This is why we learn the basics...

1)that horse is a complete saint to let that guy ride him
2)that guy has awesome balance to stay on after going completely airborne, getting his stirrups back and not fall off every single time.
its truely shocking

He was using a jumping style that was popular in the 70's called "athletics". It was popular among many european riders. I was hoping that it had faded from people's memories. Unfortunately.....here it is again.

Frank Chapot's teaching of the "American" jumping style replaced most of the "athletic" styling.

What a wonderful horse. Especially since it is the rider jumping onto his neck that made it impossible for him to lift his forehand over the jump, resulting in his "refusal".

GUYS GUYS GUYS.

This is a rube act. A joke ride. It's circulating facebook and COTH too. I didn't realize it either, until somebody else pointed it out to me.

Watch the video again, and carefully - he loses his stirrup twice and both times his position is perfect.

Especially watch the slow motion. His leg stays into position then he kicks it back after the horse's motion. He doesn't slam the horse's back even once - watch it carefully, and you'll see that he puts his weight into the stirrups and actually lands softly. He never once bangs the horse's mouth.

Believe it or don't. The horse has nothing to complain about, the rider is a true expert.

And I am telling you that this was a fairly common jumping style when I was showing GP's. It was not all that uncommon in the day. You still see it, occasionally.
This guy may have been clowning, but I think he was simply using the old "athletic" style, IMHO. Anyone risking that kind of crash.....I doubt it.

What, exactly, is the style? What were the riders trained to do?
Just asking because I've never heard of it. Videos of other examples of this riding style would also be appreciated.

I'm thoroughly disgusted...

It may be a joke or not but the way he treated that horse was despicable. After the poor horse mistimed the jump and refused he hauled on it's mouth horribly and then gave it a huge whack with the whip to get it to gallop off again. that is SO wrong.

That is very true.

As posted earlier, it was called "athletics" and it, supposedly, was to keep off the horses back interfering with the horse less.......right!

Anyway, it was seen quite a bit in the 70's, so I'm not sure where you would find videos. If you know how to get hold of copies of the Chronicle of the Horse from that time period, you will see plenty of photos of that style. I hated it then, and I still do.

They would totally swing their legs back and off the horse. They let the irons push them through the air.

This video is seriously disturbing. I dont even know what to say... TERRIBLE riding.