Rules and Guidelines for Jumper Divisions: |
General Jumper Eligibility |
| Jumpers may be of any breed, height or sex. Junior riders may show stallions. In cases of unsoundness sufficient to be considered abusive, the judge must eliminate the competitor from that class. Any action against a horse by an exhibitor which is deemed to be excessive by a judge, steward or show veterinarian, in the show ring or anywhere on the show grounds may be punished by official warning or eliminated. Such actions include, but are not limited to: excessive use of spur or whip. Manual poling is prohibited. |
Scoring |
Jumpers are scored mathematically, based on penalty faults incurred between the starting line and finish line. Penalty faults include disobediences, falls, knockdowns, and time penalties.
1: When a horse makes two or more faults at an obstacle, only the major fault counts. In the case of equal faults, only one will count (Exception: Disobediences count in addition.)
2: When an obstacle is composed of several elements in the same vertical plane, a fault at the top element is the only one penalized.
3: When an obstacle to be taken in one effort is composed of several elements not in the same vertical plane (i.e., oxer, triple bar, etc.) faults at more than one element are penalized only once.
4: In combinations, the faults committed at each obstacle are scored separately. In case of refusal or run-out at one element of a combination (and upon the judge’s signal that the obstacle has been reset, if necessary,) the competitor must re-jump the entire combination.
5: In cases of broken equipment or loss of shoe, the rider must continue if he wishes to avoid penalty, or may voluntarily withdraw.
6: An eliminated competitor may make one attempt to jump an additional single obstacle, which may be designated by the judge(s), but may not continue thereafter. (Exception: The right to attempt an additional obstacle does not apply in the case of the fall of the horse.)
7: Any competitor who does not leave the ring promptly at the end of the round or after being eliminated may be disqualified from future classes during the competition at the discretion of the judge(s).
8: Riders receiving physical assistance from outside the ring (i.e., lunge whips, etc.) while on course will be eliminated. (Note: this does not apply to riders between rounds in Table II, 2(b) competitions provided the rider begins his jump-off within the limits of the time allowed between the audible signal and crossing the starting line.)
|
Start and Finish |
A start line must be established at least 12’ from the first obstacle and a finish line at least 24’ from the last obstacle, each indicated by two markers at least 12’ apart. Horses must cross the start line between the markers mounted, and to complete the course they must cross the finish line between the markers in the proper direction, mounted. Passing through the starting markers in the improper direction before starting does not incur penalty. Failure to enter the ring within one minute of being called or failure to cross the starting line within 45 seconds after an audible signal to proceed has been given incurs elimination.
|
Audible Signal |
An audible signal (bell, horn, whistle, gong or buzzer) is sounded for the following purposes:
1: to give the signal to start;
2: to stop a competitor in the event of an unforeseen incident (which also designates a time-out);
3: to indicate that an obstacle has to be reset before being retaken after it has been knocked down during a refusal (designating a time-out);
4: to give the signal for competitor to continue his round after an interruption, also designating time in; (Note: It is the rider’s responsibility to be ready to continue on the course when signal is given)
5: to indicate by repeated and prolonged ringing that the competitor has been eliminated; and
6: to indicate that the rider should not proceed to the jump-off round in a Table II, Sec. 2(c) class.
|
Timing |
Time is taken from the instant the horse’s chest reaches the start line until it reaches the finish line. After the signal to start has sounded, a competitor must pass through the start markers in the proper direction to be considered on course.
1: If, as a result of a disobedience, a competitor knocks down or dislodges an obstacle or a flag marking the limits of an obstacle, the clock is stopped immediately and remains stopped while the obstacle or flag marking the limits of an obstacle is rebuilt. If this occurs at a single obstacle, the first part of a combination, or any obstacle inside a closed combination, six seconds are added to the time taken by the competitor to complete the course. If it occurs at the second part of a combination, eight seconds are added; if it occurs at the third or further parts of a combination, ten seconds are added.
2: If a competitor knocks down or dislodges one of the parts of a combination or a flag marking the limits of an obstacle and then refuses or runs out at the next part without knocking it down, the clock is stopped as for a knockdown resulting from a disobedience. Penalties of eight or ten seconds are applied according to whether the disobedience occurs at the second, third, or subsequent parts of the combination.
