Pole caddies help keep your show jumping equipment organized and ready to use. Keeping the jumps and equipment out of harm’s way helps to keep your arena clean.
Working over raised poles in walking, trot, and canter will improve balance and rhythm within the horse. It also helps tone the muscles of the flexor chain and improves flexibility.
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Easy to Use
Whether you’re a show jumper training at a facility or a home horse owner, there is no question that having the right equipment helps you get the most out of your time with your horse. From spooky jumps used to desensitize a show-bound horse to eye-catching standards and rails that add interest to an arena, it takes a lot of planning and investment to stock your facility with quality show jumping gear.
Fortunately, there are tools to make your job easier. A mobile pole caddy allows you to quickly move and store your show jumps and keep them off the ground when not in use, preventing them from becoming rotten or damaged. Basket and pole-style caddies are height adjustable, allowing you to position them appropriately. Alternatively, tension pole models l work well in showers with smooth backsplash tile. Hanging and freestanding caddies must be mounted securely to a wall with a sturdy hook and require some patience when climbing.
Easy to Store
A good quality mobile pole caddies can be a lifesaver for show jumpers. They can protect your poles from damage, rotting, and theft when you aren’t using them.
They also offer practical and convenient storage for equestrians in their homes. Most models are easy to transport and install. They can quickly hook together to haul your entire course if you need to move them from place to place.
A few caveats should be noted: Electric caddies, especially remote-controlled ones, require some technical understanding and affinity to operate. Bumping them into walls, curbs, or other objects will likely cause them to break. Also, like any electrical/mechanical device, wear and tear will occur over time, and parts must be replaced periodically. Look for a supplier that offers transparent parts pricing and technical support. They also need to be adequately lubricated. Otherwise, they will be prone to overheating and causing breakdowns.
Easy to Transport
It can be exhausting to drag all those jump poles across your arena. With a mobile pole caddy, you can safely save your back and legs by transporting them.
Most caddies can be installed quickly and easily by the homeowner or a professional. Basket and pole-style caddies require a ceiling and floor to support them, but most are adjustable for the right fit. Portable caddies are typically made from quick-drying polyester fabric or mesh and use hard plastic for shelving attachments that won’t rust or absorb odors.
Some cautionary notes: As with any mechanical/electrical device, operator error can damage the caddy. Bumping into walls, curbs, and other structures, driving it through water/bunkers, or running it into sand traps, sprinkler wells, etc., will all damage the cart and its contents. Common sense and preventive/defensive driving are always the best practices when operating an electric caddy.
Easy to Install
Jumping tests a horse’s athleticism, agility, and ability to focus and respond to the rider. It also tests a rider’s precision, accuracy, and tractability. A horse and rider that clears a course without incurring faults or penalty points are said to have jumped a “clear round.”
Some of the obstacles used in jumping competitions are more technical than others. For example, higher-level courses often feature fences with a broader spread (“spread”) or shorter distances between them, which requires the horse to adjust its stride length dramatically.
Training horses with low and high fences are essential to build their confidence and ability to jump various heights. Early gridwork should be done at the trot, as this helps the horse to maintain a regular rhythm and pace while also allowing for accurate measurement of distances. For the best results, remember that having an experienced set of eyes walk a course with you or buddy up with another rider who can offer feedback on your gridwork is a good idea.
