Tag: show jumping

Show jumping horses: Training tips.

Show jumping horses: Training tips.

horses show jumping

Al lot riders are having some problems with riding distances. If you want that you and your horse be in harmony when show jumping, you first need to understand some basic facts. To better analyse the jump and the relation between one jump and another.

At competitions mostly the best riders win. They have a correct distance/take-off points, nice rhythm between fences and turn nice and smooth. These are the most important elements to have success.

Riding your horse with a good rhythm is important because it is directly connected with balance. Good rhythm can break or make your balance. A horse with a good balance can jump relaxed/easy and make no stupid faults.

If you pull or lose your rains in turns you can never expect that a horse jump good after the turn. So turn nice and smooth and most of the time your distance is coming as we speak.

 

The understanding of distances

But all these things are just factors in the bigger picture. Every jump has his own take-off points. I want to discuss every jump separate.

Jumping a vertical:

A vertical is a fence that can be tricky. When you ride your distance too short on a vertical, it takes a lot of effort for a horse to jump clear. The take-off point of a vertical is further than an oxer. A horse jumps in an arc. If the horse jumps over the vertical the highest point is in the middle.

Jumping with your horse over an oxer:

The take-off point for an oxer is getting closer if the width of the oxer increases. So The middle of the fence is always the highest point.

Of course if the fence is getting higher the distance needs also be further
from the oxer. But like I sad, if the fence is getting more width the take-off point is smaller.

Jumping a triple bar:

Triple bars are three fences upwards directly after each other. The take-off point is the closest of all. So the arc is at his highest point at the last and highest bar. Maybe you notices. If you look at the pictures, the oxer and the vertical are the same distances before and after. The triple bar is al little bit different because the distance to the fence is shorter but after the same as the other two.

 

Thanks for reading,
Show jumping training tips.

 

 

 

 

Show jumping: Jumping levels

Show jumping: Jumping levels

Levels of jumping in different countries

In most countries they have there own horse system. I’ll discuss the four big horse nations in the world that have there own jumping levels. The Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom and the United States.

The Netherlands

Jumping rules KNHS  Jumping levels in Holland (in meters) 1m=3ft. 1m=40 inch
Level Name Height Width Max. Liverpool Min. Age*
B Beginner 1.00 1.10 None 4 year
L Beginner high 1.10 1.20 2.50 4 year
M Medium 1.20 1.30 3.00 5 year
Z / D Advanced 1.30 1.40 4.00 6 year
ZZ / C Advanced 1.35 1.45 4.00 6 year
B Expert 1.40 1.50 4.00 6 year
A Expert 1.50 1.60 4.00 7 year
Top level Expert 1.60 – 4.00+ 7 year+

Note: Minimum age for every class, not the recommended age.

Germany

Show jumping  Show jumping levels in Germany
Class Name Height (m.) Height (ft.) Max. water/ Liverpool (m.) Max. water/ Liverpool (ft.)
E Preliminary Test 0.85 2’9’’ None None
A* Novice Test 0.95 3’1’’ None None
A** Novice Test 1.05 3’5’’ 2.50 8’2’’
L Elementary Test 1.15 3’9’’ 3.00 9’9’’
M* Medium Test 1.25 4’1’’ 3.50 11’5’’
M** Medium Test 1.35 4’5’’ 4.00 13’1’’
S* Advanced Test 1.40 4’7’’ 4.10 13’5’’
S** Advanced Test 1.45 4’9’’ 4.30 14’1’’
S*** Advanced Test 1.50 4’11’’ 4.50 14’8’’
S**** Advanced Test 1.55 5’1’’ 4.50 14’8’’

Note: Deviations in height: +/- 5 cm (2’’), width -10 cm (4’’)/+20 cm (8”). These variations are permitted in Germany. In advanced test is any width permitted.

United States

USEF Jumping levels in feet-inch. U.S.  Show jumping levels in the United States 
Level Height fences Width fences Max. Triple bars Max. Liverpool’s
0 2’6’’/2’9’’ 2’9’’/3’0’’ 3’9’’ 3’9’’
1 2’9’’/3’0’’ 3’0’’/3’6’’ 4’0’’ 4’0’’
2 3’0’’/3’3’’ 3’3’’/3’9’’ 4’3’’ 4’3’’
3 3’3’’/3’6’’ 3’6’’/4’0’’ 4’6’’ 4’6’’
4 3’6’’/3’9’’ 3’9’’/4’3’’ 4’9’’ 8’
5 3’9’’/4’0’’ 4’0’’/4’6’’ 5’ 9’
6 4’0’’/4’3’’ 4’3’’/4’9’’ 5’3’’ 10’
7 4’3’’/4’6’’ 4’6’’/5’0’’ 5’6’’ 12’
8 4’6’’/4’9’’ 4’9’’/5’3’’ 5’9’’ 12’6’’
9 4’9’’/5’0’’ 5’0’’/5’6’’ 6’0’’ 13’

 

For the people that want to know, I made also a list in meters: United States jumping levels in meters.

USEF Jumping levels in meters U.S.   Show jumping levels in the US
Level Height fences Width fences Max. Triple bars width Max. Liverpool’s
0 0.76/0.84 0.84/0.91 1.14 1.14
1 0.84/0.91 0.91/1.07 1.22 1.22
2 0.91/0.99 0.99/1.14 1.30 1.30
3 0.99/1.07 1.07/1.22 1.37 1.37
4 1.07/1.14 1.14/1.30 1.45 2.44
5 1.14/1.22 1.22/1.37 1.52 2.74
6 1.22/1.30 1.30/1.45 1.60 3.05
7 1.30/1.37 1.37/1.52 1.68 3.66
8 1.37/1.45 1.45/1.60 1.75 3.81
9 1.45/1.52 1.52/1.68 1.83 3.96

United Kingdom

British Show jumping Jumping levels in England 
Class Height (in meters)
British Novice Championship 0.90
Discovery Competition 1.00
Members cup 1.10
Members cup 1.20
Newcomers 1.10
Foxhunter 1.20
  • + 10 cm in the jump off
  • If you get 4 double clears in a certain period you qualify for the regional second round. There is the first course most of the time 10 cm bigger.