Jump poles length??

[entreat]

Hiya, I was wondering if 2.5m (~8ft) is acceptable for pole lengths? I've looked around, and most people have them 3m (10ft), but I have a whole bunch of PVC pipe (liberated from a trash pile) that is 5m.

[galadriel]

A more narrow jump is a little more intimidating for the horse. 10' or even 12' is standard.

If you yourself are training the horse :) and you're going to be slow and progressive with his training, then you can probably be all right. If you were moving quickly along in training and going for more & more exposure and height and so on, then many too-narrow jumps might burn a horse out.

Do remember tht PVC gets brittle both in the cold and with age; brittle PVC shatters if broken.

[entreat]

Thanks Gal. We'll be going *very* slowly 'cause I'm a chicken! It's fairly good PVC, not too old, and we'll store it undercover.
Thanks for the reply. :)

[kedwards]

"Skinny" fences are great for working on accuracy. However, they do make it easier for a horse to run out. If he can handle the skinnier fences at home without a problem, you should have no trouble keeping him honest to the wider fences at a show.

[entreat]

HA! Shows!! That's so funny!! I just want to learn - not interested in shows just yet. I dont think they do 1foot jumps at shows?! ;) :p

Unfortunately for my pittiful jumping height, my new horse can't/wont jump that small - he either goes through them or strides over them!