Round Pen/Outdoor Stall

[*Trinity*]

My horse has been on stall rest since last May and has come to the point where he's injuring himself from going stir crazy. I feel absolutely horrible - he needs to get outside.
At a farm I used to work at, they had several "round pens" made out of chainlink fence sections. They were fabulous! Very tall, very safe, and portable, so we could rotate them to always give the horses grass.
I don't want a large one, more like a round outdoor stall, but I can't find them ANYWHERE! I'm trying to stay away from these: http://www.systemhorse.com/pages/roundpen/index.html in case he puts a leg through.
Does anyone know where to find mesh portable round pens? Or, have any other ideas other than building a permanent one with posts/rails?

[Simkie]

It sounds like you want the panels that make up dog kennels. Like these? http://www.dogrunkennel.com/

I'd go take a look at what home depot has to offer.

[Murphy's Mom]

Personally, I'd rather have a round pen like the one you linked to than one made a chainlink. The chainlink can get seriously messed up if the horse kicks it. I've never seen round pen panels made of chainlink. The closest I can think of is some gate panels that have a mesh type pattern (only it's rigid, not giving like mesh). You could buy normal panels and line it with plywood.

Weather permitting, I alway put my "stall rest" horses in the round pen or a large outdoor "stall" made from panels. I can set up a 12x12 or 12x24 "stall" in the arena and keep another horse or two in the arena so they can keep the stall rest horse company. As the horse's health improves I just add panels to allow them a bigger "stall" until they have a full round pen. Longest I've had to keep a horse at rest is three months. She was 14 months old at the time and was quite happy during her confinement.

ETA: I was looking for a gate example and found this. Expensive though!
http://shop.horserequisites.co.uk/epages/Gagar.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/13062006-11837/Products/EP0527


Hope your horse gets better soon!

[*Trinity*]

We had a horse put a hoof through the type that I linked to and re-tore his tendon, so I'm trying to stay away from those. Yes, it was a bit like the dog kennel type, but no, the mesh did not give. It was made up of 6' panels that put together to make it round. It was specifically designed for horses with a gate in one of the panels and we never had any problems with in - even with the naughty horses that got testy and threw tantrums.

[BEARCAT]

True chain link and horses are NOT a good mix!!!
If a horse where to kick through, the chain link would expand and then contract around the foot, and you'd have a big mess on your hands...

[Simkie]

Sounds like this stuff: http://shop.horserequisites.co.uk/epages/Gagar.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/13062006-11837/Products/EP0528

[*Trinity*]

No, it's not that. And it wasn't dangerous or flexible. This was a top notch barn with an internationaly successful rider - it was MADE FOR HORSES. We had horses kick and throw major fits all the time and, like I said, NEVER had a problem. It never bent or got caught on anything. I'm wondering if they had them custom made, as I can't find them anywhere...

[Simkie]

Um, what I linked to above IS made for horses. It doesn't look dangerous OR flexible. Likely unavailable, though, unless you want to import it from the UK.

[Bluey]

Our yard fence on two sides is our horse pasture fence.
For that, we have 16' by 6' chain link panels, of a heavy chain link, that a local fence company makes for us.

If that is what you want, ask the local fence companies for quotes and see if that is what you want:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a298/Robintoo/Horses2-20-07734.jpg?t=1233179229

Some of the panels are half gate.

I would think regular horse panels would work fine for what you want, as they do for most horses I know, but if you want chain link, the fencing companies I know in most bigger towns use that all the time for residential use.

[Evalee Hunter]

What I don't like about chain link is that it can "rake off" skin if a horse passes a leg up against it (sort of parallel to the direction of the fence panel, as a horse might do it trotting alongside very close to the panel). I had a dog once who always had sores on his legs because he would tend to scrape them on the chain link fence. Try "brushing" your own arm along chain link and see what happens to your own soft tissue - chain link can be painful & even remove skin.

The heavy duty 2"x2" mesh is very strong & very smooth. I think it is very safe. We have a gate (extremely heavy duty tube gate) with the mesh filling each opening - welded to the tube.

