Abstract:
A rolling jump cup for use with an adjustable equestrian barrier includes a body with rollers surrounding an equestrian barrier post, and a jump cup for holding a rail.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to equestrian barriers and, in particular to a rolling jump cup for use with an equestrian barrier.  
         [0002]     Existing training and show jumping courses for equestrian jumping typically include a number of static jump barriers each consisting of a pair of standards and one or more rails extending between the standards which a horse must clear. When training a horse it is often desirable to vary the height of the rail, moving it up and down from jump to jump to help the horse gain confidence. However, as the rider guides the horse around the ring, either another person must adjust the rail height, or the rider must stop, dismount and adjust the height of the rail. This procedure is often disruptive to the horse causing the horse to lose its rhythm and consequently its confidence.  
         [0003]     At a show or competition, a course of equestrian jumps is set up. From class to class or age group to age group, the heights of the rails must be changed. The rails are adjusted manually according to the show schedule. This often results in a description to the flow of the competition, requires many workers, and is subject to errors as the rails are adjusted from one height to another around the course.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention includes a remotely controlled jump cup adjustment mechanism secured to each standard. The height of the rail may be adjusted up or down incrementally or to one of many preset heights. The present invention includes a transmitter and receiver. The receiver provides input to a motor control circuit which may include a microprocessor, which in turn operates a pair of motors, one for each side of the rail. Each motor is linked to a sliding or rolling cup which travels up and down the standard to adjust the height of the rail between the two standards.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a prior art equestrian jump.  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the remotely adjustable equestrian barrier of the present invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged front view of one of the posts of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the jump cup of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0009]      FIG. 5  is a sectional plan view of the primary motor control housing of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 6  is a sectional side elevational view of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 7  is a sectional plan view of the secondary motor housing of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 8  is a diagram of the motor control circuit.  
         [0013]      FIG. 9  is an illustration of a remote control unit.  
         [0014]      FIG. 10  is an illustration of compact remote control unit.  
         [0015]      FIGS. 11-16  are software flow charts illustrating the system software.  
         [0016]      FIG. 17  is a front elevational view of a collapsible equestrian barrier with the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 18  is a front elevational view of a bottom-mounted controller housing.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a prior art horse jump is generally indicated by reference numeral  10 . Horse jump  20  includes a pair of upright standards  22  and  24  which are each typically constructed of an upright 4″×4″ pressure treated post and a base  26  and  28 .  
         [0019]     A rail  30  extends between standards  22  and  24  and rests in jump cups  32  and  34 . Rail  30  may be vertically adjusted by removing the rail pins (not shown) which extend through apertures  38  and  40  in jump cups  32  and  34  and apertures  42  and  44  in standards  22  and  24  and moving the jumps cup  32  and  34  to the desired height and reinserting the pins to secure the jump cup at the desired height. Apertures  42  and  44  are typically spaced three inches apart to allow incremental manual adjustment of the height of rail  30  above the ground.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the remotely adjustable equestrian barrier of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral  50 . Remotely adjustable equestrian barrier  50  includes a primary motor control housing  52  and a secondary motor housing  54  which are secure to posts  22  and  24 . Rail  30  extends between rolling jump cups  56  and  58  which are linked to primary control housing  52  and secondary motor housing  54  by lines  60  and  62  respectively. A power and control wire  64  extends from the primary motor control housing  52  to the secondary motor housing  54 . Typically wire  64  is covered with a thin layer of earth or otherwise concealed between posts  22  and  24  so at to make it invisible to the horse and rider.  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , primary motor control housing  52  is attached to the top of post  22 . A line  60  extends from housing  52  and attaches to rolling jump cup  56 . Jump cup  56  includes a generally U-shaped bracket  57 , four rollers  66  extending between the legs of bracket  57  and which freely ride on the outside surfaces of post  22 , a rail support cup  68  and aperture  70 , which allows the jump cup  56  to be used in the conventional manner and temporarily secured to post  22  using a locking pin (not shown). Jump cup  56  may be constructed from a 5″×5″ square tube with four pairs of rollers on the inside of all sides (not shown).  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , primary motor control housing  52  includes a motor  80  and shaft  82 , an encoder wheel  84 , and encoder wheel shaft  85 , a rotation sensor  86  and a controller circuit board  90 . The controller circuit board  90  includes a microprocessor  112 , a primary motor controller  92 , a secondary motor controller  94 , a RF receiver/decoder  96  and a signal booster  97 . A post mounting bracket  98  secures the housing  52  to the top of a post  22 . Secondary motor housing  54  includes a motor  100  and shaft  102 , a rotation sensor  104 , encoder wheel  106  and an encoder wheel shaft (not shown).  
