About NHS

Founded in 1883 at the original Madison Square Garden, the National Horse Show is America’s oldest indoor horse show, firmly established as a major fixture on the national and international sports and social event calendars. The National has now become one of America’s most prestigious outdoor horse shows.

The National Horse Show Association’s primary activity is the annual production of the National Horse Show and all ancillary events. Over its 121 years of history, the National Horse Show has provided financial aide to many worthwhile charities.

What is Show Jumping?

The equestrian sport is unique in its beauty and grace. The combination of rider and horse – of concentration and power – provides emotion and excitement that no other sport offers. Woman is equal to man in the execution. The horse has the muscles; the rider has the control.

The Olympic sport of Grand Prix Show Jumping is best described as a cross between the excitement of Thoroughbred racing and the sheer daring of the downhill slalom. The jumpers hit racehorse speeds between fences up to 6’ in height and better that 5’ deep! The rules of the game are simple: jump an obstacle course of fences set on a twisting, turning course without dropping a rail or falling off and within the time allowed to come back for the jump-off round – the sport’s version of sudden death overtime. In the jump off, speed and carefulness are of the essence. The horse with fastest time and the fewest jumping faults is declared the winner.

Show Jumping spans history, speaks all languages and transcends age and gender with a contagious spirit. It is family oriented. It instills dedication, courage, confidence and commitment. There is no sport equal to this unity between horse and rider.

This remarkable sport has gathered rapid momentum over the past decade and has become an immensely popular and highly visible spectator sport. Its international peers consider the United States as one of the world’s greatest show jumping powers.