Steeplechase is an old sport that grew to
popularity because it is exciting and dangerous. It has its greatest following in Britain,
where it is almost a national sport and the athletes are well known even to non equestrians.
Steeplechasing began when young riders would race their horses from one place to another. They
usually used steeples, since those landmarks were easy to pick out. They would gallop and jump over
any obstacles. As it grew into a sport, little has changed.
Riders and horses now compete over courses
instead of through fields, but the nature and scope of the obstacles has changed little. It is
still a very dangerous sport for both horse and rider, and very few races end without at least one
rider or horse falling. Many of the most difficult races have several horses and riders fall, and
some end as a draw with no horse and rider finishing.
Obstacles are usually made of brush, stone, and wood. It doesn't matter if a horse hits a jump,
runs through it, or otherwise damages it so long as they go over it and continue. Jumps are
very dangerous, and it is very dangerous to fall at one since riders cannot see a fallen person until
after it is too late to stop.
This danger and excitement are a huge draw.
Jockeys wear protective helmets and vests but due to the nature of the sport most have broken
several bones and spent some time in the hospital.
Courses are usually a few miles long and can include any number of jumps of any height and
size. Good jockeys are well sought after, and most are younger. Very few people continue
riding competitively through middle age, since the risk of being seriously hurt or killed is so
great. Horses also do not tend to last more than a few seasons, with many
careers ending due to injury.
Steeplechase does not have as great a following in the US as in Britain. Very few people will risk
their horse and themselves and it never really caught on.
Many steeplechase horses are thoroughbreds or thoroughbred crosses, although there are a number
of warmbloods and irish draught horses. A lot of steeplechase horses have some draft blood in them in
order to make their legs stronger.
Steeplechase is an old sport that grew to
popularity because it is exciting and dangerous. It has its greatest following in Britain,
where it is almost a national sport and the athletes are well known even to non equestrians.
Riders and horses now compete over courses
instead of through fields, but the nature and scope of the obstacles has changed little. It is
still a very dangerous sport for both horse and rider, and very few races end without at least one
rider or horse falling. Many of the most difficult races have several horses and riders fall, and
some end as a draw with no horse and rider finishing. 
runs through it, or otherwise damages it so long as they go over it and continue. Jumps are
very dangerous, and it is very dangerous to fall at one since riders cannot see a fallen person until
after it is too late to stop.
This danger and excitement are a huge draw.
Jockeys wear protective helmets and vests but due to the nature of the sport most have broken
several bones and spent some time in the hospital.
size. Good jockeys are well sought after, and most are younger. Very few people continue
riding competitively through middle age, since the risk of being seriously hurt or killed is so
great. Horses also do not tend to last more than a few seasons, with many
careers ending due to injury. 