Without the right foundation, you can’t build a proper jump course; you can’t train properly. The must-have basics are what keep your schooling ring safe, functional, and get you horse show-ready.
These horse jump essentials may seem small on paper, but they make every session smarter and more effective. Ready to see why each one deserves a spot in your arena? Let’s break it down:
Simple Standards
The core of every jump, of every course, are the standards. You can’t have a jump without them! Basic standards– like DJC’s aluminum picket and stick standards– are a great place to start building your course because of their simplicity and ease-of-use.
Aluminum standards are a long-term win: they won’t warp, rot, or fade, and they’re super easy to move when you're resetting courses. You can get them in any color of the rainbow too!
Poles
Another product you can’t build a horse jump without: poles.
Jump poles are multi-functional: use them on jumps, as ground lines, or as rails on the ground for grid work and other jumping exercises.
There are different pole shapes that add a different dimension to your training as well. Round poles to mimic what you see in the show ring, or square poles to use as ground rails or add a bit more weight to the pole.
Then, don’t forget the different designs! Striped poles are the most common, but it's also great to keep solid colored poles in your ring and maybe even a few eye-catching designs like spiral poles and mafia poles– these are becoming more common in the show ring and can sometimes catch horses by surprise. Having these various styles at home, better prepares you for the horse show.
Jump Cups
You literally cannot build a horse jump without jump cups. These small, but mighty jump accessories are what piece everything together, connecting the poles and gates or planks to the standards.
It’s always good to have a large supply of these around so you have no limitations to the jumps and courses you want to build. We recommend having a minimum of 30 pairs of jump cups for an eight jump course.
When purchasing jump cups and calculating how many you need, we recommend having at least 3 pairs per jump. Also, add on a pair of Breakaway Jump Cups for every oxer to hold up the back rail safely.
Cavaletti
Cavaletti are simple, but extremely useful and necessary when it comes to training towards your goals. They can be used as stand-alone jumps, ground poles, and set up to make jumping exercises that help strengthen the mind of both horse and rider. We recommend having at least four aluminum or wooden cavalettis in your schooling arena.
Learn more about cavaletti and all their benefits here!
What kind of cavaletti is best for your arena and training goals? Let Javan, DJC jump designer, give you the deets:
Liverpool
Liverpools– the blue tarp under a horse jump– are common elements in the jumper ring. But, that doesn't mean they are easy to maneuver. This water element can change how a horse sees and approaches a jump, so it’s best to practice at home first to get your horse used to it. The most commonly seen one is the standard rectangular liverpool, but don’t write off the circular liverpool or open water either!
Liverpools teach your horse to judge depth and react calmly, so even if you don’t plan on seeing them in the show ring, schooling over them at home can help you prepare for other challenging jumps.
Gate & Planks
Gates and planks are seen in almost every jumping course. For the hunters, expect to see the ladder-styled gate in most show rings; and for jumpers, planks can add a tricky element to any jump, especially when placed as the top rail– all jumper riders know about that tricky skinny plank. Because of the different ways horses may jump, it’s important to get used to jumping over them at home first.
Also, these horse jump elements introduce horses to solidity. Instead of a typical, airy jumps built with poles, they create something that looks solid, and maybe more intimidating to go over. Again, practice before going to the show!
Hunter Filler
In every hunter show ring, you will come across flower boxes and hunter walls. These add depth and width to the jumps and can change how a horse approaches them. Plus they can be a little spooky for some horses, so the more you can introduce them to it, the more prepared you will be.
It’s important to practice these elements with jumper horses as well, even if it’s likely you won’t see them in the show ring. Preparing your horse for anything always sets you up for more success.
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These items are the foundation of every schooling ring. Check out our Jump Essentials page to shop these necessities—all ready-made products, and all made DJC-strong. Need something custom? Reach out; we love building dream courses, too.