Racing enthusiasts - can you answer a numpty question please?!

[Acolyte]

Over Christmas I watched racing from Kempton on Boxing Day then the Welsh Grand National a couple of days later. Knowing nothing about racing, I wondered how big the fences are for national hunt racing and how big hurdles are? Do horses tend to start on hurdles then move up to NH racing, or are some hurdling specialists for their whole careers?

Just idle curiosity - as you can tell, not having an OH around any more has opened whole new avenues of sad TV watching! Thanks

 

[JustKickOn]

im no expert but i heard whilst watching the racing they can be up to 4ft?? not too sure though. sorry

 

[Acolyte]

I thought I'd heard something similar to that - that seems huge to me! I realise stuff like the Grand National will be much bigger, just wondered what the "average" fence would be

 

[Baggybreeches]

The Chair in the Grand National is 5ft2 and the biggest fence in the UK. More normal fences are around 4ft6 although this varies from course to course. Standard size hurdles are 3ft6 but with the angle they are placed at they measure near 3ft.

 

[foraday]

Hurdles are 3ft 6"

Chase fences are 4ft 6" -obviously different widths and heights for open ditches and water jumps

As some one mentioned the grand national fences are all different heights, widths, drops etc and a much longer distance.

 

[severnmiles]

And point to point fences are 4'3ft.

 

[Sarah_Jane]

Race horses generally start off over hurdles and then progress to chase fences. Horses often have a season or two doing hurdles before they move onto chase fences and some never make the step up as hurdles can be far more forgiving for the poor jumper.

 

[Clodagh]

Ooh, ooh, I jumped one of them once, out hunting on th p-2-p course!! Never knew it was that big, but we did seem to be in the air forever!

 

[Acolyte]

Many thanks everyone, another gap in my ignorance levels filled! (lots more to go...) Much appreciated

 

[MissDeMeena]

[ QUOTE ]
and some never make the step up as hurdles can be far more forgiving for the poor jumper.

[/ QUOTE ]

Worded wrong in my view!
I'm sure when hurdling was first introduced, it was as a stepping stone up the chasing, but now there are three clear horses, those that run on the flat, over hurdles or over fences!
And there are some serriously classy horses that specialise in hurdling.. for example
Istabraq

And Rooster Booster [RIP]