| Probably the best known discipline, jumpers is | | | | set up with approaches that can be challenging and |
| frequently shown on TV. The excitement of watching | | | | even with multiple possibilities available depending on |
| horses power over the brightly coloured fences is a | | | | how handy the horse is when making turns. Many |
| delight to horse lovers from all walks of life. But, while | | | | jumps are deceptive in their construction either |
| leaping over large barriers may seem to be all there is | | | | unusually thin, sloped to one side or another or |
| to the jumper ring, there is more to it than that. | | | | otherwise intimidating to the horse. It takes a very |
| Any breed of horse can jump, but not all horses have | | | | honest and brave horse to be successful in a truly |
| the ability to show well over fences. It takes a very | | | | difficult course and sometimes only one or two riders |
| special horse to make it to the top levels of the | | | | will get a clear round. |
| discipline, and a very special rider to take it there. | | | | The courses are judged on a number of things. First |
| Most jumpers that you see are Warmbloods, the | | | | there is a maximum time allowed to complete the |
| product of selective breeding programs that primarily | | | | course. Sometimes this is quite tight and requires a |
| use bloodlines imported from Europe. You will also see | | | | fast ride. If you go over the time allowed you receive |
| other breeds at the higher levels, but generally the | | | | a time fault for each second. The next thing judged is |
| horses that make it that far have been specifically | | | | whether you hit any jumps. If your horse knocks down |
| bred for the purpose. On the other hand, at the lower | | | | a jump you get 4 faults. Sometimes a jump will stay |
| levels you will find a wide range breeds represented. | | | | up even if rattled, other times flat cups make it much |
| Since jumpers are judged on performance rather than | | | | easier to knock a rail flying. A horse who is intimidated |
| in a subjective manner like most other disciplines the | | | | and refuses gets 3 faults. If a fence is refused three |
| breed or even the conformation type is not as | | | | times the horse is excused from the class. A fallen |
| important as the horse's physical and mental ability to | | | | horse or rider is automatic dismissal. |
| handle the job. | | | | If a horse and rider gets a clear round they will be |
| Jumpers need to be brave. They need to be able to | | | | invited back for a jump off. The jump off consists of a |
| approach any type of fences from the mundane to | | | | shortened course including several elements of the |
| the truly weird and jump it without hesitating or | | | | original course. Time is the most important thing in a |
| knocking down any rails. The ideal jumper is built uphill, | | | | jump off. You still get faults for knocked rails and |
| with its primary power in the hindquarters so that it can | | | | refusals, but they are added into the time rather than |
| push itself over the larger jumps. Good conformation in | | | | just as faults. The fastest time wins the class. |
| the front end is also important as there is a ton of | | | | There are several other ways in which classes are |
| downward force as the horse lands after a big jump. | | | | run that do not necessarily include a jump off. Special |
| In the lower levels many riders just race around the | | | | classes may also be set up that allow the rider to pick |
| courses trusting their horses to get them out of any | | | | his own course with a time limit to collect points, or to |
| jams they might find themselves in. This is ok over | | | | test for the horse that can jump the highest and the |
| small fences, but as the heights go up a lot more | | | | widest. Each class is evaluated in its own way, but the |
| thought and riding skill must go into a course. Wide | | | | basics remain the same: get over the fence and don't |
| jumps require a longer stride while high jumps require | | | | know down any rails. |
| the horse to set back in order to make the height. | | | | Jumping is an exciting sport and is often the first thing |
| When these kinds of jumps are combined together | | | | non-horse people think of when they think of riding. It is |
| they can make for a very challenging ride. | | | | a lot of fun and can be very challenging. While |
| Jumper courses are much more technical than hunter | | | | beginners should take their time learning in the hunter |
| courses. The distances will vary sometimes requiring a | | | | ring, many hope to make it to the jumper ring in the |
| long stride and sometimes a short one. The jumps are | | | | long run. |