Nick Skelton 1978 high jump-- UNBELIEVABLE

[Elaine]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWB3pjbgyL4&feature=rec-HM-rn

Check out the clip... at about 1:37 is Nick Skelton setting the high jump record in 1978 at Olympia. It's pretty amazing!

[Athy]

I believe Skelton's Olympia jump was a British record winner at 7' 7 5/16", set in 1978 on Lastic. The world record (I think) is 8'2" set in Chile in 1949 by Huaso.

http://horsetype.com/text.php?id=112

I think that world record still stands doesn't it?

Amazing what these animals can do. The riders too ;) I am always amazed to see them turning in the saddle, looking back at the jump, looking at the next jump, looking at the clock! To have that kind of control of your balance and body, it's amazing to me.

Athy

[dobielvr]

I can't believe that gray in the middle or towards the end didn't break both of its front legs. It is completely amazing to watch, but a lot of them look super stressed. No wonder so many horses are broken down at such a young age :(

[Elaine]

I can't believe that gray in the middle or towards the end didn't break both of its front legs. It is completely amazing to watch, but a lot of them look super stressed. No wonder so many horses are broken down at such a young age :(

For the most part, the video is of outtakes, which were chosen because they are sensational for one reason or another. Below is are links to a much smoother rides. Not saying that horse can’t get hurt doing this, but you can’t get a horse to the FEI level of show jumping or eventing unless the horse wants to do it. If the horse shuts down or sours, the career is over. You can not force a horse over a 1.60 meter course or a four star event; there is simply no way; they have to want it. The cups are pretty shallow now a days in show jumping, so rails come down very easily. For the most part these riders are top professionals and they take excellent care of these horses. If you are plugged into the equine world, there are probably a lot more injuries (at least from what we hear about) from the kinds of things that rank amateurs do… and from things that horses screwing around on their own in a pasture do.

http://www.worldhorsesport.com/index.php?f=market_stallions&task=details&id=672616

http://www.worldhorsesport.com/index.php?f=market_stallions&task=details&id=672598

[dobielvr]

Ok -

I like your second videos much better :) Both show a horse that is relaxed and enjoying the course taking every jump in stride ( ha pun intended) .. . both horses IMO have a nice even contact and relaxed connection between jumps - what great training. Thanks.

[Elaine]

You have a very good eye. :) Nice that you appreciated Clinton II and Sandro Boy. I love both stallions. :)

Clinton II has one of the top pedigrees possible in show jumping today... classic C-Line Holsteiner. If it were not that he is gray, we’d breed to him in a heart beat.

The bay, Sandro Boy, is simply extraordinary, both in terms of his phenotype and by virtue of his talent and successful career. It was always the goal to use him on one of our mares, either this year or next. He is only available via frozen semen in this country, and his semen quality is not very good, so he is an expensive risk… and then one has to factor in the gamble that the resulting foal will be a pinto, but Sandro Boy is so superb, he is worth the taking the chance.

Chacco Blue is another superb transmitter of jumping talent. http://www.worldhorsesport.com/index.php?f=market_stallions&task=details&id=672618 You might like him as well. Paul Schockemöhle told a friend of ours, speaking of Chacco Blue, “He’s not just the best stallion I own, he’s the best I’ve ever seen.” Given that Paul is directly connected to many of the very top jumping bloodlines in the world, that is notable.


All three stallions reside in Germany, it’d probably be smarter in the long run to simply send the mares to Germany.