EDITOR'S NOTE:   The contents of this particular feature, in sine significant ways, are in direct conflict with the natural horse theme of this web site, unless it were to be revealed that the horse, Huaso, was jumping barefooted and, of course, if the jump had been one h_ll of a lot lower and contrructed of something a lot more foregiving than the huge and extreme logs that were used.  This editor stands in staunch opposition to the victimizing horses in mankind's all too prevalent preoccupation of amusing himself by subjecting any other animals (including horses) to physically extreme and hazardous, so called "sport" activities.   However, a somewhat reluctant decision to post this video finally was made after consideration of both its historic nature and various indications that this may be the only still existing video copy of the film of this event.  Additional consideration was given to a comparison of frequencies between this one  time, historic event in Chile and such things as mandkind's still ongoing extreme sexism and almost daily servings of such cruel human amusements as rodeo and commercial racing activities that victimize two year old, baby horses, where resulting physical damage to certain four-legged animals is a near or absolute certainty.

The jump, itself, still remains the internationally recognized world record horse high jump by Huaso, who was pushed to the extreme point of carrying Captain Alberto Larraguibel soaring over a 2.47m (8 feet, 2 inches) barrier in 1949 in Chile.  Understandably, I suppose, it was a very proud moment for most Chileans, in keeping with the internationally competitive spirit of the times. 

The closing narration of this video now is outdated, having been excerpted from a still longer feature that was produced back in the 1980s.   It's the line that says that the high jump record "stands unbroken, even three decades later".  Obviously, it now has been longer than that.  And, hopefully, it will continue to stand unbroken FOREVER, with no such further, extreme horse performance competitions.

Hopefully, everyone will be able to watch the large screen version, taking note of how the impact of Huaso's landing causes the cannon bones of both of his forelegs to bow backward, quite noticeably, immediately after the front feet hit the ground.  Can you imagine the dangerous degree of physicall stress?!  So, in at least this one example, maybe this video will discourage any future thoughts of trying to push a high jumping horse any higher.

- John Brian

Editor