How difficult will it be not having a round pen...

SKB · 02-29-2008, 09:56 AM

I was just reading another thread and I figured that I would ask this question...

I have a tiny bit of experience with training horses and with my situation, we do not have a round pen. I have an 11 month old filly that I will be working with (as soon as the 3+ feet of snow melts). I have only worked in round pens.

The problem is that we only have the 2 horses on an acre and a half and we just spent so much money on building a shelter and fencing that we don't have anymore to spend on "round pen supplies".

I guess I should get to my question... Does not having a round pen while training horses make it much harder? Is it much harder on you, the horse, or both?? Also, would it be better if our filly can't see the other horse while she's training or does it just depend??

I would love to hear any feedback that can help. I can't wait until this snow melts!!!

cd_horton · 02-29-2008, 10:06 AM

You can do plenty with a halter and 16' lead rope, but for the first 4 or 5 rides I think it is a risk to ride without one. Maybe you could find a friend or neighbor and trailer your horse there for the first rides. A trip to the hospital will cost more than a round pen.

palominolvrva · 02-29-2008, 10:06 AM

i worked my boy in a round pen the entire time he was boarded.
since i brought him home and spent all my money on barn, fencing etc i dont have anything left for a round pen. i miss it.
i cant ride him when its too wet (the pasture will get destroyed)

i wish i had one.
he hasnt been worked like he should and i can tell by looking at him he has lost alot of his muscle mass i feel bad about it but cant really fix the situation until it dries up a bit.

Lindsayanne · 02-29-2008, 10:10 AM

You can fix up a round pen with electric fence for under $200. Under $100 if you already have a charger. It's not as solid as pipe, but if they respect it, they respect it. I've done it when I needed a temporary roundpen.

PollyWog · 02-29-2008, 10:15 AM

I wouldn't recommend a electric round pen...OUCH!! Well for breaking a horse in anyways. I guess if your doing ground work you fine!! But I wouldn't try breaking a horse in a electric fence (could see getting bucked off unexpectidly and getting wrapped up in the electric fencing and getting roasted.

SKB · 02-29-2008, 10:21 AM

Thanks for the great input. I have actually been zapped by an electric fence as I was petting my neighbors horse (didn't realize how close I was). His horse got zapped because I was touching him at the time. I felt sooooo bad for him, but I had a red mark on my behind for a couple days after that incident. I don't think I will use an electric fence for that, however I do think they are great for other reasons!!! Please keep the input coming- maybe peoples experiences....

JustEnufFlash · 02-29-2008, 11:45 AM

I never worked much in round pens..but what I did do was block off a portion of my pasture for lunging and whatnot..It wasn't round...but at least there were boundaries

Dusty1979 · 02-29-2008, 12:31 PM

I've done training on colts both ways, and using a confined area will be much safer for both you and the colt. Things can get out of hand in a hurry with young horses (older ones too for that matter).

Please be careful to not do too much in the way of tight circles on your young horse. Their young, still maturing joints are not ready for that type of forced exercise. That is why I enjoy doing "free lunging" (using your body language to influence the horse's actions) on young horses, or horses of all ages. You can gain their respect, influence their mind and body all without "tugging" on them or having them pull you around. Not a good thing for either of you. But, of course to do this, you need an enclosure of some kind.

And, whether or not the colt can see other horses shouldn't matter either way. You need to get the colt's attention on you and hopefully keep it there (for a short while at first) regardless of there being other horses around. It all takes time and maturity.

In my younger days, I was lunging a young horse in the open and somehow managed to get a finger wrapped in the lunge line when the horse decided that he had had enough and took off on me. I hadn't maintained the correct leverage on him and I payed the price.

Hopefully you can come up with some materials that you can fashion a pen of some sort that will convince the horse that he does indeed have some boundaries to work within. I know fencing can get rather spendy in a hurry - and then there is always the maintenance.

Narmowen · 02-29-2008, 12:42 PM

I didn't have a round pen when I trained my mare, but she was five. If I'd had a choice, though, I would have used one.

