The first documented equestrian event in St.Gallen dates from September 28, 1884 on the Kreuzbleiche. The Ostschweizer Cavallerie Verein (today OKV) organized horse races and school riding (group riding for non-commissioned officers and soldiers). Today, the CSIO in St. Gallen is the most important equestrian event in Switzerland. In 2022, the Swiss equipe with Edouard Schmitz & Quno, Martin Fuchs & Leone Jei, Pius Schwizer & Vancouver de Lanlore and Steve Guerdat & Venard de Cerisy wins the Nations Cup of Switzerland 22 years after the last home victory (2000 in Lucerne) and 26 years after the last victory in St. Gallen. In 2023, the Swiss team, again with Edouard Schmitz, manages to repeat.
Horse jumping explained
Show jumping can be a complex sport for outsiders. Some of the most important terms are therefore briefly explained below.
What is the CSIO St. Gallen?
What is the CSIO St. Gallen?
What is show jumping all about?
What is show jumping all about?
Show jumping is one of the three Olympic equestrian sports. In this sport, the rider and his horse negotiate a course of various obstacles in a predefined sequence as faultlessly and quickly as possible. Show jumping is the most widespread equestrian sport competition discipline in Switzerland. It requires a lot of skill, balance, sense of rhythm and precise influence of the rider's aids from the rider to approach a jump in such a way that the horse can develop an optimal flight curve at the jump.
What do the event categories 1*/2*/3*/4*/5* mean?
What do the event categories 1*/2*/3*/4*/5* mean?
The more stars, the higher the level of difficulty and the prize money. In 2022, Edouard Schmitz won his first 5* tournament, the Grand Prix of Dublin. The Nations Cup in St. Gallen or in Dublin, which the Swiss team won, also belongs to this category.
In total, Edouard has been on the podium of a tournament of the highest category eight times since 2022.
What does the term CSIO actually stand for?
What does the term CSIO actually stand for?
CS: Concours de Saut (Jump)
I: International
O: Officiel
Test photo credits
What should you know about the obstacles?
What should you know about the obstacles?
The obstacles for show jumping competitions are constructed from movable material and are designed to minimize the risk of injury. The obstacle poles are placed on height-adjustable supports, so-called rests. Basically, a filled-in jump is easier for the horse to assess than a single pole floating freely in the air. And obstacles in bright colors are better perceived than inconspicuous colors.
How high do horses jump?
How high do horses jump?
According to the international regulations of the World Equestrian Federation (FEI), obstacles in normal show jumping competitions may not be higher than 1.70 meters. In the most difficult Grand Prix of the world, most obstacles are between 1.50m and 1.60m.
Water ditches must be between 2.50m and 4.50m in width.
