The Equestrian disciplines are unique among Olympic sports, in the sense that men and women compete on the same terms and horse and rider are both declared Olympic medal winners.
At Olympic Games, the horses must be the same nationality as the riders and each horse must be at least seven years old and have (as well as the rider) a certificate indicating experience in top international competition.
To find out more, please visit: www.britishshowjumping.co.uk
Dan Hughes has set his sights on success in Rio 2016 after being announced as new Performance Director for the British Equestrian Federation.
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Jumping was the first Equestrian discipline, which was included in the Paris 1900 Olympic Games. In the 1906 IOC Congress in Athens, the Count Clarence von Rosen, Master of the Horse to the King of Sweden, under the guidelines of the IOC President Pierre De Coubertin, formed a detailed proposal to include all three Equestrian disciplines in the Olympic Games.
The IOC accepted von Rosen’s proposal but it was after a 12-year interval that Jumping, together with Dressage and Eventing were included in the competition schedule of the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm. Since then, these three Olympic disciplines have been part of the Olympic Games, with minor modifications in the way they are conducted.
It is worth mentioning that, until 1952, only male riders who were cavalry officers could participate in the Olympic Games. Starting from 1952, under an IOC decision, these restrictions were lifted, and both men (civilians) and women were given the chance to compete in the three Olympic disciplines, under common rules of evaluation and marking.
The International Equestrian Federation (Fédération Equestre Internationale – FEI), which was founded in 1921, is the governing body of the Equestrian Sport and includes 135 member countries.
Jumping (known as ‘Showjumping in the United Kingdom) takes place in an arena, around a course of approximately 15 fences.
Rider and horse are considered a team and it takes years of structured training for the team to be able to perform at the highest level required across the combined skills required. These skills include the need for not only agility but also speed, precision, endurance and aptitude to name just a few if they are to clear the obstacles within the time allowed. In each of the three Equestrian events – Dressage, Jumping and Eventing – the aim is to create a harmonious partnership between horse and rider.
In Jumping, the rider’s horsemanship and the horse’s freedom, energy, skill and obedience are tested over a series of about 15 obstacles, including parallel rails, triple bars, water jumps and simulated stone walls within a specified time period. Their aim is to perform a ‘clear’ round, avoiding penalty points due to a fence knock-down, a refusal or passing of the designated time to complete the course.
Jumping courses are now highly technical, requiring boldness, scope, power, accuracy and control from both horse and rider. The fences are designed so that if the horse hits them as they jump them, part or all of the fence will knock down and the rider will be penalised with ‘faults’.
Faults are also awarded if the rider does not complete the course within a set time. The winner is the rider with the fewest faults; if there is a draw, the result is decided by jumping a shortened course as fast as possible without knocking fences down (“against the clock”).
The Team medal is decided over three rounds by four riders and the Individual medals over five rounds.
Dressage: Top hat or hard hat, tailcoat with white shirt and stock, white breeches, long leather boots and gloves
Cross Country: Hard hat, shirt and stock with body protector and air jacket (optional), breeches, long leather boots and gloves
Showjumping: Hard hat, show jacket with shirt, white breeches, long leather boots
The purpose of the saddle is to give the rider stability while sitting on the horse. Saddle types differ to allow and permit different Equestrian activities. The Jumping and Eventing saddle is forward cut with knee rolls for security while cantering and jumping. The Dressage saddle has a deeper seat and straight flaps for close contact during the refined movements. The saddle is made on a steel, glass fibre or wood frame, usually covered with leather with padded panels and seat for comfort of horse and rider.
The girth holds the saddle firmly in place on the horses back. It is similar to a belt.
The purpose of the martingale is to help prevent the horse raising his head too high and is only permitted in jumping and cross country events. Horses can also wear breastplates in these disciplines to secure the saddle.
Riders use their seat, legs and reins to communicate with the horse. The principle contact being via the bit in the horses mouth, held comfortably in place by a bridle. There are different kinds of bits and riders choose accordingly to what best suits their horse.
The first competition day, sees the first qualifying round for the Final Individual Competition and decides the starting order of Round 1 (the first qualifying round) of the Team Competition.
After this competition, there will be a rest day. The Team Competition Round 1 and Round 2 take place on the second and third competition day, and also counts as the second and third qualifier for the Final Individual Competition. In the team competition, the team with the lowest total number of penalties from its three best placed riders in Round 1 and Round 2 respectively will be the winner. In case of a tie for either 1st, 2nd or 3rd place, there will be a jump-off against the clock.
The Final Individual Competition will take place on the fourth competition day. Round A of this competition is compulsory for the 35 best placed riders and horses (including those with equality of penalties for the 35th place) according to the cumulative penalties over the first and second qualifying rounds. The 20 best placed competitors (including those with equality of penalties for the 20th place) will advance to Round B of the Final Individual Competition.
Individual medals will be determined by adding together for each competitor the penalties incurred in Rounds A and B. If there is a tie, the penalties and time incurred in the jump-off will decide the individual medals.
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