| Going to horse shows, the equestrian show jumping | | | | -second disobedience from the horse |
| event is one of the most popular attractions. The team | | | | -horse refusing a jump for more than 45 seconds |
| work between horse and man, the physical challenges | | | | -a fall by the horse |
| of overcoming obstacles, the pressures of a timed | | | | -going the wrong way in the obstacle course, missing a |
| event, make show jumping a truly marvelous | | | | turn or a jump |
| spectacle to watch. | | | | -receiving help from an outside source while on course |
| In a show jumping course, there are five different | | | | To negotiate an obstacle course under the prescribed |
| types of jumps to overcome: | | | | amount of time, trust and cooperation is vital for a |
| -verticals | | | | successful run with no penalties. When a horse gets |
| -spreads | | | | head strong and the rider has to react by pulling on the |
| -combinations | | | | reins, kicking hard or turning hard, that's a sign that the |
| -walls | | | | partnership is not going well. |
| -water jumps | | | | The horse jumps over the obstacles guided by the |
| Prior to the event, the riders will study the course to | | | | motion of the riders legs and the reins. However, the |
| determine the best strategy to tackle it. They calculate | | | | horse can also sense the rider's emotions and reacts |
| how many strides between each jump and the | | | | to that as well. It is a constant interaction between the |
| tightest line to take in order to save time. However, it is | | | | rider and the horse. A perfect run through the obstacle |
| usually best to go over the allotted time than to be | | | | course should seem effortless as the horse and rider |
| assessed penalties. | | | | work in unison. |
| Penalties, or faults can be assessed by the following | | | | Unlike other sports and their horse racing counterparts, |
| ways: | | | | show jumping horses get better with age and |
| -knocking over an obstacle: 4 faults | | | | experience. The top horses are between nine and |
| -first disobedience of horse for refusing a jump: 4 | | | | fifteen years of age with at least four years of training. |
| faults | | | | Likewise, the riders need the experience and discipline |
| -rider falls off the horse: 8 faults | | | | to remain calm to guide the horse through the obstacle |
| -exceeding the time limit: either a quarter-point per | | | | course. |
| second or 1 point per second | | | | Indeed, show jumping is an equestrian event where |
| The above are considered minor infractions but there | | | | grace under pressure marks the characteristics of a |
| are other infractions that result in disqualification: | | | | champion rider and horse alike. |