I really didn't think I'd enjoy this game but I did. This is principally because of the ability to remodel the courses of my own requirements.

Showjumping is at its best against the clock where sharp turns and quick reactions are the order of the day. Software Projects have managed to capture something of the essence of the sport by carefully thinking through the problem. For example, the horse does not instantly react to your joystick and to speed it along you have to keep jabbing with your stick just as though you were digging in your heels.

There are twelve fixed screens consisting of various arrangements of the five types of jump. At the bottom of the screen the course is displayed with a dotted line describing the path to be followed. This route has to be followed very closely. Even approaching another fence in an attempt to gain a good run at the next ump results in disqualification.

Similarly, four faults are awarded for a fallen fence and three for a refusal.

The upper screen shows a small section of the course in 3D and the movements of the horse are very well animated. The bottom of the screen shows the time elapsed, the faults accrued and the name of the horse (which you may change to sut your personal favourite).

The game designer allows you to remodel the course to suit your own skills. The new course is substituted for one of the existing ones but unfortunately cannot be saved to tape for use during a later session, so each time the game is loaded you will have to re-enter the details.

Although I thought that this was a good simulation, I still feel that it's more for the ardent showjumping fan than for the general games player.