Rock solid surfaces..
When I was young I hurt my left knee really bad in a freak accident, of no fault of my own, during a warm up session for a show jumping class. The result of this left my horse not getting qualified for the young horse final, and myself walking around with a bad knee for the rest of my life.
After this my mom, a highly skilled emergency health care professional, made sure I did not participate in activities that risked my knee again. One of the things that was of limits was the back then highly popular after work Floorball game we used to do at work.
Cause in her line of work my mom knew too well what a good grip of shoes can do to the joints when twisting and turning in a high speed friendly [not so much] game of [drunken] Floorball on a Friday afternoon.
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Fast forward to March 2025
Suddenly I found myself into several short and long discussions with new and old friends about show jumping. The discussions took off after I shared an Instagram video clip of a jump off to some of my horsey friends.
It was an amazing jump off, absolute pure world class, but the only thing I could think about watching it, was the thumping sound of the hoofs hitting the indoor surface.
If I had been blind folded, and not knowing the distinct sound of a galloping horse, I for sure would have wondered if it was Handball, Floorball or something similar being played. That is how hard the surface was.
Of course the thumping sound also made us wonder how good or bad this really is for the athletes [horses]. Not only that, it also opened up a window of speculation in how much work really lies behind in keeping a regular top level show jumper fit and sound during the indoor season.
Or during the outdoor season too for that matter. You know when the circuit tour all over the world, and compete on temporary arenas that are being set up for that one weekend only.
So I did some quick google searches on the topic of hard surfaces in sport horses and came across a booklet called: Equestrian Surfaces - a guide. In which one can read the following.
Surface properties can affect both performance and the risk of injury. One dilemma is that properties that aid “better performance” also increase the load on the horse’s musculoskeletal system and can increase injury risk. One example is a surface which is very firm/ hard and/or excessively “grippy”, making it is easier for the rider to ride fast and turn quickly. Higher speed in itself also increases the load on the horse’s leg.
Key information from the above quote
Properties that aid “better performance” also increase the load on the horse’s musculoskeletal system and can increase injury risk. One example is a surface which is very firm/ hard and/or excessively “grippy”, making it is easier for the rider to ride fast and turn quickly.
Guess the questions we asked us after watching this particular clip indeed were quite valid. Maybe it doesn't do anything to the horses or maybe it does a lot.
What I do find interesting is there are quite the few show jumpers dying in the arenas every year. Some break their legs some just drop dead.
But unlike eventing there seem to be very little information and or statistics about this. If an eventing horse drop dead for one reason or the other everybody knows about it within a couple of hours.
When a show jumper is hopping lame and is transported out of the arena only the "lucky few" on site seems to know about it. Which is probably also why there is so hard to find information on the topic.
Most stories are about Royal Kaliber and Daimler. The two show jumpers that got seriously injured during the Olympic games in Athens.
Me for sure would wish there was more statistics on the matter. Cause in the end of the day we all want what's best for the horses right? Which also mean we need to dig further into why, how and when accidents happen.
Do you have any thoughts on this? Don't forget to forward it to a friend and share your thoughts in the comment section. Promise not to bite 🤗
Substack
