Jump poles - an alternative?

[Lennyfan]

As above really. Am buying some training wings for home and can't believe how expensive poles seem to be! Anyone got any ideas for cheaper alternatives? Many thanks for any assistance.

 

[PaddyMonty]

Our local timber yard sells 12' long 4" round smooth poles (natural but treated) for around £8.

 

[crazyhorse4727]

Or even plastic pipe, like for guttering etc! Can't remember how much though!

 

[ThePony]

Or even plastic pipe, like for guttering etc! Can't remember how much though!

Be really careful with these though as they can shatter if broken!
Your local timber merchants is the best place to look for bargains.

 

[lilaclomax]

Definately timber merchants, our local one delivers free if orders are over £40.

For plastic, do NOT use drainpipes, may be cheap but they break easily and will shatter after a short period of use if trodden on! If you want plastic you need to look for the underground pipes (ones which have ridges in are the stongest) but these can be just as expensive as polypoles - always worth asking local builders if they have any left over

 

[noblesteed]

I got mine from a local sawmill. The wood was seasoned so didn't need treatment. They do different diameters, 3 4 or 5 inch - I bought thinner ones so they are lighter. I had lots of fun painting them different colours too! They did come in 12 foot lengths though and they wouldn't cut them down for us! They were not very expensive, I think £6 each and they have lasted 2 winters outside so far.
I made wings as well out of wood from the builders suppliers, it was even cheaper!

 

[JFTDWS]

if you have some dry sticks, you could make a line of fire on the ground? I used to do this with my 13.2hh, after doing this for a few years you could've ridden her naked through Afghanistan singing anti-muslim nursery rhymes and she wouldn't bat an eyelid at the gun-shots.

It's always been one of my secret ambitions to jump through fire, tbh

 

[Miss L Toe]

You can make skinny fences, just saw in half, I would like ideas for wings though, I dont like using wood with nails, they don't last outside.

 

[CatStew]

if you have some dry sticks, you could make a line of fire on the ground? I used to do this with my 13.2hh, after doing this for a few years you could've ridden her naked through Afghanistan singing anti-muslim nursery rhymes and she wouldn't bat an eyelid at the gun-shots.

What on earth are you going on about??

Does your pony live with you under the bridge?




Aaanyway, going back to the OP, how about drainpipes filled with sand and sealed at the sides? Just a thought, the sand would hopefully re-inforce it a bit to stop it from shattering on impact and also weigh it down if it was a bit breezy?

We have a few plastic poles at our yard, I don't like them, they're too light IMO

 

[Rowreach]

I've paid anything from £2 to £10 per 12' x 4" round poles from woodyards. They are pressure treated and last for years and years outside. For coloured poles, the best thing is pole rolls (Rideaway do them for a couple of quid each) which are cheap and saves painting and repainting the poles year after year. I use insulating tape around the pole rolls to stop them flapping and they last about a year on average.

The best, longest lasting stands are old tyres with the metal wheel bit still in them. Get a section of 4"x4" box metal welded in the centre, then get lengths of 4x4 treated post (again from the woodyard), drill holes for cups or buy the strip and screw that on, and you're done. And they last for years and years too. I've just replaced the posts in mine, and the previous ones lasted over 10 years, outside all year round.