The 1949 Equestrian High Jumping Record
November 26th 2006 12:22
How is it that old records stand tallest... In 1890 Carbine set the weight carrying record for the Melbourne Cup with 10st5 and in 115 of years of racing since no horse has stepped near it. The 1930 Spring Carnival - Phar Lap picked off his opposition in each of the four top races. Nearly six miles in four days and that effort remains immortal.
Is it that old equine records carried conditions and extremities that today’s horses could not be subjected to such are the present laws protecting animals from strain? It would be hard to imagine that these records would be even attempted today, which means they may stand even taller in another 115 years.
On the fifth day of February in 1949 a horse called Huaso set the equestrian high jump record at the show grounds of Vina del Mar in Chile. Huaso and his rider, Captain Alberton Larraguibel Morales, were in an organised jump off against a consistent rival of theirs.
Both horses were given three attempts to clear the obstacle, the height gradually increasing to surpass the existing record of just over 8ft, or 2.44m. When the rails reached 8ft 1¼in (2.47m), Huaso’s rival crashed through the obstacle and was retired. Huaso’s first attempt, understandably, was a refusal in the face of a fence so high not horse nor rider could see over the top. On his second attempt he grazed the top bar with his belly, but on the third effort Morales guided his horse squarely and the two jumped clear into history.
In the current sport of show jumping the Puissance competition is the closest relative to Huaso’s jump off competition of 1949. The existing Puissance record stands a comparatively small 7ft 10in (2.38m) and was set in 1991 by German legend Franke Sloothaak riding Leonardo. And it would be unfair to dismiss this effort. The Puissance wall with its red and white plastic brick in modern FEI World Cup competition is a wholly formidable obstacle to a horse and 7ft 10in is a climb of craziness. Think then of Huaso’s record in days without saddle pads, tendon boots and kinder bits and perspective closely follows.
It is likely the old records set by horses will remain tall and imposing. The days of testing the mettle of horses at extreme stamina, speed and height are evaporating against the animal rights movements, quite possibly for the better. Many a horse would have crashed through unsafe obstacles of sore heights for their rider’s curiosity, as much as pushing young horses over long distances at fast paces has broken many thoroughbreds down.
So we are left with the visual remains of mighty efforts, and they are mighty indeed.
Discrepencies exist concerning the authenticiy of the 1949 photos of Huaso and Morales. While the jump is well documented the images shown have very different background details, leading me to believe the negatives of one have been flipped or that they are two different efforts. Copyright and proprietory on these photographs is unknown.
Is it that old equine records carried conditions and extremities that today’s horses could not be subjected to such are the present laws protecting animals from strain? It would be hard to imagine that these records would be even attempted today, which means they may stand even taller in another 115 years.
On the fifth day of February in 1949 a horse called Huaso set the equestrian high jump record at the show grounds of Vina del Mar in Chile. Huaso and his rider, Captain Alberton Larraguibel Morales, were in an organised jump off against a consistent rival of theirs.
Both horses were given three attempts to clear the obstacle, the height gradually increasing to surpass the existing record of just over 8ft, or 2.44m. When the rails reached 8ft 1¼in (2.47m), Huaso’s rival crashed through the obstacle and was retired. Huaso’s first attempt, understandably, was a refusal in the face of a fence so high not horse nor rider could see over the top. On his second attempt he grazed the top bar with his belly, but on the third effort Morales guided his horse squarely and the two jumped clear into history.
Huaso and Morales climb over the top rail...
and down into history.
In the current sport of show jumping the Puissance competition is the closest relative to Huaso’s jump off competition of 1949. The existing Puissance record stands a comparatively small 7ft 10in (2.38m) and was set in 1991 by German legend Franke Sloothaak riding Leonardo. And it would be unfair to dismiss this effort. The Puissance wall with its red and white plastic brick in modern FEI World Cup competition is a wholly formidable obstacle to a horse and 7ft 10in is a climb of craziness. Think then of Huaso’s record in days without saddle pads, tendon boots and kinder bits and perspective closely follows.
Ireland's Cian O'Connor climbs the modern Puissance wall
So we are left with the visual remains of mighty efforts, and they are mighty indeed.
Discrepencies exist concerning the authenticiy of the 1949 photos of Huaso and Morales. While the jump is well documented the images shown have very different background details, leading me to believe the negatives of one have been flipped or that they are two different efforts. Copyright and proprietory on these photographs is unknown.
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