Video du Jour: Mad hops

Enjoy this montage of insanely talented (and just insane) horse-rider combinations tackling 7-plus foot Puissance walls… bareback.  The final pair, Willi Melliger and Airport Moet, make 7’7″ look easy.

Fun facts:

• The world record for the highest obstacle cleared by a horse and rider was set on February 5, 1949 by Huaso, a Thoroughbred stallion, and Captain Alberto Larraguibel, a Chilean army officer. This record has stood for over 60 years.

• This record is held separately from the record height jumped in Puissance classes. The record for highest obstacle cleared by a horse and rider in a Puissance competition is held by Leonardo and his rider, German showjumping champion Franke Slotthaak. The pair jumped a Puissance wall standing 7 feet 10 inches high in 1991.

• The world record long jump was set on April 26, 1975 by a horse named “Something” ridden by Andre Ferreira. This pair jumped a distance of 27 ft. 6 in.

Huaso and Captain Alberto Larraguibel. Photo: Wikimedia commons

Go Riding.