James Hughes GBR riding Peiter VI during The Equestrian.com Derby at The Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting in Sussex, UK 26-29th June 2014
Thrills and Spills fall falls falling
There’s a very good reason the water jump attracts photographers and spectators like bees to honey. But a proper dunking is every rider’s worst nightmare — even if for showjumpers it’s in little more than a few inches of (bright blue) water.
From Hickstead to Hamburg via Aachen and Spruce Meadows, we have the utmost respect for any rider brave enough to tackle some of the world’s toughest watery obstacles, but we couldn’t resist having a little snigger at some of these spectacular water jump fails
Kelly Soleau-Millar of USA suffers a spectacular unscheduled dismount from the 12-year-old Cacharel in the grand prix at Meadows on the Green, Spruce Meadows. With a cheeky pose for the camera, as if to say ‘Did you get it?’, it’s almost as if the mare planned it…
2. No please, after you
Peiter VI very kindly lets his rider James Hughes take the first dip in the Hickstead Lido, otherwise known as the middle element of the Devil’s Dyke, in the 2014 Hickstead Derby.
James Hughes GBR riding Peiter VI during The Equestrian.com Derby at The Equestrian.com Hickstead Derby Meeting in Sussex, UK 26-29th June 2014
Thrills and Spills fall falls falling
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
3. What do you mean this is cheating?
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In 1989, German rider Hauke Luther makes clearing the vast open water in the renowned Hamburg Derby slightly more achievable by taking off well into its crystalline depths… Nobody will notice, right?
(GERMANY OUT) Springreiter Hauke Luther springt beim Deutschen Springderby 1989 mit dem Pferd "Nolis des Thurin" ?ber einen Wassergraben. Aufgenommen Juni 1989. (Photo by Moenkebild/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
(Image credit: ullstein bild via Getty Images)
4. Fancy a dip?
Not really, says Julie Andrews, but has little choice when Ayrton IV suddenly thinks twice about tackling the famous 15ft-wide Hickstead water. The resulting splash is inevitable…
AYRTON IV
JULIE ANDREWS fall thrills and spills
Queen Elizabeth II Cup during the Royal International Horse Show at The All England Jumping Course, Hickstead, West Sussex, UK on 30 July 2016
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)
5. Where’s Big Star when you need him?
Even the equestrian greats get it wrong occasionally, so we can forgive a 12-year-old Nick Skelton and his pony Prince Tarquin for not quite clearing the full expanse of this open water in the junior championships at Hickstead in 1970.
Nick Skelton of Great Britain, riding Prince Tarquin, in action during the Junior Championships at the All England Jumping Course in Hickstead, West Sussex on 6th September, 1970. (Photo by Ed Lacey/Popperfoto/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Popperfoto/Getty Images)
6. Making waves
It’s not just the open water that can cause problems, sometimes the Liverpool water trays are simply far too frightening for our equine friends — Ramiro Quintana’s Appy Cara certainly thought so at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.
Argentina's Ramiro Quintana, riding Appy Cara, falls into a water jump while competing in the equestrian jumping competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Aug. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/John Locher)
(Image credit: Associated Press)
7. ‘No no no…!’
Sissi Van Schuttershof makes her feelings known about being expected to clear an obviously piranha-infested water tray to Dutchman Jur Vrieling in Aachen in 2011.
AACHEN, GERMANY - JULY 15: Jur Vrieling of the Netherlands tumbles with his horse Sissi van Schuttershof during the 'RWE Preis of Nordrhein-Westfalen' jumping competition at the CHIO on July 15, 2011 in Aachen, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Bongarts/Getty Images)
8. Splashdown!
Gregory Wathelet (BEL) and Desteny Van Het Dennehof end up surfing back to shore during the Nations Cup in Aachen in 2013.
Gregory Wathelet (BEL) & Desteny van het Dennehof - Mercedes Benz Prize, Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup Jumping - World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen 2013 - Aachen, Germany - 27 June 2013 fall falls thrills and spills
(Image credit: Jon Stroud Media)
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Jennifer is passionate at showjumping and her role as H&H’s showjumping editor has taken her around the world reporting from shows and interviewing riders, connections and those involved behind the scenes. Since joining H&H from BBC Sport in 2005, she has written on every subject across the equestrian sphere — from turnout rugs to stable management — and has interviewed gold medallists, world champions and winners galore. She also has first-hand experience of working in the equestrian industry as a riding instructor and yard manager.
