Need to be educated, please

[Quarterbell]

Hi everyone,

I just bought myself tickets to the US Olympic trials for Show Jumping. I know this might sound odd but I don't have a clue what I'm going to see. Anyone care to educate me? What should I be looking for? How is it scored? I think I might enjoy it more if I actually know a little. I ride western and no one jumps at my stable.

Thanks:rolleyes:

[kedwards]

In the first round, an allotted time is set and riders compete to jump clear within that time. "Faults" (penalty points) are added for rails down (4 faults) and for running over time. The rider and horse that complete with the fewest faults would win, however, normally there is more than one rider/horse combo who jump clear and under time, so the these rider go on to a "jump off."

The jumpoff is a shortened, but often more difficult, course. In the jumpoff round, there is no "allotted time." The ride with the fewest faults, in the quickest time, wins.

There are a lot of interesting things to watch for that will make it more interesting for you, but I'm not sure how much detail you really want.

[gail_rose]

You also get 4 faults for a refusal and get disqualified after your horse refuses 3 times!

[Quarterbell]

Thanks kedwards and gail_rose. I'd like as much detail as any of you want to give me! My tickets are for the last day so I guess that will be the jumpoff. I'm really excited to be going.

Since I probably wont get a chance to see something like that again I don't want to waste this opportunity by not knowing what I'm looking at.