The course designer creates the layout and design of the course and its fences to test the ability and skill of the competitors, while stewards ensure that the rules of the national equestrian federation are observed. An individual judge picks the winning horses and riders in the hunter divisions, while a panel of judges called a jumper jury scores the jumper competitions. An appeal committee makes a final decision on all appeals made against the jury and its decisions. Most horse shows and many of the officials mentioned above are recognized by the Canadian Equestrian Federation , the governing body for equestrian sport in Canada. Jumper fences can be divided into two types - spreads and verticals .
Spreads require a horse to jump width.
For example, an oxer is a spread between two elements, while a triple bar is a spread over three elements of graduated height. Spread fences also include water jumps , where the horse must clear a four to five metre spread of water, and liverpools , narrower than water jumps but with water in front, behind or underneath. A combination or line is a series of two or three fences which have only one or two strides between them. Special fences include the bank , where the horse must negotiate a steep drop, and the devil's dyke , which features one fence jumped downhill, one fence at the bottom of the hill, and one fence jumped uphill, all negotiated in quick succession. The show jumping World Championships are ranked second in importance behind the Olympics, and are held every four years, with both team and individual competition.