Something to Jump Over....
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Consider making multiple matching poles (same colors, striping) so the jump has a "theme" and looks "matchy".
Poles
Landscape Timbers
Usually 8' long and oval shaped rather than round. That makes them awesome "flower boxes" because they don't roll. Just drill holes all the way through the flat side, every 6 inches, and stick in some plastic flowers or plants.
Cheap! Less than $4 each at Home Depot or Lowe's. (And I've seen them on sale for $1.97!)
They come treated so withstand weather and lying on the ground, and the cherry-stained ones look just fine without paint. Of course you can also paint them too. They make outstanding ground lines because they fit inside the ends of X-rails, or between the feet of standards.
The 8' length makes a great "skinny" jump to develop straightness and accuracy. And they take up less room in a small arena.
Usually 8' long and oval shaped rather than round. That makes them awesome "flower boxes" because they don't roll. Just drill holes all the way through the flat side, every 6 inches, and stick in some plastic flowers or plants.
Cheap! Less than $4 each at Home Depot or Lowe's. (And I've seen them on sale for $1.97!)
They come treated so withstand weather and lying on the ground, and the cherry-stained ones look just fine without paint. Of course you can also paint them too. They make outstanding ground lines because they fit inside the ends of X-rails, or between the feet of standards.
The 8' length makes a great "skinny" jump to develop straightness and accuracy. And they take up less room in a small arena.
PVC Poles
They come in 10' lengths, 2" or 3" wide ($7 and $16). They are light so very easy to move.
I have heard about breaking, but we have never had problems with the big ones. I also store them inside to save them from the UV.
The stripes are fun colored Duct tape wrapped around. (There are SO MANY colors of Duct Tape these days! Maybe easier than painting wood poles....)
They come in 10' lengths, 2" or 3" wide ($7 and $16). They are light so very easy to move.
I have heard about breaking, but we have never had problems with the big ones. I also store them inside to save them from the UV.
The stripes are fun colored Duct tape wrapped around. (There are SO MANY colors of Duct Tape these days! Maybe easier than painting wood poles....)
Ok, so didn't have masking tape and I was too lazy anyway. So I spray painted the bulk of the stripes and cleaned up the lines after. Worked great!
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I found these 10-foot PVC poles at a recycle center for a few dollars each! I am spray painting them to of course improve their looks but also to hopefully protect the PVC from UV. These are light so I can carry several WHILE leading the horse around.
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Wood Poles
We are lucky and have access to a saw mill that carries peeled poles (United Wood Products). They have all kinds of fun lumber, including treated and untreated 8', 10', 12' and longer poles in sizes from 2" diameter on up. I think a 3" 10' or 12' treated poles is ideal (around $10).
This one we wrapped with some leftover Christmas garland. It was surprisingly spooky!
This whole jump is all homemade, down to the jump cups!
We are lucky and have access to a saw mill that carries peeled poles (United Wood Products). They have all kinds of fun lumber, including treated and untreated 8', 10', 12' and longer poles in sizes from 2" diameter on up. I think a 3" 10' or 12' treated poles is ideal (around $10).
This one we wrapped with some leftover Christmas garland. It was surprisingly spooky!
This whole jump is all homemade, down to the jump cups!
I have heard of people buying 4x4's and shaving off the corners to form an octagon pole. I haven't tried that. (I don't have a table saw....yet.)
A pressure treated 4 x 4 x 10' at Lowe's is $13.
From http://www.getmyfix.org/2571/diy-jump-rails/
A pressure treated 4 x 4 x 10' at Lowe's is $13.
From http://www.getmyfix.org/2571/diy-jump-rails/
Faux Birch/Aspen Logs
Plain natural poles with "faux birch" finish.
Took natural poles (dead in a flooded creek area) and painted them white. Then put took the snow brush and dabbed a little dark grey paint on and scraped across the poles for a "birch" effect. Added details with bark lines and "thunder eyes".
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Stripes on poles are made from DUCT TAPE (Use number 1002!)
Bringing Cross-Country into the Arena!
Planks
Get a 10 or 12' board. Anywhere from 6" to 12" wide and 2" thick is good. Make sure it's not warped.
Cut out a rectangle more than half the width (so it will hang and not twist).
Plank!
Cut out a rectangle more than half the width (so it will hang and not twist).
Plank!
Plank Panel built from plywood. Top is a 2x4 on one side and 1x2 on the other sandwiching the plywood.
Cross CountryWe have the constraint that our XC jumps must be movable. So we can't build any permanent XC jumps or structures. We make do.
 Split Rails
Fencing leftovers, here propped up with a bit of railroad tie and some "tripod" standards. Just 3 short 2x2s. Lay parallel, bind with rope about 2/3 up, then spread out the legs.
Options are good for many things.
Pallets with feet (Plastic decking scraps that won't rot).
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Logs and Branches
Railroad Ties and pieces stack nicely.
Logs - classic XC.
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Fence boards stacked on triangle made from landscape timbers bolted together.
Natural poles are interesting and cheap!
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Rustic planks in a "plank holder" spaced with pieces of wood.
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These are old fence boards. We pulled out the nails. Made a "plank holder" out of scraps. The planks just slide in to the desired height (this is about 2'3"). The "wings" are brush boxes turned on their sides.
End view of "plank holder". Just a 2' 2x6 for the base and 2 leftover 2' 2x3s screwed on with a gap between for the planks.
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Barrels
Use to prop up pole ends as "standards", or lined up as a "rolltop".
Put a landscape timber ground line or pole on each side to prevent rolling.
Cut one in half to make an instant roll-top. Cover with green astro turf and it's just like a "real" roll-top but so much lighter!
I have seen barrels at car washes. I got some from work and from a semi-industrial area I was trolling for pallets.
Put a landscape timber ground line or pole on each side to prevent rolling.
Cut one in half to make an instant roll-top. Cover with green astro turf and it's just like a "real" roll-top but so much lighter!
I have seen barrels at car washes. I got some from work and from a semi-industrial area I was trolling for pallets.
Got poly (plastic) barrels cut in half lengthwise.
Pallets Add feet to make brush boxes.
These are branches from an artificial Christmas tree.
 These are real branches from trimming the junipers.
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Lean halves together in an "A-frame" to make a Coop jump
Single large pallet with 2x4 legs attached with bolts so they can swing in/out and adjust the height/lean.
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Jump Blocks
Not so cheap but versatile and handy. Usually sold in pairs, various colors.
Someone posted a home-made jump block version:
http://dancinghorsehill.com/jumps.html
Someone posted a home-made jump block version:
http://dancinghorsehill.com/jumps.html
