Posted 2006-04-11 10:43 PM (#40290) Subject: Suggestions wanted on Building an obstacle course
Regular
Posts: 97 Location: Middle Tennessee
I'm here to get some advise and ideas on building an outdoor obstacle course. I have a good sized acre+ area that I would like to put some challanging obstacles on, but I'm not the most creative person, so I would like to enlist ideas from you good folks out there.
Posted 2006-04-11 11:23 PM (#40293 - in reply to #40290) Subject: RE: Suggestions wanted on Building an obstacle course
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
Well I always like to teach a horse to open a gate with me in the saddle, Build your self a inexpensive gate out of PVC pipe that you can sidepass up to and swing open.
I like a ramp for the horse to cross. Teach the horse to cross bridges. Something with a good hollow sound.
A couple of 55 gallon barrels. You can stand them on end have the horse back through or around them. Lay them down to have the horse cross over.
Some poles or ties that you can cross over Cavelletti style or lay down as a path marker. Go forward or back through.
Posted 2006-04-12 3:31 PM (#40334 - in reply to #40290) Subject: RE: Suggestions wanted on Building an obstacle course
Elite Veteran
Posts: 824 Location: Kansas
If you're like me (cheap), flags or sheets tied to something, pinwheels that make lots of noise are good. The "thing" in breed show trail right now seems to be poles laid out like wheel spokes, sidepassing on a bridge, backing a "U". Flower boxes are both cheap and good (can you say "garage sale"). If you plan on road-riding, I'd enlist friends on bicycles and motorcycles to de-sensitize them. Those are the kinds of things that have typically spooked my horses. Have fun!
Posted 2006-04-13 3:03 PM (#40382 - in reply to #40290) Subject: RE: Suggestions wanted on Building an obstacle course
Veteran
Posts: 225 Location: Kansas City
For poles/logs to back through or sidepass over - buy landscape timbers with the flat sides. They won't roll when your horse hits them. A mail box on a post with a piece of chain in it. Sidepass up to the box and remove the chain with "noise." Hang a rain slicker on a post. Ride up to it, remove the slicker, and put it on.
Of course, just because you do this every day doesn't mean it will work on the exact day you need it to work...
Posted 2006-04-15 10:36 PM (#40493 - in reply to #40290) Subject: RE: Suggestions wanted on Building an obstacle course
Member
Posts: 38 Location: michigan
Water noodles are great training aids. (Those colorful pool toys) You can step over a number of them strewn about, or tie multiple noodles to jump standards and make your horse walk through them. Also, dragging an item such as a log or bag of empty aluminum cans. If you can pick up some hula hoops at the dollar store, they are handy for stepping in, or handling them around your horse. Opening and closing an umbrella while standing quietly is a good exercise, too. A discarded matress is great for walking over, but watch out for springs.
Suggestions wanted on Building an obstacle course
