What is a good size round pen for training?

Question

I am savings up to buy some round pen panels but I cant for the life of me remeber what size is good to make it. I basicaly want to do some begining "join up" type work for now, maybe get a few extra for a little more freedom later.

Answer 1

Ours is 50 feet in diameter. It's perfect for using a 25 foot longe line. The length of that line is important because any less and if the horse decides to kick up his heels to play, his heels CAN reach you. Anything smaller is begging for trouble!.
It's also the perfect size for "walking them down". That's an old term for something worth a million dollars when working a young horse. They still do it, but I don't think people call it that any more. The horse is loose when you do it and you do it steady and deliberately! You can't loose!
Aso, you never have to use a line of any kind if the size of the pen is right. Your work is made much easier.
good luck.

Answer 2

A 60' diameter is a good size roundpen, but they can also be 50'. I've never seen one made from the type of fencing you are planning on, but as long as there are no edges to get caught on, it will probably work. You can use the same type of footing you would use in a riding ring - something non-slip. You should be aware that there is a right and wrong way to use a round pen. Just chasing your horse around won't teach her anything. You need to learn the body language that your horse will respond to.

Answer 3

It depends on what level of training the horse is at. An untrained horse will do better and be controlled easier in a small round pen (30 ft is what I prefer). As the horse gets better, you can increase the size all the way up to 60 ft. But the farther away the horse is, the less control you will have. So it all depends on the level of training you need to do.

Answer 4

I believe 60 ft. is the standard size for round pens. (25ft lunge line+ room for the horse and you gives you about 30ft. to the center and that is a 60)
Smaller than that maybe to a 50, but under that is not really good for young horses, especially-their legs get too much strain, as some of the posters have mentioned. I actually like mine to be 65ft-70ft. so I have room to work free, lunge line, and ground driving/ first rides with youngsters. ( I don't mind moving around a bit---if you want to stand as a center pole, smaller is GREAT!)
Get on a horse in a 40ft pen, and see how fast it shrinks.....you could do it, but not at a very fast pace to avoid injury to you and your horse.

Answer 5

You should use a 50ft pen. Out here the pannels and gate cost about $800.00.
You need this size because if you use a smaller pen then you can mess up your horses stride. In a 50ft pen your horse can stretch out and move. You don't want a smaller one because then you can get hurt and so can your horse. At first you might not have much controll but after working your horse it will get much better.
Good luck

Answer 6

minimum 60ft round dont want it too small for younsters...really tight circles can be hard on tendons. but kickingbears answer is good guidelines

Answer 7

40ft diamiter would be good for one. It really depends on how many horses you are training.

Answer 8

50ft. is good to start with anything smaller is dangerous.