         [0023]     Primary and secondary housings  52  and  54  may be constructed of plywood or other material such as high-strength plastic. In the typical equestrian arena, jumps are typically made of wood or plastic to protect the horses and riders.  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the controller circuit  90  receives power from a 12-volt DC battery  110 . Controller circuit  90  includes a microprocessor  112  with a memory  114 . Microprocessor  112  receives commands from receiver/decoder  96  from antenna  116  to change the height of a rail, for example. Microprocessor  112  sends “up” or “down” commands to the primary motor controller  92  and the secondary motor controller  94  which direct the rotation of motors  80  and  100 . Motors  80  and  100  rotate shafts  82  and  102  which turn encoder wheels  84  and  106  on encoder shaft  85  and the secondary encoder shaft (not shown) respectively. As the encoder wheels  84  and  106  turn, rotation sensors  86  and  108  detect the marks on the encoder wheels  84  and  106  which are counted by microprocessor  112  to determine the incremental distance a rail has moved. When the desired position is reached, microprocessor  112  disables the motor controller  92  and  94  which in turn stop motors  80  and  100 . Encoder wheels  84  and  106  may be secured directly to shafts  82  and  102  eliminating the need for a second encoder shaft.  
         [0025]     In the preferred embodiment, processor  112  may be a BasicX BX-24 processor chip for example. A BX-24 development board may be used to mount the processor  112  and RF receiver  96 . An X10 RF transmitter may be used to transmit RF to the signal booster  97  and receiver  96 . In small arenas signal booster  97  may not be needed. These transmitters provide digitally encoded signals, are inexpensive and come in several sizes from a key chain attachable unit to desktop size units. A Saturn L-series windshield motor may be used for drive motors  80  and  100 . The Saturn windshield motor includes a 90 degree worm gear drive shaft and is capable of forward and reverse operation. Stepper motors may also be used obviating the need for the rotational sensors  86  and  108  and encoder wheels  84  and  106 . A Dacron® line may be used to link the drive shafts to the rolling jump cups. Chain, wire or other string may also be used. The motor housings  52  and  54  may be glued or otherwise fastened together. Two high power H-bridge drives available from Robotics HK of Hong Kong may be used to control the motors.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , remote control units  130  and  132  are illustrated. Remote control unit  130  provides eighteen position buttons  134  and a 2-position selector switch  136 . When one of the buttons  134  is depressed, position transmitter  130  sends an encoded signal to antenna  116  and receiver/decoder  116  in the primary motor control housing  52 . When the selector switch  136  is in the A-position and the button pushed is button  3  through  16 , the encoded signal is interpreted by the microprocessor  112  as incremental direction information. When selector switch  136  is in the B-position, the encoded signal is interpreted as position information or a store command to save the current position for a particular button  134 .  
         [0027]     Remote control unit  132  is a smaller, compact transmitter with buttons  138  which may be used in a similar way as remote control unit  130 . Remote control unit may be more conveniently carried by a rider to dynamically change the height of a jump while riding a horse during a training or practice session.  
         [0028]     Remote control units  130  and  132  are preferably radio frequency (RF) transmitters. However, other transmitters such as optical or infrared transmitters or a hardwired data link for a fixed system may be used.  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIG. 9  the selector switch  136  may be set to either the “A” or “B”. Referring to  FIG. 10  there is no selector switch and the unit is always in the “A” mode.  
