A show jumper must have the scope and courage to jump large fences as well as the athletic ability to handle the sharp turns and bursts of speed necessary to navigate the most difficult courses. Many breeds of horses have been successful show jumpers, and even some grade horses of uncertain breeding have been champions.
Most show jumpers are tall horses, over 16 hands 64 inches, 163 cm, usually of Warm blood or Thoroughbred breeding, though horses as small as 14.1 hands 57 inches, 145 cm have been on the Olympic teams of various nations and carried riders to Olympic and other international medals. There is no correlation between the size of a horse and its athletic ability, nor do tall horses necessarily have an advantage when jumping. Nonetheless, a taller horse may make a fence appear less daunting to the rider.
Ponies also compete in show jumping competitions in many countries, usually in classes limited to youth riders, defined as those under the age of 16 or 18 years, depending on the sanctioning organization. Pony sized horses may, on occasion, compete in open competition with adult riders.
The most famous example was Stroller, who only stood 14.1 hands 57 inches, 145 cm but was nonetheless an Individual silver medal winner and part the United Kingdom's show jumping team in the 1968 Summer Olympics, jumping one of the few clean rounds in the competition. You can also purchase Olympic Modern Pentathlon Tickets from Sport Ticket Exchange at very reasonable rates. Sport Ticket Exchange offers you Olympic Tickets for all Olympic sports and events especially Olympic Modern Pentathlon Tickets in very easy and secure way.
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