Grand Prix show jumping
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The Grand Prix is the highest level of show jumping. Run under FEI rules, the horse jumps a course of 10-16 obstacles, with heights and spreads of up to 6'6". Grand Prix-level show jumping competitions include the Olympics, the World Equestrian Games, the World Cup Series and the Nations Cup Series. It is designed to test the stamina, precision, power, and control of both horse and rider. The courses usually include tight twists and turns, very high and colorful fences designed to test the riders as well as the horses. It takes a great amount of training and conditioning to get both horse and rider prepared for such an event, as well as many years of show experience and practice.
Top shows can be found all around the country, where top horses and riders face off time and time again. Some of the major shows of the Grand Prix jumping season include the Wellington Winter Equestrian Festival, the Devon Horse Show, the Washington Horse Show, and the National Horse Show. The object of this sport is simply to ride the fastest course with the least amount of faults. The course is timed, and, if the horse and rider knock down a rail, go over the time alloted or refuse a jump, faults are given. 4 faults are given for each rail down and each refusal, and 1 fault is given for each second over the time allotted. Riders are eliminated if they are dis joined from the horse (fall off) at any point during the round, refuse a jump more than twice, or if they go off course (jump a wrong jump in the sequence).
If multiple horses and riders have a 'clear round,' meaning they had no faults, they will come back to ride in the jump off. However, if the course is so difficult that no one had a clear round, the people who had the least amount of faults will compete against each other. They all must be the same amount. For example, if there were 5 people in the competition and two of them had 4 faults, one had 5, and the others had 12, only the two with 4 faults would compete. If there is only one clear round in the original Grand Prix round, that person is automatically declared the winner and there is no jump off.
The jump off is an abbreviated and more difficult version of the original course, judged in the same way as the original. Obstacles can be raised for the jump off from their original height. Many horses have achieved incredible feats and added their name to a list of incredible Grand Prix jumpers. These include Kim Prince's Marlou, Abdullah, Baloubet du Rouet, Boomerang, Dobels Cento, Galoubet A, Grannis, Halla, Heartbreaker, Monopoly, Nimmerdor, Ramiro Z, Robinson, Snowball, Snowman, Stroller, Milton, Gem Twist, Royal Kaliber, and Big Ben.
[edit] Grand Prix Show Jumping History
The sport of Show Jumping was derived during the development of fox hunting, while Grand Prix Show Jumping began in Paris, France in 1866. It was created to enable owners to exhibit their horses' abilities in a more confined arena, as opposed to the fox hunting fields. As show jumping usually takes place in a small arena, or stadium (hence, some have coined it stadium jumping') and is almost always against a clock, the horse in question must show flexibility, maneuverability, and extreme jumping proficiency. It became officially recognized as an Olympic sport in 1912.
A quote from the official Olympics website (WWW.Olympic.Org):
<block quote> "Modern jumping events are based on the foxhunting tradition. Hunting enthusiasts in Britain and America sought ways to test the talents of their horses more systematically. Jumping competitions for horses were first organized in the 19th century in Ireland by the Royal Dublin Society. Modern jumping techniques were developed by the Italian Federico Caprilli, who is considered the "father of modern riding."" </block quote>
[edit] The Olympic History of Show Jumping
A quote from the official Olympics website(WWW.Olympic.Org)
"Equestrian events have been on the Olympic program since 1900, when jumping events were held during the Olympics in Paris. However, equestrian events were not held again until 1912 in Stockholm. Since that year, the sport has always been on the Olympic program. The program has remained remarkably constant. In 1900, a high jump and long jump for horses was held for the first and only time. Jumping consists of negotiating a series of obstacles with the goal being not to disturb the fences. Prior to 1952, equestrian sport during the Olympics were contested by men only. In fact, the riders had to be military athletes. More specifically, they had to be commissioned officers. Beginning in 1952, these restrictions were lifted, and since 1952, men and women have competed against each other in the equestrian events." </block quote>