02-29-2008, 09:56 AM	#1
SKB Full Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 211 Images: 9	How difficult will it be not having a round pen... I was just reading another thread and I figured that I would ask this question... I have a tiny bit of experience with training horses and with my situation, we do not have a round pen. I have an 11 month old filly that I will be working with (as soon as the 3+ feet of snow melts). I have only worked in round pens. The problem is that we only have the 2 horses on an acre and a half and we just spent so much money on building a shelter and fencing that we don't have anymore to spend on "round pen supplies". I guess I should get to my question... Does not having a round pen while training horses make it much harder? Is it much harder on you, the horse, or both?? Also, would it be better if our filly can't see the other horse while she's training or does it just depend?? I would love to hear any feedback that can help. I can't wait until this snow melts!!!

02-29-2008, 10:06 AM	#2
cd_horton Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 1,017 Images: 60	You can do plenty with a halter and 16' lead rope, but for the first 4 or 5 rides I think it is a risk to ride without one. Maybe you could find a friend or neighbor and trailer your horse there for the first rides. A trip to the hospital will cost more than a round pen. __________________ Romans 10:9 "If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

02-29-2008, 10:10 AM	#4
Lindsayanne Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Joplin, MO Posts: 9,730 Images: 394	You can fix up a round pen with electric fence for under $200. Under $100 if you already have a charger. It's not as solid as pipe, but if they respect it, they respect it. I've done it when I needed a temporary roundpen. __________________ Bashkir Curly Poster Child NE Prime Time Regal - 2006 ABCR National Champion & 2008 Breyerfest Demo Horse HAVE YOU SEEN MY STOLEN PONY EXPRESS HORSE TRAILER?*

02-29-2008, 10:15 AM	#5
PollyWog Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Killeen, Tx Posts: 701 Images: 6	I wouldn't recommend a electric round pen...OUCH!! Well for breaking a horse in anyways. I guess if your doing ground work you fine!! But I wouldn't try breaking a horse in a electric fence (could see getting bucked off unexpectidly and getting wrapped up in the electric fencing and getting roasted. __________________ Home of: Apollo Spot Maker www.freewebs.com/djnranch

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02-29-2008, 10:06 AM	#3
palominolvrva Full Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 65	i worked my boy in a round pen the entire time he was boarded. since i brought him home and spent all my money on barn, fencing etc i dont have anything left for a round pen. i miss it. i cant ride him when its too wet (the pasture will get destroyed) i wish i had one. he hasnt been worked like he should and i can tell by looking at him he has lost alot of his muscle mass i feel bad about it but cant really fix the situation until it dries up a bit.

02-29-2008, 10:21 AM	#6
SKB Full Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 211 Images: 9	Thanks for the great input. I have actually been zapped by an electric fence as I was petting my neighbors horse (didn't realize how close I was). His horse got zapped because I was touching him at the time. I felt sooooo bad for him, but I had a red mark on my behind for a couple days after that incident. I don't think I will use an electric fence for that, however I do think they are great for other reasons!!! Please keep the input coming- maybe peoples experiences....

02-29-2008, 11:45 AM	#7
JustEnufFlash Full Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Edwardsburg, Mi Posts: 143 Images: 31	I never worked much in round pens..but what I did do was block off a portion of my pasture for lunging and whatnot..It wasn't round...but at least there were boundaries

02-29-2008, 12:31 PM	#8
Dusty1979 Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Minnesota (rural area) Posts: 627 Images: 10	I've done training on colts both ways, and using a confined area will be much safer for both you and the colt. Things can get out of hand in a hurry with young horses (older ones too for that matter). Please be careful to not do too much in the way of tight circles on your young horse. Their young, still maturing joints are not ready for that type of forced exercise. That is why I enjoy doing "free lunging" (using your body language to influence the horse's actions) on young horses, or horses of all ages. You can gain their respect, influence their mind and body all without "tugging" on them or having them pull you around. Not a good thing for either of you. But, of course to do this, you need an enclosure of some kind. And, whether or not the colt can see other horses shouldn't matter either way. You need to get the colt's attention on you and hopefully keep it there (for a short while at first) regardless of there being other horses around. It all takes time and maturity. In my younger days, I was lunging a young horse in the open and somehow managed to get a finger wrapped in the lunge line when the horse decided that he had had enough and took off on me. I hadn't maintained the correct leverage on him and I payed the price. Hopefully you can come up with some materials that you can fashion a pen of some sort that will convince the horse that he does indeed have some boundaries to work within. I know fencing can get rather spendy in a hurry - and then there is always the maintenance.

02-29-2008, 12:42 PM	#9
Narmowen Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 595 Images: 10	I didn't have a round pen when I trained my mare, but she was five. If I'd had a choice, though, I would have used one.