Mounting blocks - where to buy

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Twiglet

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I want to buy a decent, wooden, weather treated, sturdy mounting block for the yard but struggling to find an appropriate one. Can spend up to about £100....any recommendations?
 
Thanks for that.
It's just I'm not sure plastic ones will be as robust for all weathers, I'd really like this to last for a few years....I'm under the impression that plastic ones would be more prone to cracking when they freeze etc?
 
clipcloppop said:
make your own! get an old railway sleeper, chop it into 3 (long, medium, short), pile on top of each other, add something to stop it being slippery... hey presto! :D
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hey Pops, that's my trick! the only thing is that it's a bit narrow so quite easy to step off onto thin air by accident. not that i did that the other day or anything... ;) ;)
sleepers bolted together (because otherwise they're very wobbly) with a guard rail would prob be slightly safer.
 
My problems with that:
- I have no railway sleepers
- I have no strong men to want to lift/cut them for me
- I am terribly clumsy and would probably end up hitting a nail through my foot
- I have already collected money from half the yard for a nice mounting block, and whilst I'm tempted to make one and spent the money on gin, I don't think they'd be very pleased :D
 
Mine is made out of breeze blocks. Its at a height that means I just have to put my foot inthe stirrup without stretching. Have just made steps up it with blocks
 
A few years ago a local carpenter made one for me for a tenner. It was very robust and stable, and had been treated to withstand bad weather etc.

I would have brought it with us when we moved to Germany, but once Merlin and his gear had been loaded onto the lorry, there was no room for the mounting block..........:( I was sad at having to leave it behind because I've never seen anything like it since. :confused:

OH got the carpenter's details from our local tack shop, so perhaps a few enquiries at your feed store/tack shop might prove fruitful.

Good luck!:)
 
Twiglet said:
My problems with that:
- I have no railway sleepers
- I have no strong men to want to lift/cut them for me
- I am terribly clumsy and would probably end up hitting a nail through my foot
- I have already collected money from half the yard for a nice mounting block, and whilst I'm tempted to make one and spent the money on gin, I don't think they'd be very pleased :D
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spend the money on gin, and THEN make one... it'd be great. no, really, it would... ;)
 
I didn't want the hassle of making one, and I bought the following - and it's beautifully made, and came within a couple of days..... the pics don't do them justice, and they're easy to move about, and all timber is round off so there are no sharp edges for a horse to catch on.
I'm was very very pleased with it when it arrived.
He has a few different types and heights. He was great with communications too and let me know when it was collected and when it was due for delivery.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Movable-Block...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item4cf27fd1cf

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Movable-Half-...t=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item5adce89ed6
 
Millimoo, they were the ones I was looking at! So you'd recommend? I like the fact they sound very robust and come in different heights etc.

Thanks for the replies all.
 
Twiglet said:
Thanks for that.
It's just I'm not sure plastic ones will be as robust for all weathers, I'd really like this to last for a few years....I'm under the impression that plastic ones would be more prone to cracking when they freeze etc?
Click to expand...

Cheap plastic ones, shiny thin plastic - yes!
Proper thick plastic superior ones, well we get below -20 in the Cairngorms where I live (!) and last winter had 3 months of solid snow, never melting till April, and they look like new. Ive had them 3ish years now and they look like they did when they came, no bowing or warping.
I cant think of a harsher UK test really than our place.....

You might prefer wood but unless very well maintained, in a few years after constant soaking and being stood on, they might not be as safe. But it depends on how strongly they are made and how regularly they are maintained and checked and painted. Best preserving paint is Osmo Country Colours, its linseed oil based not water or chemical so flexes instead of cracking in low temps or under pressure. Costs a lot per tin but has miles more pigment per tin than cheapy stuff so looks very smart and you need fewer coats.
 
I got mine from the caravan shop. Sturdy 3 step metal with non slip for £20. Now if only I could get him to stand still so i can use it.
 
Twiglet said:
Millimoo, they were the ones I was looking at! So you'd recommend? I like the fact they sound very robust and come in different heights etc.

Thanks for the replies all.
Click to expand...

Hi Twiglet, i've only had mine a couple of weeks and I would recommend, however ours is for me and my mum (well me actually). I therefore can't give you a longevity report, especially as your is for a yard full.
However the wood is screwed together rather than nailed and it's very solid - I have the full 30" 3 step version, and it is beautifully made.
Although tanilised he suggested re-treating, and whilst it will be living outside, I will upend it against the fence or may puts some paving slabs down as its going to live in our Arena - might just be because it's new and pretty ;-)
 
As I have a bad back and am not very agile I got a local carpenter to make me a lovely big wooden mounting block - all properly treated with wood preservative.

Must have had it about 5 years now and still going strong.

It is quite high and mean friends have been known to ask if I hire it out to Gatwick for unloading passengers from planes!!
 
Seahorse said:
someone's husband at the yard made ours, it's brilliant and he covered it in non slip stuff too.
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Friend of ours(with a workshop and gas) made mine and it's just the job. It has wheels for easy moveing and a platform top which gives loads of confidence to the more nervous mounter.

Maybe you know someone?
 
I can't belive that one on Ebay is £75! My OH may have a new hobby, the materials only cost about £12!

I'd get the yellow pages out and ask around some local carpenters.
 
Fire_Fly said:
I can't belive that one on Ebay is £75! My OH may have a new hobby, the materials only cost about £12!

I'd get the yellow pages out and ask around some local carpenters.
Click to expand...

Please do get him started :-)
...... I hunted all over the internet to get one that height, we need more makers as I personally think the top step on the plastic ones is too narrow and there's definetly a gap in the market for sensibly priced mounting blocks with a decent platform to mount from.

I'm also lazy and couldn't be bothered finding a decent handy man to make one - i'd probably spend a fortune on lengths of wood and have loads left over, not making it cost effective either.
I'm clearly not alone as he's sold quite a few ;-) but they are well made, and he's thought of everything, and they don't look thrown together like some.
 
We have a breeze block mounting block, complete with a metal upright pole sunk into the ground behind it. The block was built by a friend and the pole, complete with rounded top, was put together and installed by our Dad, after sister had broken her ankle and needed a block to get off her 16.3 as well as to get on. It works a treat and makes life very easy for me to get on my 15.3 :)
 
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