Round Pens ....

["Ted W. Luedke" <morab@execpc.com>]

Round Pens ....

To small is too hard on the horse - and after all that is what we are
working on.  Sixty feet seems to be the diameter that is most talked
about by the professionals and I find it to be ideal.  I no longer use
"Lungin Lines" so this is no problem.

I used to work a lot in the past, but with using the no resistance
training methods I find it to be a lot easier now.  I am a breeder and
always working with young horses, so I find a wood rail with posts 8
foot on center works well.  Keep the rails tight on the bottom up to say
3 feet and every other plank up to 5 or 6 feet.  This keeps legs and
hoofs from getting caught or tangled between rails and also does not
give much for the horse to focus on but you.  Some say the wall should
tilt outward so mounted riders do not hit their feet on the wall, while
others say that opens the door for injuries to the horse that steps on
the wall.  Mine are vertical.  Monty Roberts has his wall solid up to
what appears to be 8 feet, then a 3 or 4 foot gap and then a roof.  No
perceived escape is the first goal of controlling the flight response
and the horse accepting you as herd boss.

The door/gate should be constructed the same as the pen walls.  No
vertical gaps on either edge and easy to open and close.

I have used a mixture of sand turned into the existing dirt for footing,
only because that, "was the way to do it."  Now I think a round pen
needs materials that can take up the shock and sand just does not do it
like I think the new rubber bits with some sand and dirt.  Here I need
to yield to others with more factual knowledge and experience.  And, as
I am moving and building a new round pen, I will be very interested in
footing comments of others.

I know a lot of people use stock panels to form their round pen and that
'may' be fine with a calm and experienced horse.  I think the strong,
sturdy, enclosed round pen is best for you and young to old horses.

Ted
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Ted W. Luedke:  mailto:tluedke@morab.com
Box LT Morab Breeding Ranch - Gentle Ben & BLT's Coaldust at Stud.
International Morab Registry - Registrar: mailto:imr@morab.com
MORAB HORSE - The Official Reference Center:  
http://www.morab.com/
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