Showjumping is the most popular equestrian discipline, accounting for more than 70% of all show entries in this country.Showjumping is competitive precision riding over a set course of obstacles, which although perhaps solid in appearance, are easily knocked down. Each knock or refusal incurs penalties, which are marked against the competitor. The winner is the rider who can jump the course clear, and then jump at least part of it again, raised and this time against the clock, to be clear and faster than any other rider.
In the 18th century, the cavalry in Europe developed many training exercises, some of which the Irish formulated into a competitive event, which was fist held in Dublin, Ireland in 1868. These competitions were referred to as the “high leap” and the “wide leap”.
Showjumping was first incorporated into the Stockholm Olympic Games in 1912 where thirty-four riders took part representing nine nations: Belgium, Chile, France, Germany, Great Britain, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States. The team gold was won by Sweden, and Frenchman Capt. Jean Cariou riding Mignon won the individual Gold.
Affiliated show jumping competitions were first introduced in South Africa in the early 1950’s.
The finer details of show jumping competition and jump construction have changed since those early days and are run according to a set of SANEF rules which follow very closely the FEI rules ensuring fair competition and safeguarding riders and horses alike.
Showjumping is a sport that caters for young and old, where boys and girls, and men and women compete against each other. Both novice and experienced riders take part in show jumping competitions country wide on most weekends.
