Round Pen for Horses

[BeezFun]

I setup an 80' round pen, used 5' high, 12' wide panels that I bought at Farm and Fleet. I've had a problem with the panels either wanting to tip in toward the center of the round pen, or tip out away from the center, creating a sort of domino affect where it affects a lot of panels on each side. The panels are connected to each other with chains top and bottom. The whole thing seems less stable than I would have imagined. Anyone have any experience with these things, maybe it's just how they are.

 

[mjw357]

The panels we use for our roundpen are held together with drop in pins. I can see where using chains to hold the panels together would allow what you are describing to happen.

 

[bullbreaker]

I setup an 80' round pen, used 5' high, 12' wide panels that I bought at Farm and Fleet. I've had a problem with the panels either wanting to tip in toward the center of the round pen, or tip out away from the center, creating a sort of domino affect where it affects a lot of panels on each side. The panels are connected to each other with chains top and bottom. The whole thing seems less stable than I would have imagined. Anyone have any experience with these things, maybe it's just how they are.

If this is gonna be a semi-permanent place for round panel(pen) I would put steel round post in between each panel with wire or round wooden fence type post in ground. That would eliminate a lot of future trouble.Would also protect your investment in panels.

Boone

 

[BeezFun]

If this is gonna be a semi-permanent place for round panel(pen) I would put steel round post in between each panel with wire or round wooden fence type post in ground. That would eliminate a lot of future trouble.Would also protect your investment in panels.

Boone

Thought about that. Neighbor had a suggestion to use those clamps they use for chainlink fencing to hold posts together, that might make it rigid enough.

 

[BeezFun]

The panels we use for our roundpen are held together with drop in pins. I can see where using chains to hold the panels together would allow what you are describing to happen.

We have pretty uneven ground, I didn't think pins would work if the panels don't come together plumb. That's why I got the style with chains.

 

[MistyBlue]

The drop pins still work decently with uneven ground. It's it steep hills then flat, probably not.

I have a 100' round pen and still get some tilt, mine is the drop pin. And it's on even ground. I think once you get above the standard 60' size the panels don't balance as well due to the wider circle/less arc.

Rebar or similar pounded in every 3-4 panels is a big help, but not sure the best method for attaching a chain panel.

 

[QRTRHRS]

If the vertical pipe is open on the bottom of your panels, you can drive metal t-posts into the ground and drop the panel down onto the post. But, I think the idea of the post sandwiched between the chained panels as suggested should be relatively safe and help stabilize the panels.

I have had panels that chain together, panels that bolt together (the worst) and panels with pins that drop in. The drop pin type get my vote as the easiest to work with.

 

[tlbuser]

We have pretty uneven ground, I didn't think pins would work if the panels don't come together plumb. That's why I got the style with chains.

If not too late, return them and go get some fence posts and privacy panels. You really want to focus the horses attention on you and the training. The privacy panels will help them focus by lessening visible outside distractions (other horses, people, etc.)

 

[MossflowerWoods]

You really want to focus the horses attention on you and the training. The privacy panels will help them focus by lessening visible outside distractions (other horses, people, etc.)

I have been considering building a round pen that matches my wooden 3-rail fence. I'm interested in this "privacy panel" info, but I want to be able to see into and out of the pen myself for security and other reasons.

Very interesting...

Be well,
David

 

[Alien]

Our round yard uses drop in pins and it is very stable. Being on slightly uneven ground wouldn't affect it.

 

[BeezFun]

I think once you get above the standard 60' size the panels don't balance as well due to the wider circle/less arc.

Yes as the diameter increases it creates this stability problem, I realized that when I was setting up the panels. I fiddled around last night, the one place that's really weak is the two gate entrances because the frame around the gate is not very rigid. So I'm going to try pounding posts on each side of the gates and see how much that helps.

