8 Sports That Desperately Need A Rule Change

8. Hypersensitivity In Horses - Show Jumping

It is possible for a horse and its rider to be instantly disqualified from a show jumping competition if their horse has a minor cut on their body.

Before any competition, they are checked for any heat or sensitivity in their legs. This is to keep riders from using harmful substances, such as hot sauce, to make their horse's legs more reactive to pain. It is believed this makes the animals more likely to jump over the rails rather than breaking through them.

However, small cuts can also be under the umbrella of producing heat and sensitivity. Canadian equestrian Tiffany Foster fell victim to this rule during the London 2012 Olympics (her first ever Olympics). Foster and her horse, Victor, were disqualified just fifteen minutes before the event commenced because of a small cut on his front leg. In her team manager's words, the cut was no more than "one small nick on one coronet band", but it stopped her from competing in the finals of the team jumping event.