There are different sorts of tube round pen panels. The typical panels (you can buy at Tractor Supply & other stores that sell inexpensive round pens) are not very safe. They usually have round top corners, somewhat like gates. That is the first unsafe feature because a leg can get caught between two panels. That you can prevent by buying corregated plastic pipe, slitting it lengthwise down one side & pushing it over the top of the round pen all the way around.

Usually these type round pens are welded out of fairly light duty tubing. That is the 2nd unsafe feature. Only improvement I know of is to buy a more expensive panel made of heavier tubing.

Finally, the tubes are supported one (or 2 or 3) times down the center of the panels by a flat piece of metal with folded over edges (looks a little like a "Z" in shape if viewed from the top looking down). The folded over parts can be very sharp to a leg kicked through. You can get round pen panels that are much safer because they are supported by an entirely smooth, rectangular "box" vertical. I have a pen like that & have not had a horse get hurt, even when kicking through.

I do think you can have a safe round pen of pipe panels but you have to pay more to buy such a pen.

[Seven-up]

I'd be worried about a horse kicking or pawing at the fence and getting a shoe stuck.

I've never seen chainlink anything that was made for horses.


OP, I'm not a fan of those pipe panel sections either, but if you're not able to find what you're looking for, I wonder if there's a way to attach a sheet of something (I'm thinking something like plywood) to the inside of the gates, so you create a solid wall? You could do the whole height, or just halfway up. I'm sure there's a way to attach them in a manner that could be taken apart in case you need to dismantle and move it.

[Leather]

What about something like this:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay_10551_10001_36156_-1______14345|14359|14368|36156?listingPage=true&Special=false

[Murphy's Mom]

What about something like this:

http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay_10551_10001_36156_-1______14345|14359|14368|36156?listingPage=true&Special=false (http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay_10551_10001_36156_-1______14345%7C14359%7C14368%7C36156?listingPage=t rue&Special=false)
That looks like it might work, but around here cattle panels have smaller openings at the top and larger openings (4"x4") at the bottom. They also have little "stubs" at the top and bottom. Murphy has a massive scar on his neck from getting stuck on one of those (used as fencing for a run off his stall).

If I had my choice, I'd go for one with plywood all along the bottom. Don't know if you can buy one though.

[Evalee Hunter]

Do NOT use cattle panel. Those large holes will let a whole leg go through - which is a fatal accident as, usually, the leg will be "degloved". Cattle panel is NOT intended to be used with horses, regardless of the picture shown.

I can remember only one time seeing chain link used with horses. The stalls at the old Pleasant Hollow Farm in eastern PA somewhat east of Allentown had chain link protecting the windows (windows in the stalls). I was amazed at how torn up that chain link was - couldn't believe it but horses had really done a job on it over the years. Very dangerous condition when I saw it (1997 or 1998). I think Pleasant Hollow is not in business anymore or has been sold to someone else.

[Renae]

If you haven't already, talk to your veterinarian about the medication options that can be used to help a horse get through stall rest wuithout reinjuring itself.

[Plumcreek]

The safest rehab pen I have put together is this: 6 heavy duty, flat topped, pipe fence panels. Get a 50' roll of the 2" X 4" X 4' horse mesh fence and cover the inside of each fence panel (or 2 panel section), with edges turned under. I use hot wire to lash or many, many spots tied with baler twine when in a hurry or for a very temporary set-up. If they get cast, they can push against the mesh to get up. If they get their legs through a section of an un-meshed small pipe pen and lift up the panels, you will have a real wreck.

[jack07]

I do rehab horses a lot and i have a regular horse round pen with kick pads all around the inside, that way it's still open and they can see everything but if they roll or rub up against them it's all padded and they stay safe.

[scpezold]

Do you have to do pipe panels? My guy was on stall rest and when I was told to gradually expand his space, I went to electric tape as opposed to panels. To me it was less expensive and more versatile. I was nervous as I have a 2 1/2 yo colt and wanted to make sure the respect was there. He is 16.3 and my "fence" is right at 5'. I have used it to section off his small paddock as well as section off part of our pasture. I use two strands of electric tape and t-posts with PVC over them. I have never had an issue and he loves the freedom.

Zoom in on both of these to see specifics on pvc t-posts:
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2036340870104598652XVsQxG
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2197537970104598652BUYQbg