Show jumping penalties: how they work (Table A)

In show jumping, scoring follows precise rules. Here are the main penalties under the FEI rules (the so-called Table A, the most used).

Knockdown

Each obstacle knocked down carries 4 penalties [1].

Refusals and disobediences

The first refusal (when the horse stops or runs out at the jump) is worth 4 penalties; the second refusal results in elimination [1].

Time penalties

In Table A classes there is a «time allowed»: exceeding it incurs 1 penalty for every 4 seconds over [1].

Combinations

In combinations, faults are counted at each element, and a refusal means repeating the whole combination [1].

In Italy

Italian national competitions follow the FISE regulation, aligned with the international FEI rules [1][2]. See also how categories and heights work.