What is Show Jumping?

Show Jumping is one of the disciplines encouraged in pony club. It involves riders learning to navigate their mounts over a course of obstacles in the show ring. Riders move from poles on the ground at the lower levels up to jumping 1.2m obstacles at the highest levels.

Competitions may be run to test a rider's ability to combine speed with accuracy over a stadium course comprised of knockdown jumps. The objective is for riders to complete the "obstacle" course with the least amount of penalties being accumulated and without having exceeded the time allowed. Penalties are assessed for knockdowns and refusals. In the event of a tie, or with more than one rider having gone clear, then a timed jump-off is held with the rider having gone the fastest with the least penalties being the winner.

It is an event that is popular among spectators everywhere. It provides a source of excitement for everyone, even those who may have never even seen a horse before!

Pony Club also encourages riders to do medal type jumper classes. These are judged jumper rounds that assess the rider's skill in executing the course rather than just looking at speed and knock down.