Inside equestrian show jumping, the elite sport beloved by famous kids like Grace Wahlberg, Jennifer Gates and Eve Jobs
The niche sport of show jumping has attracted the attention of some of the world’s wealthiest people.
For those who can afford to compete, show jumping offers millions in prize money and international fame.
In the US, some of the sport’s most well-known participants are the daughters of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Michael Bloomberg and Bruce Springsteen.
But despite the high stakes and notable names competing, show jumping remains far from the public eye.
Here’s a glimpse into the exciting, lucrative, and sometimes dangerous world of show jumping:
Equestrian sports have long been associated with royalty.
Only the wealthiest families can afford to get into the sport. Today valuable horses can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The cost of caring for a horse can easily reach tens of thousands of dollars a month.
There are several equestrian disciplines including dressage, eventing and show jumping.
Show jumping is the discipline of choice for the children of some of America’s most famous and wealthy, including Gates’ daughter Jennifer, Jobs’ daughter Eve, Bloomberg’s daughter Georgina, Springsteen’s daughter Jessica, and Tom Selleck’s daughter Hannah.
In fact, Jennifer Gates and Eve Jobs have dueling properties less than a mile apart in the city of Wellington, Fla., home of the annual Winter Equestrian Festival.
In 2018, Gates, Jobs and Springsteen were all among the top 30 show jumpers in the country according to the US Equestrian Foundation rankings. All three have represented the United States in international competitions.
Another famous offspring venturing into horseback riding is 13-year-old Grace Wahlberg, daughter of model Rhea Durham and actor Mark Wahlberg.
Show jumping has been an integral part of the Summer Olympics since 1912.
In show jumping competitions, riders lead their horses over a course and jump over a series of obstacles of different lengths and heights in a given time.
Every course is different, so riders must carefully control their horse’s stride and approach angles.
Riders will be penalized if a horse knocks over a railing, refuses to jump over an obstacle, touches a water jump or falls.
The driver who clears the track with the fewest mistakes is declared the winner.
Show jumping uniforms consist of jackets, boots, breeches, breeches and a protective helmet.
Show jumping takes competitors to competitions around the world including Mexico City, Paris, Monaco and Doha, Qatar. Some competitions have hundreds of thousands of dollars at stake.
It’s an extremely dangerous sport. Both rider and horse can be seriously injured if they fall or misstep.
But for those who do, the show jumping is worth the risk. “The elements of trust, talent, training, love and danger make show jumping an exciting and aesthetic experience,” wrote author Ainslie Sheridan, who has published novels about the sport.
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