Building Jump Standards & Poles

So, my new barn has nothing to jump over! =) I am researching building my own jump standards since they are over $100 to buy pre-made.

So far, I've found the following websites with directions:

How to Build a Horse Jump 1 Pair Schooling Standard - wikiHow
Lorien Stable - How to Build Jump Standards

Cost of supplies should be around $30 for 2 unpainted standards.

Anyone ever built these? Any suggestions?

Would you recommend that I paint them? Or just get pressure-treated wood? They may end up outside in the rain at some point.

Also, do you prefer plastic or metal jump cups, why?

Can you buy round wooden poles at hardware/lumber stores? I couldn't find them on Lowes' or Home Depot's websites.

I may get some 3" PVC Pipe for cavaletti. I don't want to use these for jumps in case we fall on them and they break/shatter. Are normal "horse-use" poles 10 feet long? Or should I have the hardware store trim down the PVC pipes for me?

Wish me luck!! =)

the lorien stable version is what i use---- very very simple- at home it really shouldn't matter what cups u use... unless ur horses are prone to jumping crooked etc. the jump poles are standardly 10ft but 8ft ones work fine and are usually cheaper- u can buy platic coloured sleeves for the pvc pipes in case of shatter

Ohhh, nice idea to put those sleeves on PVC poles!

10-foot poles just seem really long (and heavy) for me to be hauling around our not-so-giant arena. Maybe I will go with 8-foot (and save a little money too!)

glad to be helpful ;) http://www.jumpgearetc.com/page-railsleeves.html here's an example of what i'm talking bout- i'm sure u can get them cheaper somewhere

Awsome idea XivoShowJumper,

I'm having a hard time finding any poles... I can find 8' fence posts, but they're 6" thick and HEAVY! I guess I just need to keep calling around.

Does anyone have a good caveletti building page?

I use 4 inch pvc pipes for poles, just make sure you get the solid core ones. The other hollow core ones just don't stand up to the use. They are lighter and easy to move around. Also I just take different colored duct tape and make stripes on mine and they look great. I would stick with the 10ft poles. I had some 8ft ones once and they ended up looking narrow from the back of my horse.

If you really want to have wood ones you can call and talk to your local lumber yards, in other words NOT lowes or HomeDepot or whatever you have in your area. The local places will do custom cuts for you.

I thought about calling the mills. I guess I'll be on the phone tomorrow . I don't like PVC for jump poles. I don't mind them for cavaletties, but most I can get around here are too flimsy for jumps.

Thanks!

I guess it may be unusual but I have a selection of different thicknesses and the different types of core (like I talked about in my previous post). I get the 4inch ones with the thickest walls and solid core. They will not sag across a jump like the others. And what I mean by solid core is they are still hollow pipes but the plastic that makes up the walls of the pipe are solid. The hollow core ones are styrofoamy in the center of the pipe wall.

But that aside, call your mills. I have an amish guy that runs a mill in my area who will do custom type of stuff for me if I order a minimum number. The minimum number is usually not that much and they will deliver.

i don't find 8 ft that narrow at all? i mean you can get a narrow jump on course thats like 5 ft? i spose it depends on the horse tho i tend to have a mixtur of lengths from 5-10' lets the horses see that a jump is a jump..... doesn't matter how narrow or wide, or thin or thick