Show jumping
Show jumping is the timed jumping discipline in which a horse and rider clear a numbered course of coloured fences without knocking any down.
At a glance
| Governing body | Federation Equestrian International (FEI) internationally. |
|---|---|
| Olympic status | An Olympic equestrian discipline, contested individually and as a team. |
| Scoring | Faults are added for a knocked pole (four faults), a refusal, or exceeding the time allowed; the fastest clear round wins. |
| Fence height | Top international classes jump fences up to about 1.60 metres, with spreads to match. |
Riders walk the course on foot first to measure their strides between fences and plan their line. The horse then jumps the numbered obstacles in order against the clock, with penalties for a pole down, a refusal, or going over the time allowed.
Major classes are decided by a jump-off, a shortened course ridden by the clear rounds in which the fastest clear wins. The discipline demands scope, carefulness and a rideable, adjustable canter.
Sources: Federation Equestrian International (FEI) ยท British Equestrian