The Round Pen

The round pen is the first stop for training for both rider and horse.  It is also a place to start for those who have been off the horse for a while.  The round pen is a controlled environment for which provides security for a new horse and a warm an fuzz feeling for a new rider.  Most riders learning to communicate with their horse without reins find the round pen too large at the start.   As the communications between the horse and rider become more proficient the round pen appears to become smaller and smaller.  Riders graduate from the round pen to the training ring before taking to the trail.  The round pen is most used between 1 April and 1 October.

This round pen is 75 foot in diameter.  It is portable in the sense that it is not fasten to the ground and can be moved.  Each panel is 12 feet long and each gate opening, except the main gate, is part of a 12 foot panel.