What is the least expensive way to build a round pen for horses?

Question

What is the least expensive way to build a round pen for horses?

Answer 1

A round pen needs to be a very solid structure - if you're using it for training as it's meant for.

IF you have lumber available to you at little or not cost, putting posts in the ground and using slab or rough cut planks is the cheapest.

But if you don't, from my experience, purchasing the materials to build a proper one is about as expensive as buying a nice one.

The top of the line Priefert 60' Round pen runs about $1400.  One can get a good one at TSC for around $1000 of the same size.

If purchasing posts and wood fencing, you need posts about 6-8' apart and a good 4 rows of strong 1x6 planking.

If purchasing a pen, watch the space between the panels - a good pen like the Priefert ones do not allow a foot to get caught between the panels at the top, bottom or in between.

My pen, I bought at TSC, has square corners that butt tightly against each other to not allow a hoof to get caught between.  Pens made of panels with rounded corners or put together with pins that allow more than a half inch of space between are not the safest for the horse.

also - watch for the bottom rung to be too high or too low - the bottom rail should start no closer to the ground than 12" and no higher than about 14" from the ground - enough space a horse can get caught under the panels if rolling, but not too much space for them to try to get a head or foot beneath for any reason.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

My place came with a 5 rail wood round pen, but if I needed one I'd buy a good portable pipe rail pen.  Some of the cowboys around here rent or lease the properties they live on, so they have to take their pens with them if they move.

The pens do the job, don't affect property taxes (sometimes an issue), and go with you if you relocate...or can be sold if you get out of the business.  They also are able to build arenas and cattle pens with these units...very versatile.

Answer 3

Lesser expense often means harder work.

For example, you could salvage used wooden posts from a junk yard or your neighbor's fence (providing he doesn't want them).  And after maybe a week of digging them out, you could reset them into a nice 60' diameter circle.  Then you could get salvaged guard rails from the Dept. of Transportation or an auction, and use them to form rails to make a round pen.  Might not cost much, but it would be a ton of hard work.

On the other hand, you can go to your nearest farm supply store and for about $700 to $1000 buy some portable round pen panels and gate and set them up in an afternoon.  That's what we did.  They're safe, they're lightweight and easy to use, and they're pretty much worth the price.

Here's an article on building your own round pen...some good info here:

http://www.liverystable.net/building_a_r...

Answer 4

I did read on a website somewhere that you can set up jumps to form a circle (high jumps mind you!) for a round pen...

Although be aware that if one was knocked it could startle your horse or interfere with the work.

Answer 5

A pen using Horse Guard electric fence would be the cheapest way I know.  The have a 320 foot starter kit for $59. here is the link for them.

http://www.horseguardfence.com/bp/starte...