How to Build a Temporary Round Pen

A temporary round pen acts as a barrier while training a young horse. The presence of an enclosure can make the horse feel more secure, and it also keeps the horse from running away. Hay bales are one of the best materials to build a temporary round pen with because they're something any horse owner typically has a good supply of. They're also sturdy and much less likely to injure horse or rider in the event of an accident than other temporary building materials like wire or metal.

Things You'll Need

  • Hay bales
  • Pitchfork
  • Light rope
  • Sharp scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Pace out the area you'd like your round pen to cover. Draw your foot, drop stones or plant flexible poles to clearly delineate where the temporary wall should go up.

    • 2

      Place hay bales in a circle around the line you drew or marked. The bales should be spaced at least a foot apart--make sure there's enough room for you to enter and exit the pen between the bales, but not enough room between bales for the horse to do the same.

    • 3

      Leave an 8-foot opening between bales for bringing the horse in and out of the pen.

    • 4

      Layer hay bales around the circle until the pen is as high as you'd like it to be; you may find a pitchfork handy to get them on top of the piles.

    • 5

      Cut five 10-foot lengths of light rope and tie one end of each rope to the bales on one side of the entry gap, starting 2 feet off the ground. Space the ropes about a foot apart, working vertically upwards to the limit of your reach. When you want to close the temporary round pen off, string the ropes across to the other side of the gap and tie them loosely.