         [0030]     When the jump unit is first powered up the microprocessor sets the system to mode 0 (zero). No controller functionality is available other than mode selection until a mode is actually selected by pressing either button  1  or button  2 .  
         [0031]     When a button is depressed a digital signal is sent from the transmitter  130  or  132  to the receiver  96 . Embedded within this signal is not only the identity of the particular button pressed but also the setting of the A/B selector switch. Every button press transmits the position of the A/B selector switch.  
         [0032]     Buttons  1  and  2  on the controllers  130  and  132  may be used to set the mode under which the microprocessor operates. When the selector switch  136  is in the “A” position mode  2  or  1  may be selected by pressing either button  1  or button  2 . When the selector switch is in the “B” position mode  3  or  4  may be selected by pressing button  1  or button  2 . Controller  132  lacks a selector switch and is therefore in the “A” mode and thus only modes  1  or  2  may be selected.  
         [0033]     When the power is first turned on the system is in the mode 0 state. There are a total of four operational modes plus the startup mode that exists until one of the modes is selected. Button  1  or  2  (in either selector switch position “A” or “B” position) may be pressed to activate one of the four modes of operation. Buttons  3  through  18  may have no functionality until an operational mode is selected.  
         [0034]     Once a mode is selected buttons  3  through  16  provide different functionality depending on which mode is selected. Once a mode is selected buttons  17  and  18  buttons provide the same functionality in all four operational modes. Button  17  being depressed causes the jump rail to be lowered in three-inch increments. Button  18  being depressed causes the jump rail to rise in three-inch increments.  
         [0035]     With the selector switch  136  is in position “A” when button  1  is depressed the microprocessor program enters mode  2 . Mode  2  is a set up mode. It is used to make two different adjustments to the jump rail  30  ( FIG. 2 ). First, the rail may be adjusted so that the rail is at the top of the range of movement that it will attain in all other modes of operation. This is the zero position. Once the zero position is established, the rail may not move any higher. Second, the position of the two cups  56  and  58  ( FIG. 2 ) may be adjusted so that each jump cup is of equal distance above the ground and so that the rail  30  will be generally parallel to the ground. If the ground is not level, the jump cups  56  and  58  may be independently adjusted so that the rail  30  is generally level.  
         [0036]     The height of the jump cups  56  and  58  may also be established using a laser or laser range finder (not shown) mounted on the housings  52  and  54  pointing at the top of rail  30  or mounted on the lower side of each jump cup pointing at the ground or the bases  26  and  28 , for example. Input from the laser in the form of digital data may be used by the microprocessor  112  to calculate the height of the rail  30  and to adjust it accordingly.  
         [0037]     While in mode  2  the jump cups may be adjusted together in a downward direction by depressing buttons  13 ,  15  or  17 . Button  13  causes both cups  56  and  58  to descend by one increment of the rotational sensor. Button  15  causes both cups to descend by one inch as detected by the rotational sensors. Button  17  causes both cups to descend by three inches as detected by both rotational sensors. The buttons directly adjacent to buttons  13 ,  15  and  17  are respectively buttons  14 ,  16  and  18 . Buttons  14 ,  16  and  18  being depressed cause both cups to raise by 1 increment, 1 inch and 3 inches respectively. By using these buttons one can precisely position both cups at the top of the range of motion that will be allowed in other modes of operation.  
         [0038]     While in mode  2  the cup  56  attached to the primary controller box  52  ( FIG. 2 ) is adjusted in a downward direction by depressing buttons  3 ,  5 , and  7 . Button  3  causes cup  56  to descend by one increment of the rotational sensor. Button  5  causes cup  56  to descend by one inch as detected by the rotational sensor. Button  7  causes cup  56  to descend by three inches as detected by the rotational sensor. The buttons directly adjacent to buttons  3 ,  5  and  7  are respectively buttons  4 ,  6  and  8 . Buttons  4 ,  6  and  8  being depressed will cause cup  56  to raise by 1 increment, 1 inch and 3 inches respectively. By using these buttons one can precisely align cup  56  so that it is at the same level above the ground as cup  58 . In mode  2  buttons  9  through  12  have no function and the microprocessor ignores the signals received when any of these buttons is depressed.  
