Uses for a round pen?

[lovemytbs]

For someone who doesn’t “round pen” her horses, what are some things you all use your round pens for? I just bought one (60’) and I’m debating on whether I will set it up at my horse barn, or use the panels for our cows we raise (what my other half is hoping for!). I know one thing I may use it for is for my young son to learn to trot off the lead on his pony, as my ring is 150 x 200 and would rather him learn in a smaller place! Then I thought about using for a small turnout if need be (injuries, etc), and I would like to incorporate some ground work which I assume a round pen is good for?

I also have 1 horse who’s hesitant about loading, so I was thinking if I open up the round pen and use it as an area where he can’t “get away” that would be a good way to work through that?

Also edited to add another question, put it inside or outside? I have a former 70 x 130 indoor that my farming family has taken over with equipment since I quite showing eons ago, I could finagle enough room to keep it in there most likely, or can put it outside. Thoughts on that part? I have a 14 hand pony:
https://www.facebook.com/LoveableLucas/photos/a.652549141546216.1073741828.652541994880264/693773234090473/?type=3&theater

and a bigger 16 hand draftx https://www.facebook.com/LoveableLucas/photos/a.652912388176558.1073741829.652541994880264/653652478102549/?type=3&theater
would it be big enough to ride him in on occasion?

Basically looking for anything you use yours for, I’m trying to make my case!

Anyway, we pick it up tonight, so I’m just trying to determine if I unload it at the horse or cow barn! LOL!

[StormyDay]

Free jumping horses, free lunging also is a more natural movement than lunging with a line for those horses that always pull against the line, turnout during bad weather or when you need to separate horses, starting baby horses, or teaching people to ride.
I bet it will turn out to be more useful than you thought. It seems like these things always seem to be used more than we thought when we get them.

[furlong47]

As a small turnout for horses that need to be on rest but can still graze (you can move it around to different areas and change the size by adding/removing panels) or horses in quarantine.

[trubandloki]

I think teaching your son to ride off lead is the best reason ever so no need for more to make a longer list.

(Though all your other ideas are great too.0

[lovemytbs]

Trubandloki-totally agree, but he just doesn’t ride enough to make that be the only reason He is 7 and races Quarter Midgets, so has a different opinion of which type of horsepower is his favorite-lol!

Sounds like I will find many uses for it, next question, put it inside or outside? I have a former 70 x 130 indoor that my farming family has taken over with equipment since I quit showing eons ago, I could finagle enough room to keep it in there most likely, or can put it outside. Thoughts on that part?

[StormyDay]

[QUOTE=lovemytbs;8832146]
Trubandloki-totally agree, but he just doesn’t ride enough to make that be the only reason He is 7 and races Quarter Midgets, so has a different opinion of which type of horsepower is his favorite-lol!

Sounds like I will find many uses for it, next question, put it inside or outside? I have a former 70 x 130 indoor that my farming family has taken over with equipment since I quite showing eons ago, I could finagle enough room to keep it in there most likely, or can put it outside. Thoughts on that part?[/QUOTE]

Um can I move into your indoor? :lol:

[Highflyer]

I would store it inside if possible. We don’t use ours a ton, but when you need it it’s so nice to have!

[MistyBlue]

I just had my third round pen delivered today.
I don’t “round pen” horses either. ???
Although my riding ring is technical a round pen since it’s round, lol!
It’s 100’ though.
We needed two pens for enough panels to fence the ring. But had 6 panels left over and an extra gate.
I’d use those panels for things like a quarantine small turnout, to bisect the dirt paddock and make it 2 for visiting horses, to pop up 4 as a quick wash stall outside, as a gate in between paddocks when the gate broke, etc.
Now we got the third full round pen because there are areas around the barn and paddocks that aren’t fenced but have good grazing. But they’re not areas I want permanent fence and I’m not a fan of t-posts because they’re tough to take back out.
So now I can easily fence areas in and take them down or move them.
We get so many uses out of our fence panels!

[walkinthewalk]

I have never round penned my horses either.

I bought a 100’ round several years ago. I used it to let little children ride my Arab by themselves. It was a huge deal to them:).

My Arab was also a lesson horse for young children and did well on voice commands. The little ones thought they were something to sit on a “big horse”, and ride by themselves (he was 13.3H:)

The chiropractor sometimes likes to watch one of the horses move, after an adjustment, in the round pen.

Other than that, I keep one horse in five acres of yard and he helps keep the grass mowed in that round pen.

[Foxtrot_s]

I have a square pen (the turnout paddock) but it is useful if a horse decides it does not want to come too you - there’s nowhere for them to wander off to, so with small signals they pretty soon give in.

Round-penning was an eye opening concept for me - but once the horses know the moves, not necessary any more.

[Palm_Beach]

I had to google quarter midgets, cuz I thought is was a new breed of racing QH ponies, but I think your son will be super bored in a round pen. He’d probably learn faster and figure it out sooner if he was in a larger space doing timed events. My boys were bored to tears up downing on the rail, but as soon as you gave them a pattern and said it’s a race, they were all over it.

[LookmaNohands]

The best use I have seen for a round pen is a garden. The fence is often high enough to keep the deer out. I have seen several of these.

[lovemytbs]

[QUOTE=Palm Beach;8832885]
I had to google quarter midgets, cuz I thought is was a new breed of racing QH ponies, but I think your son will be super bored in a round pen. He’d probably learn faster and figure it out sooner if he was in a larger space doing timed events. My boys were bored to tears up downing on the rail, but as soon as you gave them a pattern and said it’s a race, they were all over it.[/QUOTE]

Palm Beach, that is too funny! I should have clarified what QM’s were! I actually barrel raced and did pole bending 20 years ago on the national circuit and was pretty good. It would scare the $%^& out of me to have him doing that, but good point on telling him it’s a race. His pony is pretty agreeable, so maybe once he masters the trot and canter I can turn him loose and say it’s a race!

Seems like most people on COTH don’t see much of a horsey use for a round pen, and that’s what I’m afraid of. I don’t want it to not be useful. I did end up stacking all the panels in my old indoor last night, so do think I will “set up shop” in there over the winter and can see if I will use it at all.