Show Jumping – THE LEGEND OF THE GREAT HORSE trilogy

Olympic Show Jumping’s Team Competition: The Nations Cup

Horsemanship mirrors society, and show jumping’s Olympic Nations Cup still serves to measure of the spirit and strength of the countries of the world.

Until the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, the Nation’s Cup of Show Jumping was the final event held on the last day in the Main Stadium.

The ruling bodies of Olympic sport have currently placed the competition in the middle of the games. The Nations Cup is still of attention for several reasons.

Jumping is recent knowledge

Though equestrian sport is ancient, Jumping is a very young competition. After the first contests were held in the mid-1800’s, it was largely the military that fielded horses and riders–for the very good reason that the highest levels of horsemanship were practiced by cavalry. Jumping was a new challenge in horsemanship that highlighted the best military training.

Officers came together to compete before the public in a team competition that became the Nations Cup. These international competitions originally were much as air shows today: advanced technology of the armed forces. Because cavalry quality often foretold success on the battlefield, there was special meaning attached to national success on the jumping field.

The Olympic Spirit Exemplified

The first formal Nations Cup was held at the Olympics in 1912, and were limited to commissioned military officers until 1952.

Before the Los Angeles Games in 1984, the Olympics concluded with the Nations Cup because it stood for the Olympic spirit of contest through sport and not conflict. The tradition was ended as commercialization took hold and the Closing Ceremonies became more elaborate.

The original meaning of the Nations Cup has not changed however. Horsemanship mirrors society, and the Nations Cup serves as an exciting measure of the spirit and economic strength of countries of the world.

The Nations Cup and Rise and Fall of Nations

The placings of the Olympic Nations Cup recall the history of the 20th century. The top teams placings read like a who’s who of the world’s top nations rising and falling from the placings along with their economic and political strength.

The Nations Cup reflects the top of the world

This year’s London Olympic Games are especially interesting as new nations come forward.

South American nations are showing competitive strength. Sweden is asserting itself. Australia is producing top talent. Japan is once more taking part. Eastern Europe is becoming steadily more competitive.

A big story is a new jumping rival in the Middle East, as nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE have entered the world arena.

Even China and India, not equestrian nations in modern times, are making moves into the Jumping arena …

The Nations Cup has many surprises and excitement. One of the most traditionally important and telling Olympic competitons is set to begin …

Helsinki International Horse Show

FEI_WC10_Oslo_Pius-Schwizer The second European qualifier for the World Cup of Show Jumping was held over the weekend in Helsinki, Finland.

The on-fire Swiss rider Daniel Etter and his mount Peu a Peu won the event in a 10-horse jumpoff to match their World Cup Qualifier victory last weekend in Oslo. USA rider Lauren Hough on Quick Study took second only 1.08 seconds behind the leader, the best result for a US rider in this early season.

European World Cup Jumping is an exciting indoor series because of the large public crowds and media attention. Show jumping was originally developed in Europe and still leads the world in spectators and dynamic, innovative presentation of the sport.

World Cup Show Jumping: European League Opens in Norway

Meredith_Michaels_Beerbaum__Shutterfly The European season of World Cup Show Jumping opened today in Oslo, Norway.

The World Cup is an extensive series of indoor qualifiers across the globe, leading to the Finals in April.

It is an interesting odd fact that horse jumping is a young sport: the ability of horses to jump with a rider was not discovered until the 1700’s. This intriguing competition continues to grow in popularity worldwide. The Show Jumping World Cup series was only begun in 1978, and today the series is contested in 14 leagues on every continent.

In essence, Show Jumping’s World Cup is the sport’s annual international indoor championship. Since the 1950’s, Show Jumping has evolved into a year-round sport, and the tight, colorful, electric atmosphere of indoor jumping is very different than the galloping expanses of outdoor courses. Some horses go better indoors, some prefer outside–this difference in challenge makes for interesting jumping competition year-round.

Record crowd of 73,736 attend Canadian Show Jumping Masters

Spruce Meadows arena Though horsemanship is ancient, Show Jumping itself is one of the world’s youngest professional sports!

Organized jumping is barely 100 years old. It was not known that horses could jump large fences until the 18th Century, when fox hunting was threatened by the Enclosure Laws that fenced previously open land.

A century ago we seemed to be at the end of our ancient partnership with the horse, since the animal’s use in transportation was made obsolete by the invention of the internal combustion engine. Today there are more horses than ever, largely due to equestrian sport and recreation … and one of the big drivers of that growth is the international sport of Show Jumping.

So it is great news to hear of the sport’s continuing success as a spectator attraction, as was seen last week at the Canadian jumping hot-spot of Spruce Meadows in Calgary. A record crowd of over 70,000 spectators attended the closing Masters competition, many waiting in lawnchairs at 6:00am to secure the best seats. Congrats to Spruce Meadows for its great work, and for proving that Show Jumping can be a spectator sport for the future.

Show Jumping has a story to tell

I recently watched the live video feeds from two major international jumping events, The Syracuse Invitational and the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. The horses look great, the riders are skilled, the competition level is high and humane. Both are well-run by innovative management.

The only lack was in the Announcing. Show jumping is like a storybook with pictures: it must be narrated. The story needs to be told.

Those who already love the sport will forgive transgressions against their spectator interests, but that is no reason for complacency. The key to creating new fans is engaging them.

Entertaining spectators at a horse show is as easy as talking to them about horses. This is not “easy” at all, in reality, as it requires talent combined with professionalism and love for horses and the sport. However, it would be pay great dividends for the sport to develop just such talent.