The history of British show jumping started in the 19th century when an equestrian named Colonel Robert Howitt began hosting meets with his own team of horsemen. Although the sport was initially slow to catch on, the British show-jumping community has gone from strength to strength ever since. Today, the British show-jumping calendar is packed with top-level competitions, many of which attract thousands of spectators. The British show-jumping calendar is full of fascinating events that have developed from humble beginnings and are steeped in history and tradition.

How did British show jumping get started?

Show jumping, or course hunting as it was often known in the early years, has been a feature of British sporting events since the 13th century. It was originally a method used to hunt game and required no specialised equipment. Early riders would spur their horses after deer, rabbits and other small game to flush them out of hiding, then attempt to jump over or stop and turn them back toward the hunters. The first recorded match between English horsemen took place in 1688, when a group of hunters from Surrey challenged their counterparts from Hampshire to a match near Guildford. The winning team took home a prize of a pair of mares and a brace of hounds – a tradition that has survived to this day.

The London Olympics, 1948

The London Olympics were held in 1948 for the first time since the competition was staged in ancient Greece. However, thanks to the outbreak of World War II and a series of unfortunate events, the Games were postponed until 1948 and held at a new location – Wembley Stadium in London. The equestrian events were held in the stadium’s Wembley Arena and featured a show jumping competition. The show was won by Swedish rider Stig Andersson on his horse, Sotan, and is said to have inspired the modern-day equestrian world.

The Jumping Jubilee, 1868

The Jumping Jubilee was an event held at the Equestrian Home in Blackheath, London, in 1868. It featured a series of events, including steeplechasing, steeple-driving and show jumping. The London Steeple Chase Society, which had been founded in 1846, became the Jumping Jubilee Committee in 1864. The competition was a huge success, with over 2,000 spectators attending. The popularity of the event continued to grow year after year until it was discontinued in 1879.

The Great Jumping Debate, 1879

The Great Jumping Debate was a heated discussion between the show jumping and hunting communities that led to the formation of the Jumping Jubilee in 1868. The debate centred on whether it was more sporting to hunt a single animal in a single day or hunt a number of animals over a period of a few days.The hunters argued that hunting required skill and patience, while show jumping was a much faster and more exciting sport. The show jumpers, however, were quick to point out that hunting was dangerous and would not be a sport if the animals could not outrun their hunters. The debate raged on for many years and led to the formation of the National Jumping Jubilee Competition in 1868.

The Horse Show, 1872

The first Horse Show was held in 1872, when the Royal Agricultural Hall on Islington Street in London was used as a venue. The event featured a variety of equestrian events, including hunting, steeplechasing and show jumping. The show was a huge success, with crowds of up to 10,000 people attending. The Horse Show continued to be held annually until 1903. It was then held just three times – in 1906, 1908 and 1909 – before being discontinued.

The End of the Jumping Jubilee, 1879

Although the Jumping Jubilee was a great success, it was discontinued in 1879. The event had been running for 10 years, leading many to believe that it could not sustain interest and needed to be brought to an end. The Jumping Jubilee, however, was re-established in 1885 and continued to be a popular event until it was discontinued again in 1888.

The Growth of Show Jumping

While the Jumping Jubilee was being held, show-jumping was quietly growing in popularity. In 1879, the National Jumping Jubilee Competition was held again, but this time it was a one-day event. The show was a huge success, attracting tens of thousands of spectators. In 1881, the first British Horse Show was held, with show-jumping included as a discipline. The event brought together competitors from all over Great Britain and Ireland, and the horse industry continued to thrive.

Show Jumping in the Early 20th Century

In 1906, the British Horse Show was held again, but this time the event was held in Olympia and featured only show-jumping competitions. The popularity of the event led to it becoming a permanent fixture in the show calendar and it remains so to this day. The British Horse Show now attracts over 400,000 visitors every year.

Conclusion

The British show-jumping calendar is packed with top-level competitions, many of which attract thousands of spectators. The sport has grown from strength to strength ever since it first started in the 19th century and is steeped in history and tradition. The event is enjoyed by horse lovers of all ages, including many youngsters who are eager to learn the sport.