Hi. I am going to put up a 60' round pen for training my horses. There are currently a zillion portable models available, but we have the lumber on hand and think it is cheaper to go this route. However, I can't find any info on safety issues or recommended specifications for wooden ones. Most have solid bottoms on the walls, but is this necessary? I understand you don't want spaced boards where the feet can go through, but why not just start the boards 2 ft up so nothing can get caught? Is there a safety reason I'm not sure about? Then how far apart can the upper boards be spaced. Obviously the less rails needed, the better economically, but I don't want to create big risks for training. If you have any round pen tips or know where I can find info on this, please contact me as soon as possible, as we want to start building. NYHorse@hotmail.com Thank you very much!

-- Holly P (NYHorse@hotmail.com), March 15, 2002

Answers

Might look at: Purdue Univ. Extension , http://www.agcom.purdue.edu/AgCom/Pubs/AS/AS-418.html Post and board. This type of fence includes three or four six inch boards hung on wooden posts. Board fences are suitable for line fences, paddocks, and arenas. The ``standard'' design usually includes 16-foot, rough- cut, 1 x 6-inch hardwood boards fastened on the inside of 4-inch minimum diameter wooden posts with each staggered board spanning two posts (see Figure 1).

CONSTRUCTING HORSE ARENAS, http://www.nfucountryside.org.uk/countrymag/june2000.htm Advice on managing the construction, is given by Peter Hill

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), March 15, 2002.

We made our roundpen out of cedar posts($1 a piece) and cedar slabs (free). The only problem I've had with it is when it was used as a paddock: the horse chewed on the wood. Otherwise it's been perfect used for training and doubling as a riding ring. It is not a solid wall at any level (we used only three slabs between the posts), but the top slabs are nailed up over 6' high on the posts. If a crazy horse wanted to go through, it probably could, however I think where it's so high, it is visually intimidating.

-- Epona (crystalepona2000@yahoo.com), March 15, 2002.

In Cherry Hill's book "Horsekeeping on a Small Acreage" there is a materials list and a "how-to" section on building a round pen. Recommended reading, IMO. I think the book is about $20, or maybe your library has it or can get it for you. I borrowed the book from the library, so I don't have it to copy from, sorry.

I don't think you need a solid bottom- it would be nice, but a bit pricey. I would recommend at least 4, preferably more, boards with the top rail at 5 foot or better so when they get silly they don't try to go over the top.

-- shakeytails in KY (shakeytails@yahoo.com), March 15, 2002.

I would like to build a round pen someday too. From what I remember about the plan I had looked at it is good to have something solid at the bottom, but I was going to have rails on the top. We are going to use a piece of 100+ foot industrial conveor belt for the bottom (it was free) and go up 3 to 4 feet. In the plan I had they sloped the post outward, but I'm not sure how much. Good luck building.

-- Kate (yngve@theofficenet.com), March 15, 2002.

The best round pens are made sloping out from the ground so when starting a colt the horse can't injure you by scraping your legs on side of round pen. Also the sold wood sides keep the colt's attention on the trainer vs. outside distractions.

I'd like to know where to get cedar slabs &/or industrial conveyor belts for free...

-- zeb (wrangler@jridgeranch.com), March 16, 2002.

Hi Guys. Thanks for all the great suggestions. We used that rubber conveyor belt to make mats for our horse stalls and it worked great. Thanks to the above suggestion, we decided that would be ideal for the bottom of the round pen. We've gotten more of it and it will come up 3' high and be nailed to boards on the top and bottom, so it will be incredibly strong. NOW>>>>> we have 3 ft left on top and I have MORE questions. :-) Board spacing: With 3' left my husband thinks he should put the 4" boards he has with a spacing of 8", using three of them to finish off the top of the 6' wall. I'm wondering if this would work? I'm thinking 8" might be the perfect size for a rearing horse or a crazy wall climber (which I hope I never train) to get their legs stuck. Would more spacing be better? Maybe just two rails? Or would 4 rails be ideal? HELP! I'm so indecisive on this matter. Obviously it is best to build a solid wall where a horse could never get hurt, but economically, we can't do that. So I'm trying to see where to make the compromises. Thanks for all your help guys!!!! PS.... We get the conveyor belt from a local plant here. You'd be amazed at how much of it they get rid of when they have to replace it. For the horse stalls we used the rubber torch down roofing to close the seams.

-- Holly P (NYHorse@hotmail.com), March 16, 2002.

Our round pen used four boards spaced evenly apart to a height of six feet. I used four inch square posts instead of round posts so I had more surface area. Never had a colt go through the pen or try to jump out. Painted the wood with a regular fence paint to protect and usually didn't leave colts in there for long periods of time so never had a problem with any cribbing. also used that same pen for breeding my stallion. Worked great and never had any accidents. I know most trainers say use boards all the way up so horse has to focus on you, not on what is going on outside. I just made sure that the other horses were not in the same immediate area, and never had any trouble with colts focusing on me. Usually they were too focused (like do I have to stay out on the circle or can I come over and see what's in your hand? whip, what's a whip, sure I can't nibble on that whip?). Most of our colts were so gentle, we had to train them to go to the outside of the circle.

-- Cindy (colawson@mindspring.com), March 17, 2002.