Show jumping, also known as stadium jumping or jumpers, is a member of a family of English riding equestrian events that also includes dressage, eventing, hunters and equitation.

Show jumping is an equestrian sport originating in England. Riders and horses are given an obstacle-filled course, consisting of multiple set-ups of fences and water. Bringing down fences, taking too long or landing in water all result in faults. The rider with the fewest faults at the end of competition is the winner.

Navigate an obstacle-filled course, while receiving the fewest amount of faults.

Riders and their horses must navigate an obstacle-filled course. Obstacles consist of different combinations of fences and water. Penalties are awarded for several different infractions that can occur during a ride. These can include refusals, knockdowns (of fences) and taking too long to complete the course. Each penalty results in the assessment of faults. The rider with the fewest amount of faults at the end of competition is the winner. If riders are tied, a jump-off is held on a shortened, more difficult course.

Show jumping came about in the 18th century as a direct result of the English Inclosure Acts, which brought fencing and boundaries to the English countryside. These laws made it necessary for fox hunters to train their horses to jump. Shows demonstrating jumping were soon held in France, and later in Ireland and England. By 1900, most equestrian shows featured jumping, known at the time as lepping. In 1912, show jumping was featured in the summer Olympic Games, where it remains a popular event. In 1923, the British Show Jumping Association (BSJA) was established and judging rules were standardized. Today show jumping is a staple of equestrian competitions, and is practiced in many countries around the world.

Bit
Bridle
Crop
English Saddle
Fences
Helmet
Horse
Martingale
Saddle Pad
Spurs
Wraps

Any activity involving a horse can be dangerous due to their unpredictable nature. Severe injury can occur in a number of ways. As such, show jumping should only be attempted after properly learning from someone with experience.

Success at show jumping hinges on a competitor's ability to properly command and signal their horse. This is learned through intensive practice on courses of varying difficulty.

Bit - a mouthpiece, typically made of metal, that is attached to a bridle and used to control a horse

Bridle - the headgear used to control a horse, consisting of buckled straps to which a bit and reins are attached

Crop - a short flexible whip with a loop for the hand, used in riding horses

English Saddle - a seat fastened on the back of a horse or other animal for riding, typically made of leather; designed to be lower than most saddles as to allow for greater mobility for the horse

Lepping - early term associated with show jumping

Martingale - a strap or set of straps, attached at one end to the noseband or reins of a horse; used to prevent the horse from raising its head too high

Spurs - a device with a small spike or a spiked wheel that is worn on a rider's heel and used for urging a horse forward

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Show_jumping