We’re all familiar with candy-striped rails and wing standards, and also with the occasional coop, wall, and panel. Such jumps are also common at both lower and upper level shows. However, jump designers are becoming more and more liberal in their designs, and are stepping away from the usual standard and poles setup. Designers try to accomplish two feats when creating extraordinary fences. One, they want to challenge the horse. A visually complicated or different jump can make even seasoned horses hesitate as they try to take in all the angles and nuances of each obstacle. Bright colors, angled rails, ground lines, and decorations all factor into how a horse perceives and then jumps each jump. Second, the designer wants to create a visually pleasing course that matches the grandeur and class of the competition.
The Olympics always try to capture the culture and tradition of their location while designing show jumping courses. The Athens Olympics featured a number of jumps that chronicled Greek history and culture.
The host of the 2008 Olympic equestrian events, Hong Kong, held a contest to gather innovative jump designs. Some were a bit far-fetched, and others were just right.
Other than looking pretty and challenging competitors, jumps also act as a form of advertising. Big grand prix and international competitions often feature sponsors on their jumps. Similarly, the event complex or organization that runs the show may also have a signature jump.
The Aachen World Equestrian Games featured a number of gorgeous jumps.
The 2008 World Cup Show Jumping Final in Kuala Lumpur also hosted a jump design competition, and the winning entry is below.
Filed under: Equine Industry, Jumpers
