Combination (jump)
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A combination, when referring to an obstacle jumped by horses, is when two or more fences are placed within 1-3 strides of each other. They are seen in the equestrian jumping sports of show jumping and eventing (both the cross-country and stadium jumping phases), but are uncommon in hunt seat competition.
Combinations are often one of the challenges of a course, and the course designer knows how to manipulate the distances and types of obstacles to make them more difficult.
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[edit] Scoring
A combination is always considered one obstacle, and the various elements within the combination are lettered A, B, C and so on. A refusal at any of these jumps results in the horse having to repeat the entire obstacle, not just the element they refused. So a horse may jump A and B without issue, but have a refusal at the third fence (C), at which time the rider would have to circle and return to jump fence A again, giving the horse a second chance to refuse or knock down A and B.
Despite being considered one obstacle, each element may result in penalty points if knocked down. Therefore, if each of the three fences in a triple combination were knocked down, the rider would receive 12 faults (4 per rail), instead of 4 faults for the entire obstacle.
[edit] Types of Combinations
Combinations are named by their number of elements. Double and triple combinations are the most common. In general, the more elements involved, the more difficult the obstacle. However, other variables can greatly influence the difficulty:
- Distance between Obstacles: the course designer may shorten or lengthen the distance from the usual 12' stride. The most extreme case is when the designer puts enough room for a half-stride, in which case the rider must shorten or lengthen according to the horse's strengths. At the lower levels, the designer will not change the distances from what is considered "normal" for the combination.
- Types and Order of the Obstacles: Riders must adjust their horse's stride according to the type of obstacle that must be jumped, and the order they occur. For example, a vertical to oxer rides differently from an oxer to vertical. Horses take off at different distances from the obstacle depending on its type: usually closer for triple bars, slightly further for oxers, and even further for verticals. Other factors, such as a "spooky" fence or a liverpool, may change the distances for particular horses as they back them off.
- Height of the Obstacles: The higher the fences, the less room there is for error. At the lower levels, the designer may make certain elements in the combination slightly lower, to make it easier. Fence height also has some influence on the horse's take-off distance, although this is only a great variant when the fences are 4'6" or higher.
- Terrain: this is especially a factor for eventers as they ride combinations cross-country. A combination on the downhill tends to lengthen the stride, and on the uphill it tends to shorten it.
[edit] Riding Combinations
To negotiate a combination successfully, a rider must maintain the qualities needed in all riding: rhythm, balance, and impulsion as she approaches the fence. She must also have a great understanding of her horse's stride length, so that she may know how much she needs to shorten or lengthen it for each particular combination.
Before riding the course, the rider should walk the distances of the combination and decide the stride from which she should jump it.
