Horse Racing Fantasy Community

If you’ve ever watched the Summer Olympics, chances are good that you’ve been able to see the equestrian event of Jumping. If, for some reason, you’ve never seen this event unfold before you on a TV screen, you’ve missed something truly special.

Jumping is one of the equestrian (and Olympic) sports that are popular in the United States … in many parts of Europe … and in Australia, as well. It’s a test that requires much from a horse – skill … speed … energy … obedience … and a willingness to excel that is only found in some human athletes.

In truth, Jumping events test the skill and mettle of the human rider as well as the horse that “partners” with him or her. The event is contested in the following way: horse and rider are required to “negotiate” a course that involves jumps over water hazards … over fences … or double fences … over many other types of “obstacles,” as well.

Horse and rider “race against the clock.” The course must be completed within a specified time or the horse and rider receive no points or credit for their trip around the course.

Importantly, time is only one of the factors that are used to determine a winner. There are “penalties” that result in time added to the final score. Penalties can be accumulated in a couple of ways, one of which is if the horse knocks over an obstacle, such as a fence post or a “block” used in another obstacle or obstruction. A penalty can also be given to the horse and rider team if the horse refuses to jump over an obstacle but, instead, goes around it.

Each penalty results in time added to the final score so that a good run can turn bad quickly when one or two penalties occur. It is what separates the winners from the also-rans. An interesting aspect of this event is that men and women compete against each other. While it is the horse that is the athlete, male and female riders sit atop the horses to direct these equine superstars around the course.

At this year’s World Equestrian Games, teams from the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Australia and a few other countries will “fill the card” and vie for the Gold Medal. These same countries send teams to the Summer Olympics, as well.

Competition is always spirited. And this event is favored by fans of Equestrian games. If you plan to be in Lexington, Kentucky, it pays to make an effort to attend the Jumping event. Few sports competitions are more exciting.