         [0039]     Once the two cups  56  and  58  are at an equal distance above the ground and at the extreme top of the range of movement button  2  is pressed to enter mode  1 . With the selector switch in position “A” depressing button  2  enters mode  1 . Mode  1  is the run or operational mode and the buttons of the controller when depressed cause both jump cups  56  and  58  to move. In mode  1  buttons  17  and  18  cause both jump cups to lower or rise in three-inch increments respectively. The jump cups will rise to the upper limit of movement that is set in mode  2  and will lower all the way to the ground.  
         [0040]     Buttons  3  through  16  being depressed will cause both cups to move to a preprogrammed height. If the jump is set in mode  2  so that 4′3″ is the top of the range of motion the depressing of buttons  3  through  16  may cause the cups to move to various heights above the ground between 4′3″ and 1′0″, for example. If the jump is set in mode  2  so that 5′3″ is the top of the range of motion the depressing of buttons  3  through  16  may cause the cups to move to various heights above the ground between 5′3″ and 2′0″, for example. The incremental distance moved when a button is depressed is typically in sets of 3″ as this is the traditional increment used for most horse jumps.  
         [0041]     Moving the selector switch to position “B” and depressing the  1  button enters mode  4 . In mode  4  buttons  17  and  18  cause the two jump cups to move up and down in three-inch increments. When buttons  3  through  16  are depressed in mode  4  they record the present height of the jump in association with the specific button pressed. Thus, the jump cups may be moved to any height above the ground using buttons  17  and  18  and then associate a specific button with that height above the ground. All of the buttons may be programmed to register different heights, the same height or any combination of different and same heights. The buttons may be programmed independently of each other. When power to the jump is shut off or when a different mode is entered the button settings as programmed in mode  4  are saved.  
         [0042]     With the selector switch in position “B” depressing the 2 button  FIG. 9  causes the microcomputer/jump to enter mode  3 . In mode  3  when a button ( 3  through  16 ) is depressed the jump cups move to the height that was associated with the specific button during mode  4  programming. Buttons  17  and  18  still function to either raise or lower the cups in 3-inch increments.  
         [0043]     Referring to  FIGS. 11-14 , the control software for microprocessor  112  is illustrated. Generally, the software operates in a continuous loop to position the rail based on commands received from a remote control unit  130  or  132 . In position A, run mode, pressing one of the position buttons  3  through  16  causes the system to move the rail to a preset height. For example, pressing button  3  may move the rail to four feet. Pressing button  4  may move the rail to four feet three inches. Pressing button  5  may move the rail to three feet six inches. Pressing button  6  may move the rail to three feet nine inches. Pressing button  17  may move the rail down three inches and pressing button  18  may move the rail up three inches from the present location. If the rail is at the correct height, for example two feet, and the button assigned to two feet (button  11 ) is pressed again, the system “nods” by moving the rail down an inch and then back up to the correct height of two feet to let the rider know that the signal was received.  
         [0044]     When the system starts, the rail moves to a preset position corresponding to two feet, for example. The typical post height is 66 inches, so the rail may move from ground level up to approximately 66 inches. The operator measures the height of the rail and then adjusts the height using the remote until the rail is level and at two feet, for example. Once the preset position is established, the height of the rail may be changed by pushing the buttons on the remote  130  or  132  which moves the jump to the position associated with the button pushed. A button may be associated with a specific height of the jump such as eighteen inches, for example. Or a button may be associated with an incremental adjustment of the jump height, such as up or down three inches.  
