Horse Jump and Methods of Use

Abstract

An improved horse jump that automates the height adjustment with motors controlled by a wired or wireless network to allow a mounted rider or an unmounted rider to select the height of each jump on a course. The horse jump also provides a retrieval system for returning a displaced rail back to the cup for the next jumper.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . A horse jump comprising:
 a base;   a post supported by the base;   a motor supported by the base;   an actuator adjacent the post and in mechanical communication with the motor;   a communications module in electronic communications with the motor; and   a coupler engaged with the actuator and configured to advance along the primary axis of the post.   
     
     
         2 . The horse jump of  claim 1  further comprising a hinge wherein the hinge allows a portion of the post to pivot. 
     
     
         3 . The horse jump of  claim 1  wherein the hinge is biased towards an upright position. 
     
     
         4 . The horse jump of  claim 1  wherein the motor is disposed within the post. 
     
     
         5 . The horse jump of  claim 1  wherein the actuator is a threaded screw. 
     
     
         6 . The horse jump of  claim 1  wherein the coupler abuts the post. 
     
     
         7 . The horse jump of  claim 1  further comprising a wireless network wherein the communications module links the wireless network to the motor. 
     
     
         8 . The horse jump of  claim 1  further comprising a remote control in connection with the wireless network whereby the height of a plurality of horse jumps can be set. 
     
     
         9 . The horse jump of  claim 1  wherein the post further comprises an access track in the post. 
     
     
         10 . The horse jump of  claim 1  wherein the post comprises a first interior sleeve and a second exterior sleeve wherein the actuator actuates the second sleeve to axially extend the primary axis length of the post. 
     
     
         11 . A horse jump comprising:
 a base;   a hollow post supported by the base;   a post sleeve sheathed over the hollow post wherein the post telescope sleeve is configured to telescopically extend beyond the distal end of the post;   an actuator disposed adjacent within the hollow post and configured to actuate the post sleeve;   a motor in mechanical communication with the actuator wherein the motor is configured to drive the actuator; and   a coupler mechanically engaged with the actuator wherein the actuator is configured to translate the coupler axially along the post.   
     
     
         12 . The horse jump of  claim 11  further comprising a stabilizer configured to orient the coupler in relation to the actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The horse jump of  claim 11  wherein the actuator further comprises a chain and sprocket wherein a first sprocket is fixed to a first end of the post and a second sprocket is fixed to a second end of the post and a chain coupling the first sprocket to the second sprocket. 
     
     
         14 . The horse jump of  claim 11  wherein the coupler circumscribes the sleeve. 
     
     
         15 . The horse jump of  claim 11  wherein the sleeve comprises a keyhole track. 
     
     
         16 . A method of setting the height of a plurality of horse jumps comprising:
 connecting a plurality of a horse jumps to a processor wherein each horse jump comprises:
 a base; 
 a motor supported by the base; 
 an actuator extending orthogonally from the base and in mechanical communication with the motor so as the motor can rotate the screw in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction; 
 a nut circumscribing the screw and configured to actuate axially along the primary axis of the screw wherein the nut supports a cross-bar; 
   sending instructions from a terminal to the processor to set each horse jump to a pre-determined height; and   actuating the nut to the instructed height.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising a wireless network wherein the instructions are sent wirelessly from the terminal to the processor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising a scanning a badge worn wherein the badge comprises the instructions. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the instructions are pre-programmed on the terminal. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the instructions are configured to be set manually by a user.