Metal Jumping Poles

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morgan4eva

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Can any of you SJs out there tell me why I keep seeing box metal poles at Show Jumping yards and sometimes in the background when Show Jumpers are being interviewed etc. These "poles" are usually unpainted and made of box metal ie Inch and a half square metal, hollow in the middle. They are obviously used in training but can anyone enlighten me further?
 
they balance them on top of a wooden pole, for a casual horse. if he then taps it, his shoes will ping on the metal, making a big noise and giving him a bit of a surprise. they make lots of noise as they hit the deck, too.
i've had someone do this for my horse, giving me a lesson, and they reasoned that it wasn't as bad as a horse continually clouting wooden poles, which could do him more damage.

i've been told that some people make an invisible back rail on a parallel with them, so the horse thinks he's jumped wide enough and then catches it coming down. not nice at all.
 
IF they are square they are often used on the foor as they don't roll and are cheaper than the plastic alternative

I know everyone is going to go off on one on how cruel SJ'ers are. However not matter what you say you cannot force a horse to jump, so if they were that nasty the horses would throw in the towel.
 
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Rapping!!!

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I dont think they have any musical content at all.
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Seriously though, they are solid, as is a x country fence.
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I think noisy metal poles are a lot kinder than rapping, after all if the horse doesn't make a mistake over a metal pole it's just like a normal jump, whereas rapping punishes the horse who does do enough, and I've seen a fair few horses who have started stopping after being rapped, especially if a person is standing anywhere near a fence. As for the squareness, agree with the above, probably when used on the floor, they are less likely to roll if a horse touches them, and therefore less likely to injure it. Tim Stockdale says he NEVER trots/canters over a round pole on the floor.
 
oooo Interesting! I asked my trainer today why he always uses planks to train over, he said it was to remind the horses if they knocked the plank it would be felt more than a round pole. I have also used scaffolding bars painted white with lazy/careless horses, they work a treat!
 
thats nothing.....someone we know and who jumped at a very high level sj told us they used to electrify their fences if horses were touching them
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(although after starting this conversation my mum kindly told them to shut up and not discuss it any more) i think that is the most horrific thing i have ever heard although no doubt others will know worse. so compared to some horrible methods that are used i dont think metal poles are all that bad. At least people employing these methods are often experienced......what i find cruel is people riding with gadgets strapping their horses down who really shouldnt be riding with them
 
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I know everyone is going to go off on one on how cruel SJ'ers are. However not matter what you say you cannot force a horse to jump, so if they were that nasty the horses would throw in the towel.

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I show jump too so I certainly dont think all SJers are cruel. But I would disagree with saying that "you cannot force a horse to jump" - plenty of people have beaten a horse into submission...... If you smack something hard enough and enough times, it'll probably do anything for you.
 
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If you smack something hard enough and enough times, it'll probably do anything for you.

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Untrue - you'll never get a forward going balanced round from a horse that is beaten into doing its job. Therefore the horse will never do well at show jumping.
 
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If you smack something hard enough and enough times, it'll probably do anything for you.

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Untrue - you'll never get a forward going balanced round from a horse that is beaten into doing its job. Therefore the horse will never do well at show jumping.

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Totally agree - if over half a ton of horse says NO there is naff all you can do about it! A horse with a broken spirit does NOT perform to its capabilities!
 
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