7 Popular Horse Show Jumps

Written by
Katherine Blocksdorf
Katherine is an avid horseback rider and trainer who contributed to The Spruce Pets for over 12 years, publishing 400+ articles.
Learn about The Spruce Pets' Editorial Process
Katherine Blocksdorf
Updated 08/12/19
Horseback rider performing stadium jump

Marcin Kilarski / Getty Images

The goal of show jumping—also known as stadium jumping—is to demonstrate speed and agility by avoiding penalties, such as knock downs, while being timed. Judging in this event is not based on the horse’s obedience or the rider’s form. Courses are often decorated with either natural or artificial elements and placed in a way that is challenging for both horse and rider, with jumps placed in tricky combinations, creating lots of twists and turns along the way.

In a Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) competition, such as the WEG (World Equestrian Games) or the Olympics, there are strict rules about the construction of jumps. However, local shows may be more lenient. Here are some of the most common jumps used in stadium-show jumping competitions.

  • 01 of 07

    Cross Rails

    Girl jumping her horse over cross rails

    Deborah Cheramie / Getty Images

    The first jump you may ever encounter will probably be a cross rail. They’re not usually seen in competition, but you may see them at a schooling show or in the warm-up ring. They’re inviting to the horse and rider because, with a low midpoint, they help both parties focus on jumping.

  • 02 of 07

    Verticals

    A horse and rider clear a vertical jump

    ana_gr / Getty Images

    Verticals are often used in combinations of jumps. A vertical is a deceptively simple jump but can be one of the most difficult to clear. It’s usually comprised of parallel rails or boards between two jump standards, although other decorative elements may be used. These jumps can look 'airy' and easy to knock down—and therefore test the rider to make a horse give its best effort. Verticals—and many other jumps—may have wings which are used to help focus the horse into the center of the jump. There is often a ground rail placed in front of most jumps, to help the horse and rider judge distance and height. Lack of either can make the jump more difficult.

  • 03 of 07

    Open Water Jumps

    Horse and rider go over water jump

    Phil Cole / Getty Images

    An open water jump consists of clearing a rectangular square of water that challenges the horse and rider to jump wide, rather than high. There is no fence that the horse must jump; although fences might be used to mark the sides. If the horse touches the water, or edge of the jump with any foot, it is considered a fault for scoring. Plasticine covers the edge of a water jump landing side as a way to measure if a horse has cleared the water. This type of molding clay indents with the horse’s hoofprint if it hits it. An indent in the plasticine or a splash will indicate a fault, the equivalent of a knock down.

  • 04 of 07

    Liverpools

    Horse doing a Liverpool jump

    Nadine Rupp / Getty Images

    A Liverpool is a type of water jump. It is similar to an open water jump, but includes a fence before, over, or on both sides of the water. The horse must clear both the fence rails and the water. The obstacle in this jump is typically not as wide as an open water jump.

    Continue to 5 of 7 below.
  • 05 of 07

    Walls

    Horse and rider plough into wall jump

    Matthew Lewis / Getty Images

    Walls are often decorated to look like real stone or brick. But they are constructed to be lightweight and fall down easily. They look intimidating, so they present a mental challenge, even though they might not be the highest or most difficult jump on the course.

  • 06 of 07

    Combinations

    Combination jumps

    Andy Crawford / Getty Images

    A combination is a line of two or more obstacles. Combinations test the horse and rider’s control and precision. Often, the jumps are placed close together so that there is only room for one or two strides between.

  • 07 of 07

    Triple Bars

    A horse and rider walk between a triple bar jump setup

    Dean Mouhtaropoulos / Getty Images

    A triple bar, made up of three sets of jump standards beside each other, challenges the horse to jump wide. Wide jumps like these are sometimes called spread jumps. The first bar of a triple is usually the lowest. One variation of the triple is known as the hogsback. In this type of fence, the middle pole is the highest. Another variation is a fan, in which the three bars are on separate standards. So when viewed from above, the fence is the shape of an unfurled fan. Jumps like this present a mental challenge as well as a physical one.