How to Build an Easy Round Pen

Round pens are invaluable for horse training. Safely containing a horse for training purposes within a confined area while retaining the ability to make the horse move out is hugely important for a successful training session. Although some round pens can be a huge investment and are difficult to set up, there are simpler alternatives. Know your options if you are on a limited budget.

Things You'll Need

  • 4- by 4-inch posts, 12 feet long
  • Cement
  • Heavy-duty plywood
  • Nails
  • Sand
  • Measuring tape
  • Stakes
  • Auger or post-hole digger
  • Premade farm gate
  • Wire
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Instructions

    • 1

      Drive a stake into the ground to mark each places you will be setting a post, one every 8 feet around the diameter of the round pen. The round pen should be no less than 60 feet in diameter, which means you will need to make a 120-foot circle.

    • 2

      Dig a 4-foot-deep hole in the location of each stake. This will allow 8 feet of each post to remain above ground to discourage the horse from trying to escape.

    • 3

      Set posts in the holes with cement. Allow them to set for a minimum of 72 hours.

    • 4

      Attach plywood to the posts from the inside of the round pen with heavy duty nails. The more secure you make the plywood the better, so do a minimum of two nails top, middle and bottom. You do not want any "corners" and you don't want the posts to obstruct the movement of the horse. Try to make the plywood segments as seamless as possible--place them right up against each other so there is no spacing between them. Place the bottom of the plywood flush against the ground, so there are no gaps. You want a smooth, round surface.

    • 5

      Create a gate out of one segment of your round pen. For this section, mount a farm gate to one of your posts, then attach plywood to the gate with wire to have it mimic the rest of the walls. Try to make this plywood overlap the gate enough on both ends to keep gaps to a minimum.

    • 6

      Add sand to your round pen to a depth of at least 6 inches. Make sure the sand covers the bottom of the plywood pieces, so the horses' feet cannot get caught underneath them.