Building Jump Standards

If you board your horse at home or a small local stable, chances are you don’t have a fancy course of jumps on which to practice. The good news is that you can build your own standards with a few common power tools and materials. Inexpensive landscaping poles can be purchased for around $3 each to complete the project. Here’s what you’ll need to get started, followed by step-by-step tips.

TOOLS: Saw or chainsaw and circular saw, drill with ¼-inch bit, ½-inch spade bit and Phillips head screwdriver

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MATERIALS: One 8-foot length of treated 4”x4” wood, two 8-foot lengths of treated 1”x4” wood, box of 1 1/2-inch wood screws and pair of jump cups

Step 1: Prop the 4”x4” beam up off the ground; sawhorses or bags of shavings/hay bales work equally well. Measure and saw into two four-foot halves.

Step 2: Measure 18” away from the ground end on each of the four-foot pieces just cut. Start marking for jump cup holes in the center of the beam every three inches until you get to the top.

Step 3: Using the ¼-inch drill bit, make a hole at each mark, all the way through the beam. Switch to the ½-inch spade bit and widen each existing hole.

Step 4: Prop a 1”x4” plank off the ground, measuring and marking every 20”. Using the saw or circular saw, cut the board into four “jump feet.” Repeat with other 1”x4” plank.

Step 5: Prop up a four-foot 4”x4” beam so one of the feet lines up at a 90-degree angle along the bottom. Use two screws to mount the foot to the base of the beam.

Step 6: Rotate the beam and continue mounting the other three feet in a pinwheel pattern, using two screws for each one.

Step 7: Set up your new standard to make sure it’s sturdy, then try mounting a jump cup and pin to check the fit through the holes.

Now you’re ready to tack up and try your new jump!

Learn how to make your own Cross-Country jumps here>>

16 years ago

Holly Caccamise

Holly Caccamise has been with Horse Illustrated and Young Rider magazines since 2007, and in 2019, she became Editor in Chief of both titles. Caccamise has a master's degree in Animal Science with a specialization in equine nutrition and exercise physiology. She has also worked as a racing magazine ad copywriter and top-level show groom.

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View Comments

jumper says:
January 8, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Hey, this is great. I was planning to make some jumps and this really helps.
Erin says:
January 9, 2008 at 1:55 pm
you know i was just thinking about that today and now i know how to do it without having to pay tons of money :)
Bayley says:
January 16, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Awsome! I need some jumps at my Equestrian center! Thanks!
Cat says:
March 6, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I don't do this kind of stuff my dads stable hand does but it's nice to know how to do it
Nichole says:
March 10, 2008 at 9:30 am
Help! This is what always comes up when I click on the current HI exclusives. Something must be wrong with the link.
Ivey says:
August 11, 2008 at 6:36 am
Can't wait to build some!!!! We board my horse at a stable and they have poles but not the standards.. but they will soon!
Deborah says:
August 29, 2008 at 6:56 am
The instructions are clear and easy. My problem is that I can't read the entire thing on the website, only steps 1-4. The rest of it is cut off. I tried sending it to myself, but it is still cut off. Can't print the entire thing, either. I am very dissappointed-this is an error with the website that should have been caught and corrected.
Eric says:
November 17, 2008 at 6:24 am
Cutting a board as in step 4 will lead to a pinched sawblade everytime and is dangerous. The short end of the board should be free to fall away.
mon says:
September 20, 2009 at 4:07 am
thanks very much. thisis very helpful
Madison says:
November 9, 2009 at 8:37 pm
This was very helpful- I made four standards. Next time I would use 2x4's for the bottem though, because the 1x4's aren't very sturdy/heavy so you have to make sure it's on level ground. Other then that- they turned out GREAT and our barn uses them all the time!