Clearing a Puissance wall standing 2.12m (6ft 9in) tall from the safety of a saddle is challenging enough - but few would be brave enough to do it bareback.
Robert Whitaker was competing at the Stockholm International Horse Show when he cleared the huge wall to claim the Bareback High Jump competition. He did so on Waterstone II, an eight-year-old bay gelding who belongs to Mandy Hall and Clare Whitaker.
Being the only combination to clear the wall at 2.12m, it’s possible that Robert has jumped into the record books with a new bareback puissance record.
Watch a spectator's video of the jump here:
Robert also won the Volkswagen Cup in Stockholm, riding the 13-year-old gelding Rostaar, owned by Mandy Hall.
Jumping a superb clear in a time of 55.32secs, Robert came home nearly a second faster than second placed Malin Baryard-Johnsson.
The show finale was the Stockholm Grand Prix, which saw Robert, this time partnering the bay stallion USA Today, and his father John in the ten horse jump-off.
Robert came home clear in a time of 34.59 seconds which proved good enough for fifth place. However, it was John who took the honors, riding his own and Mandy Hall’s Casino. John completed the jump off clear in a time of 32.43 seconds which put him just 0.10 seconds ahead of second placed Swedish rider Jens Fredricson.
Skelton in the sky
While Robert's bareback feat has not been confirmed as an official record, fellow Brit Nick Skelton still holds the British high jump record, clearing 7ft 7in on board Lactic back in 1978. Nick, however, didn't attempt it bareback!
To watch Nick's record breaking jump, head to his website.
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