves! - but as we'll be posting about upcoming shows, trials and competitions, we thought we'd give you a little introduction, just in case!

Show jumping, also known as "stadium jumping", "open jumping", or "jumpers", is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters, and equitation. 

Jumping classes are commonly seen at horse shows throughout the world, including the Olympics. Sometimes shows are limited exclusively to jumpers, sometimes jumper classes are offered in conjunction with other English-style events, and sometimes show jumping is but one division of very large, all-breed competitions that include a very wide variety of disciplines. 

Jumper classes are held over a course of show jumping obstacles, including verticals, spreads, double and triple combinations; usually with many turns and changes of direction and the intention is to jump cleanly over a set course within an allotted time, avoiding any faults or disqualification. 

In most competitions, riders are allowed to walk the initial course beforehand to plan their ride. This gives the rider a chance to walk the lines he or she will have to ride, in order to decide how many strides the horse will need to take between each jump and from which angle. Going off course will cost time if minor errors are made and major departures may result in disqualification, so any opportunity to stay sharp and on top of your game is a must for all competitive jumpers!

Now, these are just the basics - there is a whole lot more to Show Jumping! But why not see for yourself at an event near you?

And of course, for all your horse riding and eventing accessories, be sure to check out the official TicTac Equestrian store