Square Jump Rails...are they the safety concern I think they are?

[CHT]

I went to tour the grounds of a fair a student and I are attending for the next three days. Stacked beside a ring were the jumps that I am assuming they are using (possible they are just for trail, but seems unlikely).

The rails are all square. The edges have not been sanded/rounded.

In my mind, these aren’t safe for jump rails (pointy edge)…but am I over reacting? She is also entered in a bunch of under saddle classes, so I don’t think she will be heartbroken if we skip the jumping, but I want to be reasonable.

[jawa]

I wouldn’t jump square rails. That could result in needing a few stitches. Hopefully they are for a trail class (backing through a pattern).

[OnDeck]

Sure, it’ll hurt more than falling on or rubbing a round rail. But it’ll probably hurt less than hitting a coop, flower box, rock, etc. If we only jumped jumps that didn’t hurt, we’d run out of options pretty fast. If the horse has a rub, he’ll be more careful next time.

[ElisLove]

I’ve jumped a lot of square rails. They correct the horse more and don’t fall as easily so can be a good training tool for a horse that likes to rub rails. I wouldn’t be too concerned about falling on one. Like the person above me said. There are plenty of jump fill that would hurt more.

[Training_Cupid]

A lot of panels/gates have squared ends, as well as the plank-style jumps. I’d say as long as you don’t have a really deep cup it’s okay.

[greysfordays]

Am I totally misinformed that square rails are actually a little safer, particularly for ground poles and lines, if a horse steps on them, they are less dangerous (more stable) than a round pole? I think I remember Rodrigo Pessoa saying that when schooling a gymnastic on one of the Equestrian Coach videos.

This could of course be one of the 7 million times I’ve completely misunderstood something as it relates to horses :no:

[Highflyer]

[QUOTE=greysfordays;8260054]
Am I totally misinformed that square rails are actually a little safer, particularly for ground poles and lines, if a horse steps on them, they are less dangerous (more stable) than a round pole? I think I remember Rodrigo Pessoa saying that when schooling a gymnastic on one of the Equestrian Coach videos.

This could of course be one of the 7 million times I’ve completely misunderstood something as it relates to horses :no:[/QUOTE]

For eventing they are required for ground rails. We jump them all the time and I have never had an issue.

[CHT]

[QUOTE=Training Cupid;8260018]
A lot of panels/gates have squared ends, as well as the plank-style jumps. I’d say as long as you don’t have a really deep cup it’s okay.[/QUOTE]

Planks normally have sanded edges and flat cups. Panels normally aren’t the top rail.

I didn’t see the jump cups.

I have never seen square rails used as rails. Must be a reason. I assumed safety.

[Rel6]

[QUOTE=CHT;8260072]
Planks normally have sanded edges and flat cups. Panels normally aren’t the top rail.

I didn’t see the jump cups.

I have never seen square rails used as rails. Must be a reason. I assumed safety.[/QUOTE]

I’ve seen trainers specifically school square rails at home for the reasons mentioned above.

Also, isn’t it entirely possible that the few square rails won’t be the top rail on the jump? Maybe they are just ground lines or will be used as fill.

[LittleLegsBigStride]

My greenie was EXTREMELY lazy with his feet going over cavaletti/trot poles at the old barn. New barn has square-pole cavaletti and ground poles. All of a sudden lazy greenie isn’t so lazy!

[Janet]

[QUOTE=Highflyer;8260068]
For eventing they are required for ground rails. [/QUOTE]
Where did you find this requirement?

[Highflyer]

[QUOTE=Janet;8260441]
Where did you find this requirement?[/QUOTE]

I was volunteering at an event helping set up stadium and that was what the course designer said.

[supershorty628]

They’re not any more dangerous than a regular rail. They will, however, make your horse more careful if s/he hits the square rail; they hurt more. OP, you don’t even know that the rails are being used for over fences. But either way, yes, I think you’re overreacting.

[findeight]

Many use at least some square rails at home, so do some smaller shows-round poles are simply more expensive. I never for a second thought they represented any kind of safety hazard over round poles, never seen any evidence of that.

I have tested that theory personally having been dumped into them a few times over the years. No stitches, that’s kind of a reach, it’s wood, not a metal sharp edge.

I have had a round pole drop under a horse and roll with them landing causing a stumble so it’s pick your poison if you want to jump.

Thinking back on one of the worst falls ever witnessed, it was a clumsy, distracted youngster with a Pro aboard over a cross rail. Horse went right thru stepping on the round rails, got scared and started to bolt, stepped on a still rolling round rail and flipped over. If they had been squared…probably ended up upside down anyway. That horse went to a Dressage barn.

Thinking back in when I showed Trail in breed shows and the long defunct West Coast AHSA Open circuit, we saw both round and square lumber. Step overs tended to be square to encourage a bigger step, back throughs round to point to even a small rub.

[FitToBeTied]

If you are really concerned about edges you use a router with a rounding bit. That’s how I do it. For all intents and puroses, the rails are square but I’ve just knocked the edge off a little.

[vxf111]

[QUOTE=FitToBeTied;8260596]
If you are really concerned about edges you use a router with a rounding bit. That’s how I do it. For all intents and puroses, the rails are square but I’ve just knocked the edge off a little.[/QUOTE]

OP probably can’t go sand down the rails at the fair today

[Lord_Helpus]

Square rails are just 4" x 4" x 12’. You can buy them at any lumber yard. They are HEAVY, so a square rail is less likely to come down when hit. This is why they are often used as schooling rails. They are certainly no more dangerous than any other jump which does not roll right off when touched.

The only thing I do not like about them is lifting them when I am acting as ring crew for my trainer. I have to lift one side and then the other.

[AmmyByNature]

My barn uses primarily square rails. No issues.

[Calvincrowe]

I’ve shown over a mix of round and square. Other than visually, there really is no difference. I’ve never seen a horse hurt on a square rail, they come down with about the same frequency and don’t roll under foot.

I think you are pushing the panic button a bit early…

[nutmeg]

I spent close to a year rehabbing an upper level jumper who sat on the back rail of a square rail oxer in a gymnastic. Almost degloved himself. They are very dangerous in that setting. As a front rail, maybe, but I’m never comfortable with it.