subject: Equestrian Horse Jumps What Are They Made Of [print this page] Equestrian Horse Jumps What Are They Made Of
Horse jumps are designed and set up to test the abilities of both horse and rider. When your magnificent steed approaches his jumps, you want to know that he is going to safely clear it, and that you are going to ride him safely over the jump. Safety is assured (as much as possible) when you buy the jumping equipment from a reliable company. Safety is primary.Safety comes first, price comes second. Price is, of course, an important consideration. When you can buy from a company that guarantees its prices are lower than any other seller s, it is your first choice of where to buy your jumping equipment.Regardless of manufacturer, the crucial details and design are crucial. Whether made of wood or PVC, the design might be the same. Wood is susceptible to rotting but PVC, a man made material is not. It can be left out in the rain. Most purchasers are choosing PVC because it is impervious to rain and can be left outside regardless of the weather.The PVC material itself is more expensive to begin with, but the manufacturing methods are superior to those used with wood. This keeps the price of the finished product lower. Therefore it is preferable.The world of show horses and jumpers has a large variety of show requirements such as sizes and kinds of jumps. Some are dressage shows, with horses who are trained to dance and take jumps of a particular kind. There are cross country trail competitions for Western horse shows. For the Western jumpers, the actual obstacles are those the horse might find on a nature trail.Each jump has required sizes, heights and patterns in the show ring. If you are a new rider who wants to try a few jumps that are not too difficult, you need to be careful about how you set them up. First and foremost, if making your own jumps, be sure there are no nail or sharp points on the material you use. Try lower jumps. To train your horse to jump in the center of the jump apparatus, you might start with a cross rail fence. It has two poles that meet in the center in the shape of a cross. This guides the animal to center his body as he approaches the hurdle.There are oxer jumps and pyramid jumps and an endless number of combination jumps. All require careful measurements be taken. The height is important and the distance between jumps is crucial. Generally speaking, allow twelve feet between jumps for a horse, and ten feet for a pony.Measure the distance between jumps at approximately twelve feet for a horse or ten feet for a pony. Alternatively, you can measure your own horse s exact stride. Use a tape measure and set up the distance between jumps according to your horse.Never place a pole behind any jump. This will confuse your horse greatly. By creating a false ground line, it makes the horse see the jump as being further back than it is. The judgement of the horse is crucial to avoid jumping being a dangerous activity.The jumps over open water are required to meet certain size requirements in a show. Jumps can be individually purchased or bought as a package deal with everything needed for one complete jump or one complete competition course. Accessories are available as single purchases and include extras such as flower boxes to make the course more attractive to the audience. Appearance is not nearly as important as safety, but it does add to the enjoyment of the spectators.Horse jumps bring joy to the people watching these magnificent equine competitions. They may or may not appreciate the work and training behind the acquired skills, but they certainly derive pleasure from watching how gracefully they do it. The beauty of the horses is enhanced by an attractive show ring as well.
