Re: Portable Stalls

[rides2far@juno.com (Angela C. McGhee)]

On Sun, 11 Jan 1998 08:25:50 EST CATUNDERWD <CATUNDERWD@aol.com> writes:

>really
>looking for input on the different portable stalls on the market or 
>any
>homemade ideas that work.
>
>Thanks!
>Cathy 
>
>O.K. , here's a couple.  I tied to the trailer for my first few rides,
but when my husband decided to do a ride, he built his horse a corral. 
He used 2" PVC and made the pannels about 5' long, 4' high.  The first
problems we encountered were how to attatch them to each other.  We tried
hay rope, not secure enough, settled on...what else...Duck tape.  Next we
had a problem with the horses scooting it.  This was settled by making
18" metal pipe stakes which we hammered in the ground and settled the
panels down over them.  Now, how to haul it.  Originally we stacked the
panels in the truck bed (under a camper top) and put all the other stuff
inside and around it. (Lots of trouble).  Now I have mounted metal
brackets over the fender of the horse trailer (actually bucket hangers
which I use at the ride) , I put the panels upside down on the fender and
bungy cord them to the trailer.  

Lessons learned.  PVC breaks.  More so when it's cold.  I've been using
this corral for 10 years, but on a cold day Kaboot can put his neck under
it, throw his head and shatter a panel.  2nd. I should have measured the
length of the fender of the trailer before making panels.  It's much
easier to haul them right side up standing on the step area.  3rd.  I
could have bought a good corral with all the duck tape I've used. 
Finally learned that a good tight bungy cord will work (2, one on top,
one on bottom)

My friend bought a metal corral.  The problems I saw with it were that
when set up on uneven ground, you had to stack rocks or something under
the legs or they swing like a gate.  It's heavy.  The 40" standard height
was just low enough to tempt.  She got hers 44" and that was good.

I hate electric corrals.  Sure, the horse who is used to them stays in,
but what happens when one stupid horse gets loose, touches one, bolts
through camp and takes them all with him?  And I could MURDER people who
run a string around some poles, don't hook it up to anything and say,
"it's O.K. she'll stay in anything"  (This is the stupid horse who bolts
through camp later that night).

Recently I tried a picket line and I'm in love.  I had never liked the
looks of them.  I thought the horse would get a leg over it, or would not
feel free to lay down.  Kaboot loves it.  He lays down, walks around a
lot, has never gotten tangled, and now that I don't have to listen to
those PVC panels pop as he scratches his head on it all night, I have
actually started sleeping at rides!  

Hope this helps,
Angie McGhee and Kaboot, "Do I get credit for walking up and down this
rope?"