I have acquired a large gregarious horse that I need a small enclosure to work in. I would like to buy a 60’ metal panel round pen. There are so many places to buy online I have no idea where to go so please send me in the right direction. What’s good, what’s not? Of course, bang for the buck is very important, but I also want to make sure my big guy isn’t going to bump into it and break it.
The John Lyons round pen is the gold standard, but they are expensive. I actually would have paid the extra money, but the shipping was outrageous.
I’m very happy with my Baird Gate round pen. I got the XT model (2nd one down) and I’m glad I got the extra height, since Patrick is out there in a dry lot made of these panels attached to his run-in, as the rest of my fence is still under construction!
http://www.bairdgate.com/products/round_pens.shtml
(I remembered it being more, but that’s because I ordered some extra 6’ panels so I can make 12x24 pens. They are happy to do custom work if you want something special.)
Looks like it’s close to your budget, and they don’t charge extra to ship to VA.
Get the 6’ if you can, so horses won’t keep trying to put their heads over the side.
If you have a horse that need more of a barrier than panels, consider getting some of that plastic snow fence and clip it to the panels on the outside.
That comes in orange, black and other colors.
I would check local farm stores, they generally carry all kinds of panels and can order the extra tall ones.
The idea of lighter panels is that if a horse were to hit them, they will have some bend to them, easy to replace a panel, unlike heavy wall pipe, that if a horse hits that, the horse gets injured.
Look on your local craigslist and buy a used one. While most of them still hold their value really well, you can buy the more expensive ones like John Lyons for half of what a new one will cost… Priefert, Powder River, and Noble are good ones here on the west side of the country… I sold my roundpen this past spring, it was a 60ft Powder river brand, had been well used, but still in great shape. I sold it used on craigslist in 1 day for $1500. So the key to getting one is knowing what they cost new, and recognizing that a used one will sell very quickly-and jumping on it fast so you don’t miss out… 
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http://www.ecarnegietech.com/businesses/11965669-fleenor-gates-inc-stuarts-draft-virginia-24477-3002
I got mine from him about 10 years ago for about $1100 delivered.
It is 6 feet tall and painted. If I had it to do over I would get the galvanized
Used One on Craigslist
I saw a 60 foot galvanized round pen, brand unknown, on Craigslist for a $1,000…It was late last week under Fredericksburg listings/farm&garden…the ad is still up and the location is near Richmond…
I’m at the opposite side of the country, but we have a couple of really good local manufacturers that can even do custom panels if you need - -and the prices are quite good. So you might check around locally to see if there is such a thing by you – as someone said, look at your local farm stores.
Cherry Hill has a really good write-up of what to look for in choosing a round pen in one of her books – can’t remember if it is “Horsekeeping on a Small Acreage” or “Equipment for the Horse Farm” (I have both). It really talked me out of several brands I see around and gave me a good idea of what to get or not get. I bet if you google her name and round pen you’ll find some information to help if you can’t get the book.
I see lots on craigslist and if they are good quality and priced well, they go quickly, so you have to keep on top of it. I also see lots of crappy ones on there too!
Pay attention to the gauge of the pipe - both the thickness and the diameter. Some will bend very easily, some not.
Here the local custom manufacturers are the best buy. In my experience, the locally made galvanized panels hold up better than the nationally shipped powder coated.
I prefer panels not to have any loops in the feet, and to have a square top so that the top is smooth with minimal gaps.
Most people I know have built their own 3 board wooden round pens, I assume that would be a bit cheaper then metal and they seem to stand up quite well as well as being very welcoming for the horses; but they are a lot of labour.
Tractor supply sells individual panels in assorted sizes, some of them are the Tarter brand which is pretty good. We bought a local brand from the feed store to make two 16 x 16 attached pens. 7 panels. So far the pony has completely demolished the dividing panel by pawing it, crushing the tubes a bit, and then standing on it and smashing it to the ground He also pushes on it, leans on it, scratches on it and has broken the gated panel which we had to reinforce with an exterior t post. So he has merrily created a “round” pen for himself as these panels have bent outwards. I would not advise using corral panels for a pushy horse, like say a draft, or this stupid pony.
