If you’ve ever witnessed an Equestrian event, you must have seen numerous horse jumps by riders in English saddles. When we talk about general jumping competitions, they usually have obstacles that are brightly colored and creatively designed. Whereas, in hunter and jumper competitions, the barriers are designed in such a way that they fall when struck by the horse. Hence, the general idea of obstacles for horse jumps varies from one event to another. With such a vast distinction between different kinds of obstacles, a wide variety of horse jumps also exist in reality.
In case you are a horse-riding learner or merely a curious enthusiast, you may take a look at the following five major types of jumps in detail and get an edge for improving your horse’s athleticism and carefulness when it comes to resolving different jumping problems.
1. CROSSRAIL JUMP
In Crossrail jumps, two poles are placed in the form of an ‘X shape’. This type of jump usually takes place during beginner classes when you are new to jumping and have rarely been in any competitions. If you wish to polish up your basics, this is the first kind of jump you must practice doing. Such jumps are practiced near horse jumping barns to take extra care of the safety precautions in the initial stages.
2. LIVERPOOL JUMP
The word pool in its name suggests the presence of water/pool. To define it better, a Liverpool jump is when a horse is made to jump over an obstacle placed on a narrow water stream/water pool. 2.00 m is the minimum spread in excess. It must be dug into the ground.
3. HOGSBACK JUMP
This type of jump is mostly seen in advanced-level events. The setup used for this type of jump comprises a set of uneven poles, usually in a set of three. The highest pole occupies the center position while the others are fixed at different heights, on its left and right. Horse jumping barns are a perfect place to start while learning Hogsback Jump.
4. TRIPLE BAR
Triple bar jumps are considered to be quite challenging. There is a spread fence laid out with three poles of different heights in ascending order. Due to the extensive nature of the spread, your horse is required to have a good stretch as well as power and agility to take a good leap.
5. OXER JUMP
An Oxer jump is also considered a fairly advanced jump because the horse is required to take an extremely high jump in this one. The setup consists of two rails put either evenly and unevenly in more advanced competitions.
These are some of the most common horse jumps, but other than these, there are – horse jumps like Bank, Bounce, Combination, Vertical is also performed commonly. Practicing regularly and acquiring building a connection with your horse can help you master all kinds of jumps perfectly.
Before proceeding to professionally performing these jumps, you may initially practice them with your horse in a horse jumping barn under the guidance of an experienced coach.
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