Feel the rush of cantering toward a fence, launching into the air, and clearing it perfectly – that’s the thrill of jumping!
What IS Showjumping?
Showjumping is competitive precision riding over a set course of obstacles. Here’s the cool part: although the jumps look solid and impressive, they’re designed to knock down easily if your horse touches them. This keeps both horse and rider safe!
Each time you knock down a rail or your horse refuses to jump (says ‘nope!’), you get penalties marked against you. The goal? Jump the course clear (no rails down, no refusals), and in many competitions, be the fastest clear round to win!
Jumping is a sport for young and old, where boys and girls, men and women all compete against each other. It’s one of the most popular equestrian disciplines in the world and is even an Olympic sport!
How does a Showjumping competition work?
In most jumping competitions, you ride around a course of 8-12 jumps (the number depends on your level) in a specific order. The course designer creates a route for you to follow, and you need to jump each fence in the right sequence.
Before you ride, you’re allowed to walk the course on foot. This is super important! You can:
- Look at each jump and decide how to approach it
- Count strides between fences
- Plan your turns and track
- Figure out where to speed up or slow down
Then you mount up and ride! The bell rings, and you have 45 seconds to cross the start line (or you’re eliminated). Off you go!
Types of jumping classes
SANESA offers different types of jumping competitions. Here are the main ones:
Ideal time
This is perfect for beginners! Instead of racing against the clock, you try to complete the course in a specific ‘ideal time.’ If you’re too fast OR too slow, you get penalties. It teaches you to control your pace and not rush. Both Level 0 classes always use Ideal Time as it’s the safest way for newcomers to start!
Normal competition (Table A)
This is the classic jumping format! Everyone rides the course, and penalties are awarded for:
- Knocking rails down: 4 penalties per rail
- Refusals: 4 penalties for first refusal, elimination on second
- Time faults: 1 penalty for each second over the time allowed
If multiple riders go clear (no penalties), there’s usually a jump-off – a shorter course where you race against the clock. The fastest clear round in the jump-off wins!
Accumulator
This is really fun! There are 8 jumps, each worth a different number of points. Usually, the jumps get harder and are worth more points as you go. There’s also a ‘joker’ fence that’s worth double points!
You ride against the clock and try to jump as many fences as possible to collect points. If you knock a rail, you don’t get points for that fence, but you can keep going! The rider with the most points wins. It’s all about strategy – do you play it safe or go for the high-point jumps?
Two phase
Imagine two mini-courses in one! Phase 1 is judged under Table A rules (penalties for faults). If you go clear in Phase 1, you immediately continue into Phase 2, which is against the clock. Your time only starts counting in Phase 2.
If you have a fault in Phase 1, you’re still judged on your time in Phase 2, but riders who went clear in Phase 1 will always place higher than you. It rewards clear rounds but still gives everyone a chance to compete!
A2 (Faults converted to time)
This is more advanced. You ride one round against the clock, and any faults you have (like rails down or refusals) are converted into extra seconds added to your time. The fastest ‘converted time’ wins. So if you knock a rail, it might add 4 seconds to your time. It makes for exciting, fast riding!
The SANESA Competition
Important: Every SANESA show must include a SANESA Competition class. This is the main class, and it’s the one used for selecting riders for National Teams. If you want to represent your province at Nationals, this is the class that counts!
Shows will also offer one other type of class (Ideal Time, Accumulator, Two Phase, or A2) as a second class, so you can do a maximum of two jumping classes per show.
SANESA Jumping Levels
SANESA offers jumping levels from tiny starter fences all the way up to seriously impressive heights! Here’s what’s available:
Primary School Jumping Levels:
Newcomers’ Challenge:
- Level 0 On Lead & Off Lead: 30cm and 40cm (Ideal Time, 8 jumps only, simple courses with minimal fillers, no combinations)
Normal League Classes:
- Level 1: 50cm (max 10 jumps, simple courses)
- Level 2: 60cm (normal courses, no water tray)
- Level 3: 70cm (normal courses, no water tray)
- Level 4: 80cm (normal courses, no water tray)
- Level 5: 90cm
- Level 6: 100cm (1 metre!)
- Level 7: 110cm (1.10m – impressive stuff!)
High School Jumping Levels:
Newcomers’ Challenge:
- Level 0: 50cm (Ideal Time, 8 jumps, simple course)
Normal League Classes:
- Level 1: 60cm and 70cm (max 10 jumps, simple courses)
- Level 2: 80cm (normal courses, no water tray)
- Level 3: 90cm (normal courses, no water tray)
- Level 4: 100cm (1 metre!)
