Rule of the Week - Article 217 - Knock Down

Article 217 – Knock Down

1. An obstacle is considered to have been knocked down when, through a mistake of the horse or athlete: 

1.1. the whole or any upper part of the same vertical plane of it falls, even if the part which falls is arrested in its fall by any other part of the obstacle (Art 218.1); 

1.2. at least one of its ends no longer rests on any part of its support. 

2. Touches and displacements of any part of an obstacle or its flags, in whatever direction, while in the act of jumping, do not count as a knock down. If in doubt the Ground Jury should decide in favour of the athlete. The knock down or displacement of an obstacle and/or a flag as a result of a disobedience is penalised as a refusal only.  

In the event of the displacement of any part of an obstacle, (except the flags), as a result of a disobedience, the bell will be rung and the clock stopped while the displacement is re-adjusted. This does not count as a knock down and is only penalised as a disobedience and corrected by time in accordance with Article 232. 

3. Penalties for knocking down an obstacle are those provided for under Tables A and C (Art 236 and 239). 

4. If any part of an obstacle, which has been knocked down is likely to impede an athlete in jumping another obstacle, the bell must be rung and the clock stopped while this part is picked up and the way is cleared. 

5. If an athlete jumps an obstacle correctly which has been improperly rebuilt, he incurs no penalty; but if he knocks down this obstacle he will be penalised in accordance with the table in use for the competition.