What is show-jumping?

Show-jumping is a competition to see which horse and rider can best jump a series of walls, fences and other obstacles. Points are won and lost as the horses, one after the other, attempt each obstacle on a specially prepared course. Sometimes extra points are awarded to the horse which completes the course successfully in the fastest time.

Some of the special walls on a show-jumping course are made of bricks, and if the horse kicks any of the bricks off the wall as it goes over the top it will lose its rider points. Fences are often made of wooden poles, and again, none of the poles must be kicked out of place by the horse if its rider is to score full points. Also, there are often ditches filled with water, which the horses must be able to clear. If a horse refuses to jump a fence, it will mean a serious loss of points. And if a horse throws its rider out of the saddle, this is worse still.

Show-jumping is popular with millions of people today who can see such contests on television. Some show-jumping horse riders are now as famous as racing jockeys.