The equestrian sport of jumping falls into two categories: show jumping and hunter. 

Show jumping is one of the three Olympic equestrian disciplines. Horses are guided over a course of colourful obstacles that fall down if struck. The horse/rider combination are penalized for obstacles that have been knocked down or refused, for a foot in the water of a water obstacle, or for taking more than the time allowed to complete the course. Placings are determined by numerical score only. 

In the hunter ring, the horse and rider complete a course of more natural-looking obstacles and are judge on the horse's paces and style over fences. The judges are looking for a safe, sound horse who would carry his rider in safety and elegance over obstacles while riding to hounds in the traditional sport of fox hunting.