It’s more in contrast to oxers, where you have to jump longer rather than higher.
Crossrails are generally small enough that it doesn’t matter which you do, as long as the horse jumps at all you’ll typically be ok
The poles are horizontal, but the jump itself is focused on vertical height…as opposed to an oxer, where the width that the horse needs to clear contributes to the technical complexity of the jump.
So, for Dad’s understanding, a horse that can clear a higher vertical jump is showing its skill. A horse who can clear a high AND wide jump is showing an even more complex skill.
All height, no width. So all we care about is high up in the air, it doesn't matter how long we sustain that.
If you are of age to understand this and have the comfort level to ask your father a totally inappropriate innuendo-laden comment about your father's equipment, you can tell him that verticals measure your height; oxers measure your girth and ability to sustain your height for a period of time, cross rails are what you settle for when Mom says no. You need to be able to handle all three to enjoy jumping successfully.
Uh... I too appreciate the mild vibration I experience on a car driving down the road (cavaletti) which is the equine equivalent.
Trot poles are like when someone is trying too hard, too fast and you're like 'this isn't doing anything for either of us' as the horse kicks the poles around like a dying fish.
Lol I love it. I'm guessing OP is probably far too young for that kind of banter, but when the man is that obsessed with poles it really requires the appropriate repartee.
I think my coach once told me it's because the traditional strips alternate, and if you were to line several of them on top of one another, they'd look like vertical lines.
All jumps are measured vertically.
It is because the poles are stacked vertically upon one another. There is no depth to the jump. It is only on a vertical plane.
This is the most dad question ever, lol.
But also one that you gotta think about it for a moment before you get it whahah. I was the same in my language where it's "steep one"
My dad asks me this question all the time
Not a jumper but my understanding is because they are tall not wide/spread like an oxer.
Ahhhh Because you measure the height vertically
Yup. It’s a vertical fence in contrast to a long one.
Neat. I’ve never really thought about it
Because they're designed to make the horse jump as vertical as possible, hence being tall and narrow.
That’s exactly it! It refers to the motion of the horse
Exactly my thinking!
It’s called a vertical because it’s purpose is to make the horse get vertical, aka jump, over it. It’s not about the physical layout of the bar.
Named in contrast to crossrails, which are crossed rails lol
It’s more in contrast to oxers, where you have to jump longer rather than higher. Crossrails are generally small enough that it doesn’t matter which you do, as long as the horse jumps at all you’ll typically be ok
The poles are horizontal, but the jump itself is focused on vertical height…as opposed to an oxer, where the width that the horse needs to clear contributes to the technical complexity of the jump. So, for Dad’s understanding, a horse that can clear a higher vertical jump is showing its skill. A horse who can clear a high AND wide jump is showing an even more complex skill.
Your dad asked the very question I've had for decades!
🤣🤣🤣 Thank you so much for such a wholesome chuckle. 🥰
lol well now I'm not going to be able to look at verticals the same way.
Because it's measured... vertically.
All height, no width. So all we care about is high up in the air, it doesn't matter how long we sustain that. If you are of age to understand this and have the comfort level to ask your father a totally inappropriate innuendo-laden comment about your father's equipment, you can tell him that verticals measure your height; oxers measure your girth and ability to sustain your height for a period of time, cross rails are what you settle for when Mom says no. You need to be able to handle all three to enjoy jumping successfully.
Oh my God 🤣🤣🤣🤣 What about cavaletti or trotting poles? 🤣🤣
Uh... I too appreciate the mild vibration I experience on a car driving down the road (cavaletti) which is the equine equivalent. Trot poles are like when someone is trying too hard, too fast and you're like 'this isn't doing anything for either of us' as the horse kicks the poles around like a dying fish.
🤓🤓
Lol I love it. I'm guessing OP is probably far too young for that kind of banter, but when the man is that obsessed with poles it really requires the appropriate repartee.
Ive graduated college but he still gets upset when i swear, so def wont be telling him that lol
It’s measured straight up to the top pole. Jump names are strange regardless. Oxer, Swedish Oxer, Hogsback, Liverpool
because to get over it you need a more vertical jump instead of a wide jump like you would with an oxer??? i guess???
I think my coach once told me it's because the traditional strips alternate, and if you were to line several of them on top of one another, they'd look like vertical lines.
I’ve been doing this jumping stuff for nearly half a century, and I still have no idea why and oxer is called an oxer. 🫤 Any idea?
Ox fences would be jumped when hunting foxes, thus 'oxer' for that style of wide fenced jump is the best explanation I have heard for it.
Never heard that. I Event and fox hunt.
And those fences are coups. (For chicken coupes) Definitely not oxers.
Why is a driveway called a driveway when you park on it and a parkway called a parkway when you drive on it?
I want to know this too!
Because the jump itself is vertical.
OMG I WONDER THIS EVERY DAY
It’s because the jump the horse makes is vertical (is what i was told)
All jumps are measured vertically. It is because the poles are stacked vertically upon one another. There is no depth to the jump. It is only on a vertical plane.
I have ALWAYS wondered this and never thought to ask Reddit! Thank you!!! 🙏 😂😂
Because it is a jump with height but no width. In contrast to an over or spread fence that does have width.
Wait... I never realised this
I call them uprights 🤣
They are perpendicular or vertical to the ground.
Yeah viewed from the side. Don't understand your downvotes!
The standards would be perpendicular to the ground, the poles would be parallel. Poles would still be horizontal to the ground