3: Time faults awarded are penalized one (1) fault for each commenced second over the Time Allowed.
4: The time allowed to complete the course should be calculated from an actual measurement of the course’s length for all rounds and jump-offs. The time allowed is based on a minimum speed of 360 yards per minute. The speed to be used for each class or section must be indicated in the prize list. The time allowed must be announced and posted prior to the start of the class. The time limit to complete the course is double the time allowed. Any competitor whose time including penalty seconds exceeds the Time Limit is eliminated.
|
Disobediences |
The following defines disobediences and are penalized.
1: Refusal. Stopping in front of an obstacle to be jumped, whether or not the horse knocks it down or displaces it, is penalized as a disobedience. Stopping at an obstacle without knocking it down and without backing, followed immediately by jumping from a standstill, is not penalized. However, if the halt continues, or the horse backs even a single step or circles to retake the course, a refusal is incurred.
2: Run-out. Evading or passing the obstacle to be jumped or the finish line or jumping an obstacle outside its limiting markers is penalized as a disobedience.
3: After a run-out or refusal the competitor must, before proceeding on the course, re-jump the obstacle at which the disobedience occurred or be eliminated. If the flag, standard, wing, or obstacle has not been reset when the competitor is ready to jump, he must await the signal to start or be eliminated.
4: Loss of Forward Movement. Halting or stepping backward after crossing the start line, (unless due to a refusal, run-out, or an order from a judge due to unforeseen circumstances such as a fence being blown down,) will be penalized as a disobedience.
5: Circling. Any form of circle or circles whereby the horse crosses its original track between two consecutive obstacles, or stops advancing toward or turns away from the next fence except to retake an obstacle after a disobedience, is considered a disobedience. This is a judgment call. (Note: Coming sideways or zigzagging toward an obstacle does not constitute a disobedience unless the horse passes or turns its back to the next obstacle or the finish line.)
|
Knockdowns |
An obstacle is considered knocked down when in jumping an obstacle, a horse or rider, by contact:
1: lowers any part thereof which establishes the height of the obstacle or the height of any element of a spread obstacle, even when the falling part is arrested in its fall by some other portion of the obstacle; or
2: moves any part thereof which establishes the height of the obstacles so that it rests on a different support from the one on which it was originally placed. Should a pole resting in a cup come to rest on the lip of the cup, or on a bracket which is an integral part of the cup, it is not considered a knockdown. Narrowing the width of a spread obstacle without altering the height of any elements as defined above is not considered a knockdown. If an obstacle falls after a competitor leaves the ring, it is not considered a knockdown.
|
Jumping Faults |
Faults and elimination are scored as follows:
1: Knockdown of obstacle or standard with any portion of horse, rider, or equipment, when jumping an obstacle -- 4 faults.
2: Knockdown of automatic timing equipment, other designated markers on start and finish lines -- 4 faults.
3: First disobedience anywhere on course -- 4 faults.
4: Second cumulative disobedience anywhere on course -- 8 faults. In classes held at level 5 or higher, the second refusal eliminates.
5: Third cumulative disobedience anywhere on course, level 4 or lower-- Elimination.
6: Fall of horse and/or rider -- Elimination.
7: Jumping an obstacle before it is reset, or without waiting for signal to proceed -- Elimination.
8: Starting before judge’s signal to proceed -- Elimination.
9: Failure to enter ring within one minute of being called -- Elimination.
10: Failure to cross the starting line within 45 seconds after signal to proceed -- Elimination.
11: Jumping an obstacle before crossing start line unless said obstacle is designated as a practice obstacle or after crossing the finish line, whether forming part of the course or not -- Elimination.
12: Off course -- Elimination.
13: Rider and/or horse leaving the arena before finishing the course -- Elimination.
14: Exceeding the Time Limit -- Elimination.
15: Actions against a horse deemed excessive (For example: excessive use of whip or spurs at any time within the arena.) -- Elimination.
|
Home
|
Horses In The Park
|
Butch's Paddock
|
Heritage Jumps
|
Clinics
