What is Showjumping?
A showjumping competition is run over a course of artifical jumps in a show ring. The jumps are designed so that if you do more than just tap them the poles, blocks, etc from which they are built will fall. Knocking down any part of a jump incurs “faults” (penalty points), and you also get faults for refusals (stopping at a jump, or running out) and circling (crossing your tracks). The jumps have to be taken in the correct order and in the right direction – get this wrong and you are disqualified. You are also disqualified if you have three refusals and, in some competitions, if you fall off. The rules vary, but most showjumping classes at local shows will have two rounds: the first round is untimed, and only those who go clear (ie no faults) qualify for the second round which is a “jump-off” against the clock. The fastest clear 2nd round wins, the runner-up is the next fastest, and so on. If no-one goes clear then it is the fastest person with the least faults who wins, and so on. Cla
