How to Construct a Round Pen for a Horse

A round pen is an enclosure used to train and exercise young or old riding horses. A round pen can vary in height and diameter. For use in training young horses, a small diameter--40-foot--pen can help trainers maintain control. However, you can exercise most horses safely and easily in a 60-foot round pen.

Things You'll Need

  • 15 12-foot panels
  • 6-foot-wide, 9-foot-high gate
  • 30 metal posts
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Choose a location for the round pen. Scrape the top layer of dirt into a circular shape. Pour a layer of gravel for drainage. Bring in a 4-inch top layer of sand for footing. Using sand will provide the horse with soft and stable footing as well as minimizing mud.

    • 2

      Determine the height requirements and the number of panels needed. A height of 5 feet is useable but 6 feet is ideal. Build higher when working with young stock to discourage escape attempts. To calculate the number of panels, multiply the chosen diameter by 3.14, which will give the circumference. Divide the circumference by the length of panels. This gives you the number of panels needed.

    • 3

      For a 60-foot round pen, use 15 panels that are 12-feet long. Include a walk-through gate so you and the horse will be able to enter and exit the round pen easily. Make the gate 6-feet wide and 9-feet tall in order to ensure safety and for ease of riding in and out of the pen. Attach the gate in between two panels to complete the enclosure.

    • 4

      Assemble the panels around the perimeter of the sand base using the hardware provided. Each panel has an upper and lower tab on both ends. Line one panel up with another, overlay the tabs and insert the provided pins in both tabs. In a circular fashion, continue attaching panels together until you make a complete circle. Remember to mark the location for the door and attach the gate panel at that spot.

    • 5

      Drive steel posts into the ground for extra support on the outside ends of every panel. Attach the ends of the panel to the steel posts twisting wire around them or using a fastener of choice. This option allows the round pen to be grounded yet easily removed or relocated by simply pulling up the metal posts and unfastening the panels from each other.