It's probably redundant to say that I know a thing (or two) about equestrian poles. If you haven't followed my story, this business began in 2020 as simply: "Copper Pony Poles."
I've personally painted hundreds of poles and spent countless hours researching lumber, finish, supply, paint and various types of jump poles - not to mention planning fun patterns for future pole collections!
Here is a quick summary of the three main types I currently have available, along with approximate prices and a couple points on what sets each type apart.
Option No. 1 - Copper Pony Poles
Brand: Copper Pony Poles
Specifications: 8FT, 4FT or 5FT length, 3.15" diameter
Price: $40 - $60.00 CAD / each (regular, in stock patterns, sold in sets)
Copper Pony Poles are painted "heartwood" rails. They are a mill bi-product and made with fir harvested from sustainably managed Vancouver Island forests.
They are dried, sanded throughly, filled, sanded again, primed and painted with 2 - 3 coats of exterior commercial acrylic paint. The resulting poles are an excellent value for the price and can be customized on request.
I also make a selection of unique poles that are seasonally available. (All sorts: unicorns, stars, horse shoes, skulls + roses, ghosts, halloween + autumn themes, candy canes, snowflakes and more!)
There are two drawbacks:
- They require maintenance and proper care to stay looking their best; and
- They are no longer available in 10' length (due to supply issues).
Maintenance notes: while our paint is the best option for this application, like all paint it will crack and chip with use. For best performance, store your Copper Pony Poles off the ground, spaced apart, out of the elements (ideally), and touch up as needed.
Option No. 2 - Zero Maintenance Novice Poles
Brand: Classic Show Jumps
Specifications: 3"diameter, 3 meters long
Price: $115 / each ****NOW $86.25 EACH WHILE QUANTITIES LAST****
I am the exclusive North American retailer for Classic and have a nice stock of their rails on hand. They come in 12 different colour choices and are sold individually. These poles don't chip or require maintenance and I've found that hoof strikes simply wipe off. Nice!
These poles are ideal for novice use like low jumps, ground work and obstacles. They have some flex when struck and are on the lighter side (a couple pounds lighter than a dry SPF wood rail of the same dimensions).
They are an excellent choice if you want a lightweight pole in the 10' length that can withstand abuse, the elements and don't require any special storage or care. The only thing to watch out for is that they are store flat in extremely hot weather.
Option No. 3 - Zero Maintenance Poly Wrap Wood Poles
Specifications:
Diameter: 4" / 100mm
Lengths: 1.8m, 2m, 3m and 3.5 meter lengths
Weight: light, middle, heavy or super heavy (weight options dependent on length)
Brand: Jump 4 Joy Show Jumps (I'm the exclusive Canadian Retailer)
Price: Approximately $70 - $140 / each (dependant on pattern, length and weight)
In all honestly, these are one of my favourite products. They have the weight and rigidity of wood, without the maintenance! These poly wrapped wood poles are fully customizable by length, pattern, colour and weight with a 5 year manufacturer's guarantee.
The biggest drawback? Jump 4 Joy poles are currently a special order item, so need to be ordered well in advance.
Phewf! I think I covered it all.
What do you think? Let me know if you have any questions!
