Equestrian Jumping at the 1900 Summer Olympics

Prior to the discovery of the two driving events – hacks and hunter combined, and four-in-hand –, the only Olympic equestrian events known in 1900 were three jumping events. Show jumping individually was contested, as it has been at every Olympic equestrian tournament. However, high jumping and long jumping for horses were also on the Olympic Programme for the only time.

What is not exactly certain in the 1900 equestrian events is who competed exactly. The 1900 Official Report gives precise details about entrants, but it is not certain if all the entrants competed, and it is unlikely that they all did. In addition, similar to the chariot races at the Ancient Olympics, there is some confusion about the listing of the winners. In most cases, we have been able to discover the rider’s name but, in a few cases, only the owner of the horse is known.

The high jump and long jump used to be common equestrian competitions, but were rarely held later in the 20th century. A more modern variant of high jumping is now contested, termed the puissance. It is also a high jump event, but with some differences in the details of the fences and the competition. The current indoor record for puissance is held by German rider Franke Sloothaak, who, in June 1991, jumped 2.40 metres in Chaudfontaine, Belgium, riding Optiebeurs Golo.

In the long jump, the horses took off over a water jump, with an inclined take-off which is moved further and further back if the horses continue to succeed clearing the water. It is not known what the best on record was in 1900, but the first FEI (Fédération Équestre Internationale) recognized long jump record was 7.50 metres, set by Pick Me Up, ridden by Henri de Royer-Dupré in 1912, at Le Touquet, France. The best on record in the 20th century was a jump of 8.40 metres by Something, ridden by André Ferreira, on 26 April 1975, at the Rand Show in Johannesburg.