ROUND PENS

I suggest information for correctly building 'safe' round pens

(I have seen many unsafe ones built).

Round pens (used for Join Up and much more) need to be built safely with sides/walls being built at least six to seven feet tall or more and with no gaps left between the top edges of where panels meet in order to prevent a cannon bone or fetlock slipping into. There should also be no spaces larger than 1.5 inches between horizontal panel slats or rails as a foot could fit through and becoming cast in such a way to do major damage (a mesh or closely spaced slats or flat panel of wood or flat metal is best). A good surface would be a packed clay base with about 1.5 inches of sand on top. Minimum size should be 60 feet diameter and 75 feet is even better.

OTHER TOOLS

Use rope halters for training as well a 12' and 22' rope, and for extra difficult horses (and particularly stallions) use a sturdy 4' to 4.5' stick (with a blunt end) as an extension to your arm, with ¼” string and popper attached , much like the Parelli (carrot stick) and sticks that many other trainers use . These tools are nothing new and have been in practice for hundreds of years.

WARNING

Training stallions is not generally recommended by other than experienced professionals.