The old guy’s half is in like-new condition. What a difference a horse makes!
The center panel is in the process of being replaced with a new panel with a two sided plywood face. Thinking about it we could possibly have replaced the center divider with two panels and a space for less money but IMHO the pony is always going to test the panel next to the other horse.
We have the five foot tall panels and the horse could get his head over them, and then he could bite the pony, the pony couldn’t, which may have contributed to the pony’s desire to knock his side down and level the playing field.
The good ones show up on CL and get sold within a day, then you’ll get people who have a bunch of panels with pinhole rust or even completely rusted out pipes - I don’t care how good the deal is or even if they are free, don’t take them in that condition. They are more trouble than they are worth and dangerous for use around horses.
[QUOTE=ReSomething;5167077]
Tractor supply sells individual panels in assorted sizes, some of them are the Tarter brand which is pretty good. We bought a local brand from the feed store to make two 16 x 16 attached pens. 7 panels. So far the pony has completely demolished the dividing panel by pawing it, crushing the tubes a bit, and then standing on it and smashing it to the ground He also pushes on it, leans on it, scratches on it and has broken the gated panel which we had to reinforce with an exterior t post. So he has merrily created a “round” pen for himself as these panels have bent outwards. I would not advise using corral panels for a pushy horse, like say a draft, or this stupid pony.[/QUOTE]
The corral panels I have will take this kind of punishment without bending. The cost is more, but not that much more.
I honestly don’t know who manufactured the corral panels, NOT Tarter, but we saved, oh, $200 in the initial cost, which has been eaten up by the need to replace the one. And we strongly suspent the bent panel to be a factor in a mysterious injury the old guy suffered, which of course cost money for the vet. My DH selected the panels and this has been a learning experience. I have no idea of the gauge of the pipe.
I do think the pony is speshul and would find a way to trash any brand panel we stuck him in. It would just take him longer on the better built ones.
[QUOTE=ReSomething;5168091]
I honestly don’t know who manufactured the corral panels, NOT Tarter, but we saved, oh, $200 in the initial cost, which has been eaten up by the need to replace the one. And we strongly suspent the bent panel to be a factor in a mysterious injury the old guy suffered, which of course cost money for the vet. My DH selected the panels and this has been a learning experience. I have no idea of the gauge of the pipe.
I do think the pony is speshul and would find a way to trash any brand panel we stuck him in. It would just take him longer on the better built ones.[/QUOTE]
The serious panels are rated for bulls! :lol:
I think that pony would take on a bull. At least any bull he thought was his size. :lol:
If you will just be working the horse in the round pen I don’t know how heavy duty it would need to be. But if you are using it for turn out then I would try and talk you out of it! :winkgrin:
I bought from my local Coop, don’t know the make but they are economy 60’ with gate. My 11 hand pony has torn them up! I resorted to tying them together with twine but after she managed to lift then get out and drop it back it place, I have taken it down and am erecting an old fashion post and rail night time turn out for her. Such a naughty pony! 
My round pen is now leaning against the barn unused.
I bought a heavy-duty Powder River, new, and that’s probably the best two grand I’ve ever spent on horse equipment.
I bought a used John Lyon round pen almost 15 years ago. Paid somewhere around $1800 for it. Still looks the way it did when I bought it. Best piece of equipment I ever bought. I have used it for starting no less than twenty horses in that time. It has a few dings in it and I have had to replace a few of the pins that lock the panels together, but I bet I could still get $1800 for it. Not for sale!
Has your Baird Gate round pen still been holding up ok? I’ve been looking at their website. Do you have the 6 bar galvanized that is extra tall or do you have the 7 bar galvanized that is extra tall?
Used o
Craigslist is how I got my Priefert. $900, and I’ll get that back when I’m done with it.
