Show Jumping

Show Jumping is a relatively new equestrian sport. It came about just after the Enclosure Acts in 1801. Once fences and other boundaries were put up, people who wanted to start jumping needed horses that would get over these obstacles. 
  The sport was not popular at first as the riders would go off cross country and the spectators found it difficult to follow. It was then moved to inside an arena which was a lot more popular and was called Leaping. This first appeared in Dublin in 1869 as Horse Leaping which is now the Dublin Horse Show. 
  Jumping was done with a deep seat and long stirrups. This was preferred and it meant the horse would feel more free going over the jumps. But years later, forward position and short stirrups were introduced making it easier for the rider without interfering with the balance of the horse. 
  Now, Show Jumping is very commonly found all over the world. We have our own Dublin horse show and it is also an Olympic sport. The horse and rider get four faults if the horse knocks a pole from the jump. The course must also be completed within time or time penalties will be added. Denis Lynch, Bertram Allen, Greg Broderick and Cian O'Connor were our Irish team at the Aga Khan Nations Cup at the Royal Dublin Horse Show this year. They were narrowly beaten by Italy in a dramatic jump off. Ireland also has 8 jumpers in the top 100 show jumpers in the world. 

Photo Credit; Eponimm