Show jumping is an equestrian event that tests the horse’s jumping ability and the rider’s skill over a set course of different obstacles. The winner is the competitor with the fastest time, the lowest number of faults or the highest number of points.


Modern jumping events are based on the foxhunting tradition. Hunting enthusiasts in Britain and America sought ways to test the talents of their horses more systematically. Jumping competitions for horses were first organised in the 19th century in Ireland by the Royal Dublin Society. Modern jumping techniques were developed by the Italian Federico Caprilli, who is considered the "father of modern riding."

This is the only Olympic sport where man and animal are established team-mates, and one of the few where men and women compete on equal terms

Equestrian is the ultimate in team sports, a horse and rider working together for years to hone feats of grace, daring, agility and speed.
Chariot races and horse riding appeared in Greece's ancient Games, but most of the equestrian programme as we know it began in the Olympic Games of 1912.

It includes three disciplines - dressage, jumping and the three-day event - each with individual and team competition.

Both exciting and easy to follow, show jumping is a very popular discipline. Originating from Ireland, with its passion for fox hunting, jumping requires horse  and rider to complete a course of about 15 obstacles, including triple bars, parallel rails, water jumps and simulated stone walls. Penalties are incurred if jumps are taken in the wrong order, if a horse refuses a jump or knocks down a rail, and if time limits are exceeded.