I need help building a homemade roll top jump?

Question

i just moved and had to switch stables. the barn i moved to only has a few basic jumps setup and i would really like a roll top. i am very handy (as is my boyfriend) and we have access to almost any tool you could possible find in a hardware store, so we want to build one. does anyone know of a website that has some instructions and maybe a picture for reference? or could anyone help me with how to build one from personal experience?

i already have a bunch of 2x4's, a piece of plywood for the front, and the astro-turf to cover it once its in place. the main problem i'm having is figuring out how to frame it out before bending the piece of wood over the front and nailing it in place(we already know how we are going to do that). if anyone has some pictures of the inside of roll top that would be helpful as i obviously don't have access to one myself right now. or if you have any ideas on how to frame it please let me know.

any and all help is appreciated. thanks in advance.

Answer 1

I've seen different kinds, made in different ways.  Do you mean the kind that's like a quarter of a tube?  

For myself, if I was going to build one, I'd make the supports out of 3/4 inch treated plywood.  Use a nail with a string and pencil attached to trace out the quarter circle with the corner of the sheet of plywood being the corner of the support - that way, your jump support is square and true.  Cut out one of these for every two to four feet of the jump's width.

Attach your circular supports together with the 2x4's across the back and the bottom.  I would use one long 2x4 across the entire back of the jump on the bottom, and then shorter 2x4 pieces between each support.   So you would have the support nailed to the short 2/4 from the side (straight in the free side, toed in the other side), then the next support, the next short one, the next support, and so on.  Then nail all the short 2x4's to the long 2x4 for strength and rigidity.

For safety, do the same thing at the top edge of the jump.

Assuming you are using a heavy enough piece of plywood for the front, you won't need additional 2x4's.  The plywood will stiffen and support the front end of the rolltop.

I'm not sure I'd use plywood there, though you certainly can.  I'd use 1x2 or 1x3 oak slats, nailed to the quarter round supports.  This is less likely to break and splinter if it gets stepped on, in my opinion.

Be sure to use treated wood and build it to withstand a horse hitting it hard.  Try to make sure that if it breaks, it will break in such a way as not to hurt the horse.

Solid is good.  I hope you can use these ideas or modify them to fit your needs.

Good Luck!

Edit:  Here're a couple websites that show alternative structures:

http://www.rushdenlane.com.au/

http://www.obstacle-cross.com/obstaclesm...