Five competitive equine world records

1. Highest official jump: 8 feet, 2 inches

The red line marks the top of the obstacle. Image source

Officially, the highest jump achieved is eight feet, two inches (2.47 metres, or about 18 inches over Radar‘s withers) by Huaso and Captain Alberton Larraguibel Morales of Chile. The record was at Vina Del Mar, Chile, on February 5th, 1949.

Here they are on the other side:

The highest unofficial jump is eight feet, three and a half inches:

Fred (Freddie) Wettach, Jr. riding his horse King’s Own. They jumped in front of 25 people with motion picture photographers capturing the occasion. The record was not considered official because it was not made in front of a public gathering. Source

This page has lots more background information, and has a great animation of Morales and Huaso clearing the jump. As for me, I’ve always been a nervous jumper, and if I’m going to be that high in the air there’d damn well better be a flight attendant nearby.

Quiz: have you got any eye-dea?

“There’s no art/To find the mind’s construction in the face.” Macbeth, I, iv, 11-12.

Sarah at Scary’s West is running a little game: can you guess whether you’re looking at a male or female horse, based solely on the eyes? I tried my best; let’s hope she’s tactful with my failure. 😉 Take the test!

Related posts:

Whee, I’m an Andalusian…

Which famous horse are you?

Barbaro’s Kentucky Derby saddle to be auctioned for charity

The saddle worn by Kentucky Derby champion Barbaro will be sold at a charity auction in May to raise money for permanently disabled jockeys.

Edgar Prado, who used the red-and-white leather saddle to guide Barbaro to a dominating victory in last year’s Derby, also used it while winning the 2002 and 2004 Belmont Stakes.

The saddle will be auctioned off at the Mint Jubilee Gala on May 4, the night before this year’s Derby.

“Barbaro was one of the greatest horses to ever run the Derby,” Prado said. “I only used the saddle for major races.”

Prado was aboard Barbaro during last year’s Preakness Stakes when the 3-year-old colt broke down in the front stretch after injuring his right hind leg.

Prado’s ability to quickly pull up and calm the horse helped doctors immediately address Barbaro’s injuries. Barbaro underwent emergency surgery after the race and spent several months in rehabilitation before being euthanized in January following complications from the injury.

Prado donated the saddle to the Jockeys’ Guild and proceeds from the sale of the saddle will go to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, a division of National Thoroughbred Racing Association Charities. There are 58 severely injured jockeys receiving vital assistance each month from the fund. Link

If you can’t get down to Louisville for that, you can also support the charity with this.

Top posts, 2007-04-03

Skybound horse, originally uploaded by stevec77.

Most popular posts for the past 30 days, according to WordPress.com stats.

1. World’s smallest horse
2. World’s largest horses (Seriously, don’t you people ever get tired of these two posts? I’ve written tons of other things, you know)
3. Dutch rescuers try to save trapped horses
4. Andreas Helgstrand – World Equestrian Games 2006 Freestyle Final
5. 16 reasons to date a horseback rider
6. Starving horses were part of an unusual breeding program
7. Lorenzo and his Camargue horses
8. Thumbelina on tour UPDATE: more pics!
9. Online showjumping game
10. How to French braid a long mane
11. Horses on auction list lead to fears of sale for slaughter
12. Downloadable demo of horse racing game
13. Sable Island horse photos at Dutesco Art
14. Bridlepath Hall of Shame: the “big lick” TWH industry
15. Breyer to reissue Barbaro model due to overwhelming demand
16. New Zealand horses doing their part for charity
17. Kentucky “swamped” with unwanted horses
18. The mythical art of Howard David Johnson
19. How to tie a rope halter
20. Barbaro immortalized by Breyer
21. Horse fighting in China
22. A Blessing – James Wright
23. Brindle horses
24. Build your own cavaletti
25. Horse colour demystified: the basics

If you come across a Bridlepath post you particularly like, use the social bookmarking button below, feel free to link to it in your own blog, or submit it to/vote it up on Digg or reddit (I prefer reddit; fewer idiotic boys).

Rocking horse for grown-ups

Nerd Approved reports that Celery Furniture is now making adult-sized rocking horses. Made of bamboo, the ‘horse’ retails from $725-1165 depending on options. Hate to think what it would do to your floor.

Related posts:

Were these your first rides?

Rocking through history

I say: hold out for the real thing

A horse named Ford

A horse the whole family can ride at once?

John Lennon’s (purported?) carousel horse on eBay