 

[BeezFun]

If not too late, return them and go get some fence posts and privacy panels. You really want to focus the horses attention on you and the training. The privacy panels will help them focus by lessening visible outside distractions (other horses, people, etc.)

The control tower wouldn't allow privacy panels in the pasture, disrupts the view. I have to agree with her, the best part of the morning is looking out across the view, we'd be staring at our own fence.

 

[bullbreaker]

Beez your much kinder than me , I call mine "warden".
Please don't think I 'am trying to jack your thread,I'am real interested in your final decision and future results with your round pen.
In mean time till hopefully you get more feedback I came across this :Roto Harrow - The Ultimate Arena Conditioner didn't want to open up new thread just to share viewing.
Once again looking forward to your solution. :thumbsup:

Boone

 

[Soundguy]

I setup an 80' round pen, used 5' high, 12' wide panels that I bought at Farm and Fleet. I've had a problem with the panels either wanting to tip in toward the center of the round pen, or tip out away from the center, creating a sort of domino affect where it affects a lot of panels on each side. The panels are connected to each other with chains top and bottom. The whole thing seems less stable than I would have imagined. Anyone have any experience with these things, maybe it's just how they are.

i have both pin in and chain type. ont he chain type.. just chain em as tight as possible.. if they lean a bit and it's going to be up for a while.. zip tie them...( and chain them ) fast, cheap (mostly) and works..

 

[BeezFun]

i have both pin in and chain type. ont he chain type.. just chain em as tight as possible.. if they lean a bit and it's going to be up for a while.. zip tie them...( and chain them ) fast, cheap (mostly) and works..

Thanks, I put duct tape on them to see if that helped, works great. So I ordered some saddle clamps that they use to assemble dog kennels. I think that will hold them. They were only $1.25 each, will post photos once I get them installed.

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. dt works fine too... good thinking like that will get ya down t he road.

 

[BeezFun]

Here's my solution, bought the saddle clamps, they work great. Also found that I had to keep each panel level and raise or lower them to go up and down the grade. So tops aren't even, and only one of the panel feet touch the ground (unless it happens to be on level ground) but panels are plumb so a clamp can be installed top and bottom to make things secure.

 

[bullbreaker]

Looks good,clean ! :thumbsup:
Thanks for follow up.
Now comes real fun, what method you plan on using in round pen , Parelli,C Anderson, Chris Cox, Reis, J Goodnight,Ben Hur, or home-made ?

Boone

 

[pacerron]

My question begins with what is the purpose of this 80 foot, as you call it, "Round Pen"?
If it is really to be used as a "training ring" for horses where you plan to do ground training on a lounge line, free lounge training without a line, and saddle training for leads, turns, backing, cut backs, etc, you may find it to be too big.
If you are working with untrained young horses you will find that a ring beyond 50' in diameter, particularly for the ground training parts gives them control over you instead of you over them. Not a good way to start a horse because it is much harder to untrain bad habits to retrain good ones than it is to start out correctly at first.

If you are thinking about training you might want to consider killing the grass, at least around the circle next to the insides of the gates and trying to level it by filling any holes, etc. Sprained ankles and pulled tendons on a horse from stepping in a hole at a trot or canter can lay them up for some time.

 

[BeezFun]

Looks good,clean ! :thumbsup:
Thanks for follow up.
Now comes real fun, what method you plan on using in round pen , Parelli,C Anderson, Chris Cox, Reis, J Goodnight,Ben Hur, or home-made ?

My wife is the horse person, she's come up with her own concoction of training over the years. I recognize Parelli and Anderson, I know she also trained with Tommy Turvey. She taught her mare to do all kinds of tricks, she lays down, sits up and begs, fetches the paper, lets our dog ride around on her. We take her to retirement homes and parties for kids, they get a big kick out of it. But she's getting old and is starting to balk at being ridden, so we got a new horse, a young gelding, and he's a pistol. So the 80' pen is primarily for him to build up his muscles and run off some of his energy as she's working on conditioning him to be ridden.