Good Grief! IMHO, that's somewhat of an overkill!
Here's a custom way that gives you some flexibility...
There are several on the market that come with the little canvas bags
and
"everything you need" for a portable corral. There's one like that
here that's as good as any:
http://www.jeffersequine.com/ssc/search_results.asp?CID=1&mscssid=3EPNEANVAJRQ8P2EQFE0A3J83HPP5E5E&keywords=portable%20corral&category=All&animal=All
However, I have not found ONE that I thought met all my criteria for
a good corral. Obviously the people who make them have NO experience
with camping in a group using corrals.
First, I don't like polywire....I prefer tape, preferably at least 3/4"...(you
can get 1 1/2")....I use 3/4" right now, but may change to 1 1/2" inch
one of these days. I like the tape, not because it keeps the horse
in better, but because it's more visible to a "runaway horse" in camp and
people walking thru camp...less likely to run into or thru it.....and you
want white. Second, I like TWO strands...it's more visible and "looks"
more substantial to the horse.
The charger in the kits is battery only, which limits your flexibility.
I like the "Yellow Jacket", which is made for tape fences, and will run
on 4 D Cells, 6 volts, or 12 volts. D Cells are too much trouble.
I carry a small lawn mower battery, which I recharge when I return...will
last a LOOONG time with a Yellow Jacket. D Cells are a backup, and you
could also run it off your trailer battery if need be. Just a much better
choice.
The posts in most kits are slender two piece fiberglas, which are just
not rigid enough...some of the kits have posts which pose a puncture hazard
to horses running over or falling on them. I like the 4 foot thicker,
more flexible "step-in" posts.....just bundle them up and wrap them in
a couple of bungee cords.
I don't like tape reels incorporated in the posts. They're top
heavy, they fill up with water and don't reel well...also if they break,
forget about getting it "fixed".
I also don't like corner posts with tie outs for stability like you
stake out a tent. To easy for people and horses to step on or trip
over them...IMO, too dangerous.
A couple of other issues...if you go with somebody else and share a
corral, it's nice to have the capability of putting a divider down the
middle of the corral. If you horse "herds", chases or doesn't get along
with the other horse(s) you can seperate them by just sticking in a couple
of posts down the middle and dividing the corral.
Sometimes you may want to carry MORE posts than normal....if you have
multiple horses or lots of space, you may want a bigger corral. I
normally carry 15....my typical corral uses about 10.
Anyway, if you want to "build your own" as I did, it's easy. You can
order the basic stuff from Jeffers at:
ww.jeffersequine.com.
Just go there and key in the numbers below in search to see the "stuff".
Polyposts D4-S7-32 This is a package of 10. Ordering
Qty of 2 will get you 20...extras in case you break one.
Rubber Gate Handles D4-G2-32 Normally you need two. I carry 4 in case
I need to "split" my corral.
Yellow Jacket Charger FG-J4-32
3/4 Polytape T8-PA-32
1 1/2 Polytape T8-A7-32
Don't order tape wider than 1 1/2"...that's the widest the posts support.
Also, there are more expensive polytapes...it has to do with the number
of strands of wire in the tape, the "weight" of the tape, and whether the
wires are stainless steel or copper. However, the ones above are adequate
for a corral. You can't stop a horse from running thru a corral if they
decide to do so, no matter how good the tape is. Your reel will hold more
tape with 3/4"....but it will still hold plenty of 1 1/2" tape.
Stop by your local Home Depot and pick up the following:
A cord reel....be sure it is the one with "feet". To see what it looks
like:
Go to www.homedepot.com
Choose "electrical" from the menu on the left.
When you get there, change the search to "SKU" and key in 280984
A brass ground rod. They come in 8 foot lengths. Use a hacksaw
to cut in in half, which will make it the same length as the posts. If
it doesn't come with a sharpened end, grind it off a little to make it
"pointy" and easier to drive.. You will need a hammer of mallet of some
type to drive in the rod in your kit. (You should carry one, anyway)
Make your gates by cutting off a few feet of the tape and attaching
it to the end of the handles. Roll the tape off the roll onto the cord
reel. (Cut off the little "cord keeper" in the middle so the center is
flat) Just use a piece of duct tape to hold the start of the tape on the
reel. Fill it about 3/4 full....you will have LOTS of tape left.
Make your corral by first setting up your posts, with two close together
for your gate. Starting at the TOP on one of the gates, go all the way
around to the top of the gate post on the other side, go down to the bottom
of the that post and return to the first gate post, wrap it a couple of
times around the keeper and set the spool on the
ground. Tie the gate tapes to the top and bottom of the gate posts.
I use small pieces of wire...electrical fence wire will work...to provide
a "hook" for the handles on the other gate post. Drive the ground rod into
the ground about a foot (right beside a post to be safe) and mount the
yellow jacket on the rod so that the lower tape is at the right place
to fit in the tape connector on the Yellow Jacket. The Yellow Jacket actually
clamps to the ground rod, providing the ground. If you're using D Cells,
you're done. If you are using a battery, then you will have to attach battery
leads to the bottom of the Yellow Jacket. (It comes with the wire you need,
including Aligator Clips)
I found a plastic box the right size to keep my "kit" in. The posts
and ground rod, I just bundle up with bungee cords and toss them in the
back of the truck.
Jim, Sun of Dimanche, and Mahada Magic
Check it out at: http://www.grazierfence.com/olddetails/www/pg09_PortARound.html
Ridecamp Moderator <ridecamp-moderator@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Amy Lillenberg lillyamy@xxxxxxx
I am going to be purchasing a poratable corral and would like to get
some
opinions.
Thanks !!
Amy