         [0045]     In the preferred embodiment, the system starts as indicated by block  200 , and looks for a signal from a remote, block  202 . If no input signal is present, decision block  204 , the system loops back and waits for an input signal. If an input signal is present, the signal is decoded, block  206 . With each push of a button on the remote, both the position of the selector switch and the identity of the button is transmitted. If the selector switch is in the A-position, decision block  208 , the identity of the button is determined. If button  1  is pressed, decision block  210 , the system enters the programming mode  2  and the target height, rail height primary and rail height secondary variables are set to a value of 500, which is a preset position of three feet, block  212 , for example.  
         [0046]     In the programming mode  2 , the rail height is moved to the preset position, measured and adjusted if necessary and then set and stored in the memory to orient or calibrate the microprocessor. If button  1  is pressed, decision block  210 , then the other buttons are used to position and level the rail. If button  2  is pressed, decision block  214 , the settings are saved, the variables are set to zero and the system enters the run mode, block  216 . If button  3  is pressed, decision block  218 , one is added to the rail height primary variable, block  220 . If button  4  is pressed, decision block  222 , one is subtracted from the rail height primary variable, block  224 . If button  5  is pressed, decision block  226 , the scaling factor is added to the rail height primary variable, block  228 . If button  6  is pressed, decision block  230 , the scaling factor is subtracted from the rail height primary variable, block  232 . If button  7  is pressed, decision block  234 , three times the scaling factor is added to the rail height primary variable, block  236 . If button  8  is pressed, decision block  238 , three times the scaling factor is subtracted from the rail height primary variable, block  240 . In this manner, adjusting the height of the primary side of the rail independently from the secondary side of the rail, the rail may be leveled.  
         [0047]     If button  13  is pressed, decision block  242 , one is added to the target height variable, block  244 . If button  14  is pressed, decision block  246 , one is subtracted from the target height variable, block  248 . If button  15  is pressed, decision block  250 , the scaling factor is added to the target height variable, block  252 . If button  16  is pressed, decision block  254 , the scaling factor is subtracted from the target height variable, block  256 . If button  17  is pressed, decision block  258 , three times the scaling factor is added to target height variable, block  260 . If button  18  is pressed, decision block  262 , three times the scaling factor is subtracted from target height variable, block  264 . Once the rail height is adjusted and leveled and button  2  is pressed, decision block  214 , the mode is set to normal, and the target height, rail height primary and rail height secondary variables are set to zero, block  216  and processing returns to block  202 .  
         [0048]     If a signal is received, block  202 , the signal is decoded, block  206 , and if it is in position A, decision block  208  and not button  1 , decision block  210 , then the system next determines which button has been pressed, continuation “A”.  
         [0049]     The distance to move the rail is determined by the spacing of the segments on the transparency or slotted wheel  88  and the diameter of the encoder wheel shaft  85  (see  FIG. 6 ). Based on these parameters, a scaling factor (SF) is established which corresponds to a distance increment in order to move the rail up or down.  
         [0050]     For example, a ½″ diameter shaft has a circumference of approximately 1 ½″. If the transparency wheel  88  has six segments, then each transition on the encoder wheel is equivalent to approximately ¼ movement of the rail. In this example, the scaling factor is six. A higher degree of accuracy may be obtained by increasing the number of segments on the transparency wheel. For example, if the circumference of the shaft is approximately one inch, a transparency wheel having sixty-four segments provides a resolution of 1/64″. In this example, the scaling factor is sixty-four.  
         [0051]     Referring to  FIG. 12 , if button  17  is pushed, decision block  266 , then three times the scaling factor SF is added to the current target height variable TrgHgt, block  268 , to move the rail down three inches. If button  18  is pressed, decision block  270 , then three times the scaling faction is subtracted from the target height variable, block  272 , to move the rail up three inches. The system sequentially checks each button until the pressed button is determined and then continues to “B” in the flowchart.  
