The History of Show Jumping

Show jumping is an equestrian discipline that requires horse and rider to jump a predetermined course of fences within a specific amount of time. The team is penalized via time faults for going over the allotted time. Additional faults are added when a horse knocks down a portion of a fence or refuses to jump a fence. The winner is determined by the fastest clean round (no time faults, no jumping faults), which can occur in a second-round jump-off if more than one horse is clean in the first round of competition.

  1. Early Beginnings

    • Show jumping is rooted in steeplechase.

      Horses have been close partners with man since ancient times. Whether they were used for transportation, agricultural purposes, in war or for hauling, horses have an obvious role in our history. It was not until the French started racing horses across the country that jumping became a significant equine skill. Today's steeplechase events are modeled after these races, which required horses to jump over whatever obstacles they found along the way. While participants enjoyed these races, they were not spectator-friendly.

    The Enclosures Act

    • Horses began jumping over property fences.

      In the 18th century, the Enclosures Act was passed in Britain, which enabled a certain class of British citizen to own land that was once open for all to use. This new "landed class" began fencing off their property to clearly define the boundaries of their land. Because of the popularity of fox hunting in England, horses and riders simply jumped over these fences while on the hunt rather than attempt to go around them. Riders began selecting horses that were athletic enough to clear these fences while maintaining their endurance and speed.

    Lepping Classes

    • In 1866, a horse-jumping class was included at the Harness Show in Paris, France. By 1900, horse-jumping competitions, known as "lepping classes," were a part of English horse shows. At this point, women riding side saddle competed in a separate division from men and overall entries were minimal.

    International Sport

    • In 1907, the first international horse show took place in London at the Grand Hall Olympia and the show jumping sport was introduced to the Olympic Games in 1912. Since every country had its own definition of the sport, the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) was formed to standardize the rules and regulations on the international level. Equestrian sport is one of only three Olympic sports that allows men and women to compete against each other (the other two being sailing and badminton).

    Show Jumping in America

    • Grand Prix is the highest level of show jumping. The first official Grand Prix class in the United States took place in 1965 in Cleveland, Ohio. Mary Mairs Chapot won the class on her horse White Lightning.

    Show Jumping Today

    • Show jumping is a very popular sport internationally, especially in Europe. Competitors and their horses travel all over the world to compete on a regular basis. The United States Show Jumping Hall of Fame was launched in 1987, with the partnering museum opening in 1989.