Putting up pipe pens on grass

[cardinale]

Anyone here ever put up pipe corrals on grass? I’d like to put up 3 adjacent pens (12’ x 24’ each) in one end of a pasture temporarily in order to be able to 1. confine horses while working others in the adjacent arena 2. start physically separating a 3-yo gelding who is fanatically attached to his pasture mates. I figured putting him in a pen once a day where he can see the other horses grazing nearby–starting for a few minutes and gradually increasing the amount of time–was a good way to start. I’ll give him some hay to focus on but he will be agitated.

The pasture is eaten down so no lush grass but it could get a little slippery. I will drive 7’ T-posts at intervals to support the panels, which should make the corrals strong enough to handle the 3-yo unless he goes ballistic (unlikely and I will be within eyesight any time he’s in there)

Does anyone see a (safety) problem with this setup, especially in regards to possible slipping on the grass? I think it will get churned up pretty quickly = turned to dirt. TIA

[endlessclimb]

My round pen is on grass and I’ve had no issues. My horses don’t pressure though, so your t-post idea sounds like a good one!

[trubandloki]

It sounds like it is as safe as one can make something associated with horses.

If your 3YO is likely to go up (rear), might be worth making sure the space between the panels at the top is not as easy to get a leg caught in.

Something like these:
http://panelcaps.net/

[cardinale]

@trubandloki

If your 3YO is likely to go up (rear), might be worth making sure the space between the panels at the top is not as easy to get a leg caught in.

Panels are 6’ tall Noble Panels with square corners–I spent the extra money for them after reading on COTH about just the hazard you mention. Thanks, COTH!

[poltroon]

The grass will be completely torn up at the end of the second day (if not sooner). I think it will be very safe.

[atr]

My only suggestion, which I’m sure you have thought about, is to cap the T posts. Glue mushroom caps in place so no-one can spend some creative time pulling them off.

[clanter]

@atr

Glue mushroom caps in place so no-one can spend some creative time pulling them off.

well our guys can and do play with those caps until they have removed the cap no matter what was used to secure the cap to the post, so these days a cap is put on the tee post then a traffic cone is put on top of the post which seems to have stopped the game of removing the caps.

[atr]

That’s a good idea!