         [0052]     For each button pressed, target height variable is set to a multiple of the scaling factor. For example, if button  3  is pressed, decision block  274 , the target height variable is set to three times the scaling factor, block  276 , and processing continues to B to adjust the height of the rail. If button  4  is pressed, decision block  278 , the target height variable is set to zero times the scaling factor, block  280 , or the top of the post. If button  5  is pressed, decision block  282 , then the target height variable is set to nine times the scaling factor, block  284 . If button  6  is pressed, decision block  286 , the target height variable is set to six times the scaling factor, block  288 . If button  7  is pressed, decision block  290 , then the target height variable is set to fifteen times the scaling factor, block  292 . If button  8  is pressed, decision block  294 , then the target height variable is set to twelve times the scaling factor, block  296 . If button  9  is pressed, decision block  298 , then the target height variable is set to twenty-one times the scaling factor, block  300 . If button  10  is pressed, decision block  302 , then the target height variable is set to eighteen times the scaling factor, block  304 . If button  11  is pressed, decision block  306 , then the target height variable is set to twenty-seven times the scaling factor, block  308 . If button  12  is pressed, decision block  310 , then the target height variable is set to twenty-four times the scaling factor, block  312 . If button  13  is pressed, decision block  314 , then the target height variable is set to thirty-three times the scaling factor, block  316 . If button  14  is pressed, decision block  318 , then the target height variable is set to thirty times the scaling factor, block  320 . If button  15  is pressed, decision block  322 , then the target height variable is set to thirty-nine times the scaling factor, block  324 . If button  16  is pressed, decision block  326 , then the target height variable is set to thirty-six times the scaling factor, block  328 .  
         [0053]     Once the button pressed has been determined, processing continues to “B” to block  330 ,  FIG. 13 . Because the target height does not equal the rail height primary or secondary, decision block  330 , the system determines the direction of movement, block  332 . If the target height is greater than the rail height (primary or secondary), then the direction of travel is down. If the target height is less than the rail height (primary or secondary), then the direction of travel is up. The duty cycle is set to 20% for each motor to slowly rotate the motors to raise or lower the rail, block  334 . The microprocessor directs the motor control circuit of the primary motor to turn in a direction to lower or raise the rail and the rail height primary variable is decremented or incremented by one for each change in the output state of the primary rotation sensor, block  336 . Likewise, the microprocessor directs the motor control circuit of the secondary motor to turn in the same direction as the primary motor to lower or lower the other side of the rail and the rail height secondary variable is decremented or incremented by one for each change in state of the secondary rotation sensor, block  338 .  
         [0054]     If the primary rotational sensor does not change in a predetermined period, which indicates that the primary motor has stalled, decision block  340 , then the duty cycle setting for the primary motor is checked. If the duty cycle for the primary motor is 100%, decision block  342 , then both the primary and secondary motors are turned off, block  346 . Processing returns to block  202  ( FIG. 11 ). If the duty cycle for the primary motor is not 100%, decision block  342 , then the duty cycle for the primary motor is increased by 10%, block  344 .  
         [0055]     If the secondary rotational sensor does not change in a predetermined period, which indicates that the secondary motor has stalled, decision block  348 , then the duty cycle setting for the secondary motor is checked. If the duty cycle for the secondary motor is 100%, decision block  350 , then both the primary and secondary motors are turned off, block  346 , and processing returns to block  202  ( FIG. 11 ). If the duty cycle for the secondary motor is not 100%, decision block  350 , then the duty cycle is increased by 10%, block  352 , and processing continues to “D”.  
         [0056]     If the rail height of the primary equals the target height, decision block  354 , the primary motor is turned off, block  356 . If the rail height of the secondary equals the target height, decision block  358 , the secondary motor is turned off, block  360 , and processing returns to “C” to the beginning ( FIG. 11 ).  
         [0057]     If the rail height of the primary does not equal the target height, decision block  354 , the secondary height is checked. If the secondary height is equal to the target height, decision block  362 , the secondary motor is turned off block  364  and processing returns to “E” ( FIG. 13 ).  