- Level 5: 110cm (1.10m)
- Level 6: 120cm (1.20m – seriously high!)
- Level 7: 130cm (1.30m – top level riding!)
Moving Up the Levels – Qualifying Rounds (QRs)
Good news for beginners: you don’t need any special qualifications to ride at the lower levels (up to 80cm). These are considered recreational classes – just enter and have fun!
But once you start jumping higher (90cm and above for Pony Riders, or moving between certain levels as a Junior), you need to get Qualifying Rounds (QRs) before you can move up.
What’s a QR? It’s a clear round (no rails down, no refusals, no eliminations) in the first round of a graded competition. This proves you and your horse are ready for the next level.
How many QRs do you need?
- Pony Riders: 5 QRs to move from 90cm to 100cm, then 10 QRs to move from 100cm to 110cm (Open)
- Junior Riders: 5 QRs for most level changes, but 10 QRs to move to 120cm to 130cm (Open)
These rules are set by SASJ (South African Show Jumping) to ensure riders are safe and ready before tackling bigger fences.
Important SANESA Jumping Rules
- Maximum two classes per day: Your horse can only do two showjumping classes per show.
- No cross-entering: You can’t compete in two different levels at the same show.
- One horse with two riders is okay: The same horse can compete in the same class with two different riders.
- Look smart: All horses should be clean and neatly turned out.
- Register properly: If you want grading points from SASJ, make sure you’re registered at the right level.
What do you wear?
Jumping has a smart, traditional dress code:
- Helmet: Approved riding helmet with three-point harness (always!)
- Jacket: Black, navy, or dark jacket, OR your school blazer/tracksuit top
- Shirt: White or light-coloured shirt with a tie or stock (fancy necktie)
- Jodhpurs: Beige, white, or cream
- Boots: Long black riding boots or jodhpur boots with chaps
- Gloves: Optional but recommended
- Crop: Short crop (max 75cm) allowed
What makes a good showjumper?
To be successful in jumping, you need:
- Rhythm and balance: Keeping an even pace and staying balanced in your turns.
- Eye for a stride: Learning to see the right takeoff spot for your horse.
- Course memory: Remembering the course and planning ahead.
- Quick thinking: Adjusting if things don’t go to plan.
- Confidence: Trusting yourself and your horse.
- Partnership with your horse: Working as a team.
- Fitness: Being strong enough to stay with your horse over fences.
- Mental toughness: Not getting discouraged if you have a rail down.
Top tips for SANESA Jumping success
- Always walk the course: This is crucial! Look at every jump, plan your track, and count strides in combinations.
- Practice at home: Set up grids and small courses to work on your technique.
- Keep a steady rhythm: Don’t speed up or slow down too much between fences.
- Look where you’re going: Your eyes should already be on the next jump as you land from the previous one.
- Stay in the middle: Jump in the centre of each fence for the best chance of a clear round.
- Don’t rush: In most classes, clear rounds beat fast rounds with faults.
- Work on flatwork: Good flatwork creates better jumping – circles, transitions, and balance matter!
- Learn from every round: Whether you go clear or have rails, figure out what to improve for next time.
- Take your time moving up: Master each level before moving to bigger fences.
- Stay positive: Everyone has rails down sometimes – even Olympic riders!
Why try Jumping?
Jumping is perfect for riders who:
- Love the thrill of flying over fences.
- Enjoy the challenge of memorising and riding courses.
- Like competing against the clock.
- Want a sport that’s exciting to watch and do.
- Enjoy strategic thinking (choosing the best track, planning your pace).
- Like variety – every course is different!
- Dream of maybe competing at the Olympics one day.
- Have a horse or pony who loves to jump.
Jumping is one of the most popular equestrian disciplines for good reason; it’s thrilling, challenging, strategic, and absolutely exhilarating when you gallop around a course and hear the music showing you got a clear round!
Ready to start Showjumping?
If jumping sounds like your kind of sport, start small and build up gradually:
- Learn the basics: Make sure you have a solid position and can control your horse on the flat.
- Start with poles: Practice trotting and cantering over poles on the ground.
- Try small jumps: Begin with tiny cross-poles and gradually increase the height.
- Enter Level 0: When you’re ready, try a Level 0 Ideal Time class – it’s designed for beginners!
- Work your way up: Progress through the levels as you and your horse gain confidence.
Remember: every top showjumper started exactly where you are now – with their first tiny jump. The fences might get bigger, the courses more complicated, and the competition tougher, but that feeling when you and your horse clear a fence together? That never gets old!
For more information about SANESA Jumping, visit www.sanesa.co.za.
