RAVENSWOOD : Glad to be of service! Stadium jumping is different from hunter over fences/working hunter class in the respect that it is more of a speed event, judged on the horse/rider's ability to jump a clean course in the fastest time possible. Style is not taken into consideration as it is in the hunter classes, which are judged on the horse keeping the same cadence, arching over the exact center of each fence, and having the same sized strides between fences. Breed show jumps are generally not as high nor are the courses as complex as AHSA (American Horse Show Assn) courses. In both classes, there are from nine fences up, depending on the level of competition, which can vary in height from 3'6" to around 8 feet. Most breed shows do not have jumps over 4'6", and, since they are usually held in an arena, the courses are smaller in size. In stadium jumping you may have post and rail fences (which look like a "farm fence" one element.... oxers, which are usually two part fences with the standards butted up against each other and the lower fence in front of the higher....Liverpools which are either post and rail or oxer type with a water box set into the ground beneath the jump. There are spread fences, which are post and rail set apart a foot or two, so that the horse must jump up and forward at the same time. The combinations which are post and rail set at 12' interval spacings, can be one two or three stride (12'24'36') apart. Breed show and open differ in the complexity of the course, with open being more difficult. Most breed show judges base everything on a 17 hand horse with a 12' galloping stride....EVEN YOUTH... needless to say, we do lots more open youth events than breed show. The jumping you see on ESPN is generally in the Grand Prix (highest) division. Unless you are at a national or world championship, breed shows genrally feature oxers, spread fences, and post & rail. Horses are required to use a forward seat saddle, snaffle or pellham bit or jumping hackamore. Riders are usually required to wear ASTM certified helmets (see rulebook under "duh"), and may wear spurs of an unrowelled type. In stadium jumping bats are allowed, and in breed shows draw reins and running martingales are also allowed. Scoring is numerical.... knocking a jump element = 4 faults disobediences, such as refusals, run outs, loss of forward motion, also score down. Three refusals or a fall = disqualification. The object is to jump the course with no faults or disobediences in the fastest times possible. In the upper levels, there is a time limit for competing the course. That's a thumbnail sketch. Rules are about the same between breed associations and AHSA, but the judges are better in ASHA.If you need more specifics, please feel free to get in touch!Hasta luegoJudy

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