Time allowed and speed in show jumping: how they work (FISE rules)

In show jumping, time is not a detail: it decides the winner when penalties are equal, and going over it costs points (or elimination). But where does the "time allowed" printed on the course diagram come from? Here we explain, with the numbers from the FISE National Regulation, how speed and time work — and what changes between classes.

In short

• The prescribed speed rises with the class: 300 m/min (L60–LB80), 325 m/min (B90–B100), 350 m/min (B105 up to about 135 cm; higher classes and Grands Prix reach 375-400 m/min, Art. 146).
• The time allowed is computed as = (distance × 60) ÷ speed, rounded up to the whole second.
• Exceeding the time allowed costs penalties: 1 point per started 4 seconds in classes up to 100 cm; 1 point per started second from 105 cm up.
• Exceeding the time limit means elimination.
• Source: FISE National Show Jumping Regulation (2025 edition).

Speed: metres per minute

Each class has a prescribed speed (in metres per minute), rising with obstacle height:

The time allowed: where it comes from

The time allowed is the time within which the pair must finish the course to avoid time penalties. It depends on two things: course length and class speed. The official formula (Art. 144) is:

Time allowed = (distance in metres × 60) ÷ speed in m/min, rounded up to the whole second.

Example. A 500-metre course in a class at 350 m/min: TA = (500 × 60) ÷ 350 = 85.7 → rounded to 86 seconds. The value is always shown on the course diagram, so you don't compute it yourself — but knowing how it arises explains why a flowing course gives more time than a tight one.

Practical note: after the bell you have 45 seconds to cross the start line; once they elapse, the clock starts anyway (Art. 143).

Time penalties

Exceeding the time allowed does not eliminate: it adds points. And the rulebook distinguishes between lower and higher classes:

• Classes up to 100 cm (and classes for 4- and 5-year-old horses): 1 penalty point per started 4 seconds over the time allowed.
• Classes from 105 cm up: 1 point per started second over the time allowed.
• In timed jump-offs: 1 point per started second.
• Time limit exceeded: elimination.

The commentary. The logic is clear: the higher the level, the more time matters. Below 100 cm the penalty is "soft" (one point every 4 seconds): it teaches rhythm without punishing beginners too much. From 105 cm the penalty is "sharp" (one point per second): at that level, managing the pace is part of the test. For the rider it means one thing: in the higher classes, every second of hesitation is a point — time must be managed actively, not endured.

Related deep-dives

See how all faults add up in penalties, the competition formats and the jump-off, and the classes and heights. Back to the guide to show jumping rules.

Source and disclaimer

Content verified against the FISE National Show Jumping Regulation (2025 edition), Arts. 143-146 (start, time allowed, time limit, speed) and 174-175 (penalty tables). Verified on 11/09/2026. This is an independent, informational guide, unofficial and not affiliated with FISE: in competition, the FISE regulation in force always prevails. Regulations update by season: always check the current edition.