If you want to be competitive in the jumper ring, you need to train for it. A well thought out schooling course at home makes all the difference—it helps fine-tune you and your horse’s skills, get them comfortable with tricky jumps and gives you an edge in the show ring.
But what should go into a jumper schooling course? Here’s a breakdown of the essentials you need:
Aluminum Schooling Standards
A solid course starts with good standards, and lightweight aluminum schooling standards are the way to go. They’re durable, easy to move and won’t rot like wood.
DJC offers two main styles:
• Stick Standards – Simple, clean, and easy to adjust.
• Picket Standards – A classic look that adds a little more visibility and depth.
Both come in multiple colors and are built to last. The light weight makes building courses much easier. Although simple, they do the job you need them to.
Pro-tip: use stick standards as the back standards for any oxer.
Horse Show Jump Standards
There’s no better way to prepare for the show ring than by schooling over the same types of jumps you’ll see in competition. Bright colors, bold designs and unique shapes can catch a horse’s eye—so getting them comfortable at home is key.
Since DJC builds jumps for some of the biggest horse shows, we know exactly what you need to replicate show conditions in your arena. Training over real horse show jumps gives you a serious advantage when you step into the ring. We suggest having at least a few horse show style jumps in your ring to supplement the course.
Jump Poles
A jump isn’t a jump without poles, and variety is important. You’ll want to mix things up with different lengths and styles:
• 10-foot and 12-foot poles – The standard for most courses.
• 8-foot poles – Perfect for practicing skinny jumps and straightness exercises.
• Round poles – The go-to for most jumps and the standard at competition.
• Square poles – Great for groundwork.
DJC offers solid-colored, striped and fully custom poles that match seamlessly with the rest of your jumps.
Pro-tip: Any design DJC does on round poles can be done on square poles too.
Jumper Fillers
Fillers are one of those things that can make or break a round. Some horses don’t blink at them, while others slam on the brakes. The best way to avoid an unnecessary stop in the show ring? Practice with fillers at home.
DJC offers everything from:
• Classic horse show fillers – The ones you’ll see at most competitions.
• Custom fillers – Want something unique? We can make it happen.
Whether you need a filler that blends in or one that turns heads, training with a variety of them is key to building confident horses and riders.
Jumper Gates and Planks
You won’t see a gate in every jumper class, but when you do, you’ll want to be ready. Some horses find gates visually tricky, so incorporating them into your schooling course helps ensure they don’t become an issue on show day.
Planks are more common, and when used as the top rail are a common obstacle to cause a 4-fault score. Their design, especially with the lighter, skinnier planks, means a light touch can bring them down. And because of their different shape from poles, they can cause an illusion to the horse’s eye and make them harder to appear when it comes to depth perception.
Jumper Walls
Jumper walls are showing up more and more in the top levels of showjumping. Since they’re solid-looking and can appear intimidating, horses that haven’t seen them before can be hesitant or stop altogether.
The best way to prevent that? School over different types of walls at home. A versatile jumper wall lets you adjust height, design, and configuration so you can get your horse comfortable with whatever they might face in competition.
Cavaletti
If you’re not using cavaletti, you’re missing out on one of the best training tools available. They’re incredibly versatile and useful for everything from young horses to seasoned Grand Prix mounts. You can use them:
• As ground rails – Teach rhythm, straightness, and adjustability.
• As raised exercises – Help improve balance, strength, and footwork.
• For grid work – A must for fine-tuning a horse’s jump, steadiness and strength.
DJC cavaletti are easy to adjust, and they won’t roll out from under your horse if they clip one. Check out how top Grand Prix riders use them on our YouTube channel.
Jump Cups
Jump cups are a small but critical piece of equipment that complete your jump— they hold up the poles and gates!
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Building a great jumper schooling course isn’t about throwing a few random jumps in an arena—it’s about creating a setup that challenges, prepares and improves both you and your horse.
Ready to upgrade your schooling setup? Browse our catalog or contact us to start designing your jumps today!