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EQUESTRIAN
SPORTS
For
those who are not equestrian athletes and have no
knowledge of the various disciplines of equestrian
sports, this article will provide an insight into
this sport The objective is to introduce those with
aspirations to this exciting and thrilling sport.
In order to understand what you are going to experience,
please read on.
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SHOWJUMPING
Showjumping is the most
popular and best known of all equestrian sports
in the world. Originating from the fox hunt, showjumping
really took off in the early nineteenth century.
Spectators find it exciting to watch as it is relatively
easy to understand and one can hear the 'oohs' and
'aah' from even those watching for the first time.
Many enjoy the thrills and spills of the sport.
The challenge is simple
and straightforward. The horse and rider HAVE TO
CLEAR THE 10 TO 15 OBSTACLES LAID OUT IN THE COURSE.
The team must negotiate each fence at the correct
angle, height and speed to clear all the fences
without incurring 'faults'. Faults are penalty points
awarded should a horse refuse to jump, fall or knock
down any portion of the fence.
Timing is of the essence
whilst negotiating the course. Riders are given
an optimum time for the measured course and a maximum
time allowed. Points are deducted should the rider
exceed the maximum time allowed and these are called
'time faults or he may even be eliminated.
However, speed does not
guarantee winning. A rider who rides too fast may
become careless and knock down a fence or two. Each
fence down will attract a penalty of four points.
Being too cautious and taking too long is not the
answer too, as the rider runs the risk of exceeding
that time limit. Should the rider and horse jump
the wrong fence or miss out on a fence, or if the
horse refuses to jump a particular obstacle three
times, the team will be eliminated. If a rider and/or
horse falls, the team could be eliminated too.
Riders will draw lots for
the starting order and the most advantageous position
is towards the end of the line-up as the rider can
observe how the others negotiate the course. The
fences or jumps as they are sometimes known as,
are numbered in the order that they are to be jumped
and the starting and finishing points are flagged.
All riders are required
to approach the judge and salutes as he enters the
arena. He then has to wait for the bell to ring
before he starts jumping the course while waiting
for the bell he proceeds to canter around the course.
Most times you will see the rider observing the
course and working out in his mind how best to clear
all the fences. Upon completion of the terse, the
competitor returns to the judge and salutes before
leaving the arena.
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Showjumping
is ultimately a best of the horse's natural aptitude skill,
strength, precision, speed and obedience as well as the
rider's horsemanship. Before each competition begins, the
riders will walk the course to determine how to adjust their
horses' stride to approach the fences. This is important
as the rider will know what to do and expect, especially
when the fare related differently to each other. The more
technical the course, the more precise control of the horse
is required if he is to clear all the obstacles without
any faults.
A rider clearing all the fences
without faults is said to have a 'clear round'. When there
are a few riders with clear rounds in a competition they
are required to do a 'jump off' This means that these riders
have to do another round of jumps on a slightly different
course. To win, a rider must be able to clear all the jumps
at the shortest possible time.
Horses are graded for their jumping
ability but not the riders. Therefore a rider can ride different
horses of different ability in a few classes. He also can
ride more than one horse in a particular class.
Showjumping are categorised into
different classes. The classes range from Novice to Grand
Prix which is the top level in all competitions. The difference
in the classes are the heights with the Novice beginning
at a height of 0.8 m to Grand Prix level with heights at
1.3 to 1.6 m. The course also gets more and more difficult
at the higher levels.
Then there is the Relay event where
teamwork is called for. Riders are put into teams of threes
or fours in partnership with their horses and the teams
compete one against the other. In this event, the first
member will try to clear the course without knocking down
any fences. Should he knock down a fence, he will be 'rescued'
by the second team member, i.e. his team member will continue
jumping the course and this will go on. Should a team member
have a clear round, the next member will have to jump from
the first fence onwards. The team with the fastest time
and least penalties will be declared the winner.
In the Six Bar, six fences of different
heights are all laid out in a row. If more than one rider
clear all the fences without any faults, they have to jump
all the fences again and this time the heights will be raised.
This will go on until there is one clear winner but at times
you will see a tie with more than one rider with clear rounds. |
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