I’ve specialized in the design and construction of jumps used in competitive horse trials—or “eventing”—since 1974. An Olympic sport, an eventing competition is best described as an equestrian triathlon where paired horse and rider teams compete in three riding disciplines: dressage, stadium jumping, and cross-country jumping. (I’ve had the great fortune of being part of the equestrian building team for both the 1984 Los Angeles and 1996 Atlanta summer Olympics).

A paired horse and rider team jumps a cross-country jump built by the author. (Special thanks to Joan Davis of Flatlandsfoto for eventing photography.)
Joan Davis, Flatlandsfoto A paired horse and rider team jumps a cross-country jump built by the author. (Special thanks to Joan Davis of Flatlandsfoto for eventing photography.)

During the dressage phase, the rider and horse must illustrate a graceful partnership through a sequence of movements on level ground, while the show-jumping portion tests the pair’s precision as they clear a course of fences (see photos below).

Cross-country jumping challenges the bravery and fitness of the horse and rider as they navigate a series of obstacles and varied terrain. The team must complete each riding discipline and competitors accumulate penalty points in each phase. The pair with the lowest score wins. Typically, the dressage portion of eventing takes about 8 minutes to complete, while stadium jumping and cross-country jumping take approximately 2 minutes and 5 minutes, respectively.

Portable jumps. The biggest part of my business as an equestrian contractor is building the cross-country jumps used in eventing competitions. There are two types of cross-country jumps, permanent and portable. Permanent jumps feature items such as lined ponds, ditches, and fixed structures (typically log posts set into the ground with a horizontal log strapped to them). Portable jumps vary from 24 to 42 inches high by 8 to 16 feet long and are moved around with tractors.

Built to withstand a blow from a jumping horse and to live outside year round, portable jumps are made out of durable materials such as pressure-treated wood, common residential siding products, and with increasing frequency, synthetic trim and roofing—cellular PVC and faux slate and shakes.

I construct the jumps out of heavy-duty ribs made from 2-by and 4-by pressure-treated stock attached to 4x6 skids (two long pieces of pressure-treated wood that are essentially the foundation of the jump). I use a mixture of screws, metal clips, plates, and ties from FastenMaster and Simpson Strong-Tie to tie everything together before I sheathe the structure.

Cross-country jumps are typically built on 6-by pressure-treated skids, which serve as the jump’s foundation (left). These “portable” jumps are moved around using tractors (lifted up by the skids with forklift attachments). Here, the author assembles a jump’s beefy ribs made from 2-by and 4-by pressure-treated stock (right).
Left and right photos by Jonathan Mishkin Cross-country jumps are typically built on 6-by pressure-treated skids, which serve as the jump’s foundation (left). These “portable” jumps are moved around using tractors (lifted up by the skids with forklift attachments). Here, the author assembles a jump’s beefy ribs made from 2-by and 4-by pressure-treated stock (right).
A mixture of screws, metal clips, plates, and ties from FastenMaster and Simpson Strong-Tie are used to tie everything together before sheathing the structure.
Chris Milanesi A mixture of screws, metal clips, plates, and ties from FastenMaster and Simpson Strong-Tie are used to tie everything together before sheathing the structure.

Keeping up to date. I make it a point to attend JLC Live yearly to visit manufacturer’s booths, on the lookout for new connection hardware and fasteners as well as new, durable building materials I can use to highlight my jumps. I recently completed a barn structure using Versatex PVC trim. I routed grooves in the pressure-treated 2x6 roofing to simulate three-tab shingles, prior to applying a stain finish.

A recently completed a barn-style jump.
Chris Milanesi A recently completed a barn-style jump.
Trapezoidal-shaped “coop” jumps are commonly used in eventing. Jumps are often stored outside, so they have to be built out of durable materials.
Chris Milanesi Trapezoidal-shaped “coop” jumps are commonly used in eventing. Jumps are often stored outside, so they have to be built out of durable materials.
“Feeder” style jumps, like the one above built by the author, get their name from the open space between the rounded top and bottom platform.
Chris Milanesi “Feeder” style jumps, like the one above built by the author, get their name from the open space between the rounded top and bottom platform.
Show jumps or stadium jumps have painted rails (left) set in metal jump cups, which allow the rails to break away easily if clipped by a horse (right). The metal jump cups allow for height adjustability on wing stands on either side of the rails.
Left, Joan Davis, Flatlandsfoto; right, Burlingham Sports Show jumps or stadium jumps have painted rails (left) set in metal jump cups, which allow the rails to break away easily if clipped by a horse (right). The metal jump cups allow for height adjustability on wing stands on either side of the rails.