I was ready to order the potties from Ikea (had them in my cart), and they slapped on a $64 “service fee” 
Yeeesh. I guess because of the size of the things. They nearest Ikea store is quite a hike, or I would just go there and pick them up.
Has anyone used anything similar - and that’s cheaper than the “Blocs” that are designed for this purpose? And that as a “equine specialty item” are of course WAY spendy…
TIA!
Ok, I have to ask…what is this IKEA potty that you mention? I tried a search on their site but I must be looking at something completely different.
Ikea Lilla Children’s green potty; Amazon also sells it (though it’s more expensive) - so I may go that route to avoid the service fee…
I would try sharing a link but am afraid! :nonchalance:
How high do you want the poles to be? If you are just looking for raised trot poles, I’ve taken a 4x4 post of lumber, cut into pieces 10-12" long, and notch out a V with a saw for the trot pole to sit into. Fairly inexpensive, easily sourced. They could also be stacked if you need them to be taller.
:lol::lol::lol: made me laugh!
We always just used 2"x4" wooden Xs (cross pieces were screwed together) that could be turned in one direction for low cavalletti, or rotated 90 degrees for taller ones. They cost almost nothing to make, although they are heavier to move around than plastic. But they can be painted if you’re feeling fancy… 
I need the poles to be raised about 9 or so inches off the ground (I use them as canter cavalletti and as placing rails for jumps), and had some GREAT cavalletti ends built by my dear, late father; he was quite the carpenter.
He built them as Xes out of wood with varying height options - one side had a plywood fill with a cut out for a pole to rest on, and he drilled a pole sized hole in the center so there were a total of 3 heights depending on how you set them on the ground and where you placed the pole. They were incredibly useful, and I had them for a LONG time at my last boarding barn, but they sat out for years and started to degrade (I left them there when I changed barns, had bred my mare and moved to a farm where her filly could grow up, and there was no need for them during the first few years of her life.)
My husband (though he did build me a great mounting block) is not quite a handy as my father was - and no WAY I could do anything like this even if I had the skills since my hand arthritis has gotten pretty bad.
The potty chairs are great since they are lightweight and can just be put in the corner when not in use. The “Bloc system” is also handy (though they tend to retain water!), but they are quite spendy. I actually heard about the Potties on COTH!
I use cinderblocks, personally.
Cheap, easy to come by, and they don’t move… but they are a PITA to move.
I’ve had the Rail Razers, and they’re awesome in theory but way too light; my lazy horses knock them over easily. I bought 8 (2 packages) and have ended up almost never using them because they just don’t hold poles well. Even a light rub ends up knocking them out of the cup, and I use wood poles!
You can buy them here:
https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/rail-razers-14509
I got the Horsemen’s Pride blocks too. They’re also good, but they get heavy with water.
My issue with the lighter-weight stuff is it doesn’t hold the rails well and in storms they blow away in the wind. Cinderblocks never let me down - they hold the rail snug, they’re just heavy and a PITA to move.
Yes, similar to the ones my father built (though he got creative so there were multiple options 
), we’ve talked about building something like this but with my husband working two jobs, the time is rarely there…(He did build me jump standards as well as a mounting block about 15 years ago, but he was less busy then.)
A good option, though. We used to have actual cavalletti at our barn but their owners moved to their own place and took them along (ironically, they never used them!)
If you buy the potty chairs from Amazon, only get multiples of one, the two pack costs more per items than the single unit price.
Rail Razers sound great, but at $30 per? (Or probably $30 per pair), that gets spendy.
Cinderblocks! Maybe if I had my own place and could leave them where they were (or this was 20 years ago before my bad back) that would be good option. Alas, I have to move everything out in order for the BM to drag the ring, then drag it all back when I want to use it. When I set up one of my gymnastic exercises - along with a mini course - I use LOTS of poles and standards, and it takes my poor back (even when using my back brace for support) a day or two to recover.
This getting old business really blows. 
I wound up buying them off Amazon, they allowed you to buy them individually but only up to 7 - so I got 6. If I need more I can always order more, since I have Prime, shipping was free
My trainer grabbed a bunch of deck rail planters similar to these when they went on the end-of-season sale a few years back - I think they were only $2-3 each. Flip them upside down and lay the pole where the planter sits on the deck rail. They are super light weight, so easy to move and they stack to store, but since they are light weight, they will get knocked over if the pole is hit with more than a light brush.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bloem-12-x-8-75-White-Modica-Plastic-Deck-Rail-Planter-MR1210/206751675
Wow, that’s brilliant!! Will have to stop by our local Home Depot and poke around
Luckily my mare rarely hits poles (probably because I do some much pole work, LOL!)
LOVE the home deport planter idea(s) and they come in different heights, oops i mean sizes.
They’re $30 for four! Otherwise I would have never bought them either.
Ahhhhh. :encouragement:
Lol am I the only one who would feel too silly using that? I was going to recommend the Rail Razers too.
:lol:
Luckily I am the only rider who jumps at my barn, and one of a small handful who even use the ring - no one cares what I put up in there (or notices, really), and as a result I can pretty much do what I like…
Also, I’m old - so care less about what others think of me ðŸ˜
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