         [0058]     In operation, a rider may adjust the height of the rail without dismounting his or her horse and without disrupting a training session by simply pointing the remote at the jump and pressing the desired button to raise or lower the rail.  
         [0059]     Referring to FIGS.  11 ,  15 - 17 , if the selector switch is in the B position, decision block  208 , processing goes to “F”. If button  1  was pressed, decision block  372 , the system enters into programming mode  4  and sets the target height, rail height primary and rail height secondary to  500 , block  374 . If button  2  is pressed, decision block  376 , programming mode exits and the system saves the programmed variables for each button, sets the program variables to zero and returns to “C” to the start ( FIG. 11 ). If button  2  is not pressed, decision block  376 , processing continues to “H”.  
         [0060]     In programming mode  4 , specific rail heights are assigned to the remote control buttons. For example, button  3  may not be set to 2½ feet, button  4  is set to 2 feet and button  5  set to 3 feet, 3 inches. The height of the rail is adjusted using button  17 , decision block  380 , to move the rail down, block  382 , and button  18 , decision block  384  to move the rail up, block  386 . Once the target height is reached, this rail height is assigned to a remote control button by pushing the desired button.  
         [0061]     For example, if button  3  is pressed, decision block  388 , button  3  is assigned to the current rail height and stored, block  390 . If button  4  is pressed, decision block  392 , button  4  is assigned to the current rail height and stored, block  394 . If button  5  is pressed, decision block  396 , button  5  is assigned to the current rail height and stored, block  398 . If button  6  is pressed, decision block  400 , button  6  is assigned to the current rail height and stored, block  402 . If button  7  is pressed, decision block  404 , button  7  is assigned to the current rail height and stored, block  406 . If button  8  is pressed, decision block  408 , button  8  is assigned to the current rail height and stored, block  410 . If button  9  is pressed, decision block  412 , button  9  is assigned to the current rail height and stored, block  414 . If button  10  is pressed, decision block  416 , button  10  is assigned to the current rail height and stored, block  418 . If button  11  is pressed, decision block  420 , button  11  is assigned to the current rail height and stored, block  422 . If button  12  is pressed, decision block  424 , button  12  is assigned to the current rail height and stored, block  426 . If button  13  is pressed, decision block  428 , button  13  is assigned to the current rail height and stored, block  430 . If button  14  is pressed, decision block  432 , button  14  is assigned to the current rail height and stored, block  434 . If button  15  is pressed, decision block  436 , button  15  is assigned to the current rail height and stored, block  438 . If button  16  is pressed, decision block  440 , button  16  is assigned to the current rail height and stored, block  442 . Once the button(s) has been programmed, the programming mode may be exited by pressing button  2 , decision block  376 , and control returns to “C” to the start.  
         [0062]     In operation in the B position, the rail height goes to the value stored for the programmed button using the same control algorithms as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . In an arena with a plurality of jumps, each jump may be programmed to a different height associated with a single button. For example, button  3  may be programmed to eighteen inches for jump  1 , twenty-one inches for jump  2 , thirty-six inches for jump  3  and thirty inches for jump  4 . By pressing button  3 , each of the four jumps will move to the programmed height for that jump associated with button  3 . For a large arena, the motor controllers may be linked directly to a personal computer via an RS-232, USB port, Ethernet port, or COM port connection for example, which may be used to control the height of each jump, or the computer may be connected to a transmitter to wirelessly control each jump.  
         [0063]     Referring to  FIG. 17 , the remotely adjustable equestrian barrier  50  may be used with an expandable rail  31  which includes slats  33  connected together and to rail  31 . Slats  33  fold and unfold when rail  31  is lowered and raised.  
         [0064]     Referring to  FIG. 18 , motor control housing  52  may be adapted to be located at the base of post  22  and connect to rolling jump cup  56  with line  60  over pulleys  51  and  53  secured to the top corners of post  22 . Other configurations may be used to connect the motor control housings to the jump cups using lines or screws internal to the posts (not shown).  
         [0065]     It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable equivalents thereof.