Show Jumping
Nail biting and precise
The show jumping phase is the nail biting culmination of competition, requiring the precision of stadium jumping against the clock, where a single miss-step can mean the difference between winning and losing. Competing in reverse order of placing, horse and rider negotiate a twisting course of 14 obstacles against the clock. Penalties accrue for dropped rails, refusals and run-outs. Drop a single rail and its 4 points added to your score, drop 2, and its 8. Many a rider who has been leading throughout the dressage and cross country phases has lost the competition with a stray rail or time penalties in the closing moments of the round. It is not until the final rider is through the finish flags that the winner is known, keeping spectators, competitors and commentators on their toes to the very end.