Table
A table is a fence with height and width, with the top of the table being one piece of material (unlike an open oxer, which is not "filled in"). The horse is encourage to jump over the entire obstacle at once, similar to an oxer, however there are times where the animal may accidentally touch down on, or "bank," the top. Because of this, tables should be built strongly enough to support the horse landing on it.
Tables are also usually built so that the back part is slightly higher than the front, or with a piece of wood at the back, so the horse can easily see that there is width to the obstacle and therefore judge it appropriately.
Tables can get extremely wide, and generally test the horse's scope. They are intended to be jumped at a forward pace and a slightly long stride.
Read more about this topic: Horse Jumping Obstacles
Famous quotes containing the word table:
“When I think of our lands I think of the house
And the table that holds a platter of pears,
Vermilion smeared over green, arranged for show.”
—Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”
—Bible: Hebrew Psalms, 23:5.
“How to attain sufficient clarity of thought to meet the terrifying issues now facing us, before it is too late, is ... important. Of one thing I feel reasonably sure: we can’t stop to discuss whether the table has or hasn’t legs when the house is burning down over our heads. Nor do the classics per se seem to furnish the kind of education which fits people to cope with a fast-changing civilization.”
—Mary Barnett Gilson (1877–?)