I’m looking for a safe way to split a small paddock, but only semi permanently.
I’ve got a sand paddock that’s roughly 50 x 50. Three sides are no climb, one side is my barn with 4 stall doors. The idea would be to split it from the barn to a post on the no climb fence so more than one horse would have a run out stall. I wouldn’t turn thet out at the same time to fight over the panels, just want to close one stall door and open another. It would leave 2 stalls per run.
Would this work?
I use Preifert panels. I believe mine are 5 or 6’ tall with flat ends. By the way, taller the better. The flat ends butt right up to each other then are secured with chains which come with the panels. Particularly in a confined area I believe this is safer than the ones with pins which leave a gap. The panel next to the barn is secured with electric pipe connectors screwed into one of the barn support beams. As you mentioned the last panel is simply chained to a paddock fence post.
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I just did a very similar set up off my barn/overhang to separate a run out from a storage area with some advice I got here on COTH. I used Preifert panels. It was my first corral panel effort. It was easier and looks better than I’d ever have imagined. I understand there are 2 grades. I needed to be able to move them myself so I went with the lighter version and they are seem quite sturdy.
Yes! My panels were my best investment and I love them! I have perimeter fencing for my turn out areas and I use different configurations based on the needs of my herd. They’re also great to quickly get out of the way if you’re bringing a tractor or new footing in.
I run a hotwire along the top to keep everyone off the panels, which might help with your fence fighting concern.
Once I had a young filly get tangled in one during a roll and it was easy to pop it out and extract her.
I recommend them (and so does my hubby, bcs I can do so much of the work by myself!).
We split a paddock with the Priefert panels. At the ends, we chained the panels to existing wooden posts in the permanent fence line.
On one side of the run of panels, we installed a couple of metal T-posts, with plastic safety caps, right next to the panels as close as possible, and used pipe clamps (those thin strips of metals with slots that can be racheted tightly) to fasten the panels to the T-posts. This gave extra rigidity to the run of panels.
Have had no problems with this arrangement, admittedly with very level-headed, non-destructive horses.
Agree with using the ones that sit flush. The ones with the pins not only have the space between, but a friend’s mare ripped open her rear end on one of the pins backing up to kick the horse next door (and this was a larger area, there was PLENTY of room for them to not be fighting). It was ugly–about 8 inches long and deep, requiring internal and external sutures.
Thanks, everyone!
Look at the tops of the panels where they meet. Preferably it’s square and tight, so a horse can’t get a leg stuck in between the panels. Priefert has another option, where there is a slope away from the gap. But plain rounded corners are not ideal. If a horse gets a leg over the top it can fall into that gap and get stuck.
If you’re extra paranoid, also avoid the “mud foot” loop on the bottom, which is another place a horse can get a leg stuck, and go with straight legs. You may need to set them on a piece of wood or block then, if they try to sink.
Other than that, panels are super useful and re-configurable! There are endless varieties with different numbers of rails or tabs where you can attach plywood. Noble Panels has some I like.
Not sure of your location but I just saw Jess at Benchmark post these corrals she uses for the resale TB’s: http://www.freybrothersinc.com/equestrian#/porta-corrals/
Thanks, wsmoak. Great advice and thanks for the link. I live in Central FL, the paddock is sand so sinking is an issue and GAH! I didn’t consider the foot getting stuck thing. I’ve seen a horse stuck in stall bars. Horrendous.
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Thanks, wsmoak. Great advice and thanks for the link. I live in Central FL, the paddock is sand so sinking is an issue and GAH! I didn’t consider the foot getting stuck thing. I’ve seen a horse stuck in stall bars. Horrendous.
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Noble Panels has a safer version of a mud foot, sort of an inverted “T” that slips into the bottom of straight-leg panel legs to provide more support in soft or wet ground.
