Round pen vs Square pen? Panels vs permanent?

[KathyShack]

Looking for pros and cons on designs for a working pen for starting a young horse. We’re looking to build in the spring and I initially planned for a 60 ft round pen, but then had a mentor mention considering a square pen or hybrid (think D shape) which offers corners to encourage lifting the shoulders. I’ve only ever had round pens, but I like the idea of the square pen. Wondering if anyone has done a square pen instead of round pen and did you like it?

For construction, do you use panels or build a permanent structure? What helped you decide (price, flexibility, etc)? I want to do a permanent structure, but also like the idea of a panel system being modular if I change my mind or we move.

For reference I mainly trail ride now, but may get back into dressage or eventing eventually with a younger horse. TIA.

[clanter]

@KathyShack

I initially planned for a 60 ft round pen

we went with 66 feet so the round pen is 20 meters, it works fine but looking back it would have been nicer if a little larger. Ours is built in place.

A 60 ft diameter might be confining? but I know it would work

[endlessclimb]

No effing way would I want to start a horse in a small square pen. I want to be able to keep them moving, and corners aren’t so great for that.

If you just have panels, you can change it to square once they’re more reliable.

[Jarpur]

I also like (and have) round for starting young horses, so they don’t get stuck (mentally or physically) in a corner. Quickly move working the horse to my arena, but I believe the roundness is definitely helpful at the beginning.

Mine is made of panels, which has been very convenient over the years, as it is moveable, re-sizeable, re-sellable, and can be made more or less round (it’s a little on the oval side right now due to my wanting the shade from two large trees).

[NancyM]

Round would be my choice, as previously mentioned. Mine is 80 feet in diameter, and posts pounded into the ground, and 2 X 10s, 5 feet high. I like it because it’s not too tight turning, greenies can hold a canter in there OK. But small enough to keep things calm. Big enough to put a small jump in there, just to see how they handle that. Since we don’t have a mud problem or a lot of rainfall usually, on our natural peat topsoil, mine is mostly turf footing… but you may not have this option. If you can do the big solid planks for fencing, it’s safer if a horse bounces off it, IMO. They don’t often do that, but it’s a possibility. But if you are not in a permanent situation and will move away… the panels are portable.

[HeartsDesireEventing]

My dad did a ‘square pen’ for me out of electrical tape when I got my first OTTB. My only other option was riding in the pasture at the time, so this gave him a bit more defined space to work in while he was super green and a square was easier for my dad to lay out than a circle. It worked fine, but I wasn’t truly starting a young horse - I can see why if you were trying to round pen a horse the corners could be a problem. Now if you’re wanting to teach longing and are going to have a line on anyway, it might matter less? I mostly just used it as a defined riding area - we did a lot of stretchy trot circles in there to start with.

[gradytb]

No corners! Nothing worse than one who figures out that they can stick their head in the corner, turn their butt to you and then go whichever way they want. You want their attention on YOU where they cant hide.

[CHT]

What are you using it for? First rides? Ground work?

When we first built our facility we had a round pen…but I took it down as soon as we had the arena because I felt it encouraged me to take short cuts in training, and I felt the constant circles turns were just too hard on the horses’ joints and mental state. Instead I upped by training techniques and never missed the round pen.

In a perfect world, I wouldn’t mind a very large 80 foot round pen, both for beginner lessons and for early rides.

[GraceLikeRain]

I would never opt into corners for a round pen. Way easier for them to get mentally stuck or make a dumb decision.

[KathyShack]

Thank you everyone for the feedback. I ride in our pasture now and don’t plan on installing an arena; I will haul to local arenas when I want to use one. I want the pen mainly for first rides. I don’t like lunging in circles much other than to teach the skill if needed and prefer lunging on a line in an open area, either field or arena. I’m planning to mainly pony then use the pen for first rides, then get out into an open space.

[Jarpur]

I’m not into lunging in circles, either, I’d much rather ground-drive. For the very beginning of starting horses, I also prefer ponying (not just in a confined space, on trails, etc.), consider it very helpful, then a little work in the round pen just so they don’t get stuck in a corner, then transition to the arena and pastures. Get them out on the trail (same kinds of places they know from ponying), riding along with been there/done that types. Interspersed with ground-driving. It always worked for me.

I kinda like my pen being more of an oval nowadays. Still no corners, but it’s not a circle.

Other advantages of panels are related to safety of the human. I like knowing that I’m visible, in case something goes wrong (not that anything ever has). I’ve been at barns with round pens constructed with high, solid walls, and realize that’s to lessen distractions, but I consider it less safe. Also pipe panels can be quickly climbed in an emergency, instead of having to use the gate (thinking of someone needing to attend to the person inside asap, for instance) in a situation where the gate is on the other side of a large pen.

Best wishes with whatever you decide.

[Warmblood1]

It really depends on your preference for starting horses.

Do you have a person assisting you on the ground? Then a 60 foot round pen is the likely preference.

I usually do not and start with long lining in a round pen and then downsize to a small space like a 12x12, 12x24 or 20 ft diameter to start backing - the shape of this space isn’t hugely important as I am just establishing weight on the back, stopping and steering. Then once I’ve gained more trust and control, I readjust to a larger round size and use the shape of the round pen to guide direction at the WTC. Square pens with green horses can cause them to stall in or get confused in corners. Forward is important and I think a circle is more conducive to that.

Because those are my preference, I like panels so that they can be adjusted to shape and size. Another benefit is when I do not need a round pen, I can use them for temporary stalls and such elsewhere.

[4horses]

I have a D shaped pen. They do try to hide in the corners but I usually get after them for hiding in the corners and they give it up pretty quickly. A true round pen is easier but the D shaped pen really isn’t a problem in my opinion.

I do my groundwork and first rides in the pen. The issue is the trees are at head level in some places so everytime I ride, I have to trim the trees first. Advantage is it is in full shade.

[Aces_N_Eights]

Someone said above, it depends on how you like to start your horses. Agreed. I’ll add- adjust how you start them to the facilities you have and the type of horses you’re starting.

Depending on where I’ve worked I’ve used box stalls, bronc pens, round pens cutting pens, square pens, etc.
In my ideal situation, I like to start in a bronc pen. Teach them to ground drive in there then go to a bigger square pen and deliberately use the corners without too much pressure so they figure out how to use their brain first with the lessons taught in the bronc pen to help get the body out of a bind and build confidence.

Picking colt pens is a personal preference, like underwear.

[beau159]

@KathyShack

Looking for pros and cons on designs for a working pen for starting a young horse. We’re looking to build in the spring and I initially planned for a 60 ft round pen, but then had a mentor mention considering a square pen or hybrid (think D shape) which offers corners to encourage lifting the shoulders. I’ve only ever had round pens, but I like the idea of the square pen. Wondering if anyone has done a square pen instead of round pen and did you like it?

Round - always. It doesn’t allow the colt to get “stuck” in a corner.

And don’t kid yourself - a horse can drop a shoulder hard into a corner. Never heard of such a thing as to how a corner would “lift” shoulders in any way.

@KathyShack

For construction, do you use panels or build a permanent structure? What helped you decide (price, flexibility, etc)? I want to do a permanent structure, but also like the idea of a panel system being modular if I change my mind or we move.

Your choice on permanent or otherwise, but if you choose some sort of mobile panels, make sure you still have them ANCHORED to the ground for safety reasons. Should you have an unruly colt that decides to try to jump panels, you do NOT want the panels to come crashing down. They need to be secure.