Round pen
Encyclopedia
The round pen sometimes called a bullpen is a round enclosure
used for horse training
. They range in diameter from a minimum of 30 feet (9.1 m) to a maximum of 100 feet (30.5 m), with most designs 50 to 60 ft (15.2 to 18.3 ) in diameter. Footing is usually sand or other soft dirt. The sides are 6 to 8 ft (1.8 to 2.4 ) high, traditionally made of wooden posts with rails or wooden boards, modern round pens are often made out of portable pipe panels that allow the pen to be made bigger or smaller, or to be moved.
Designs and those intended for control of untamed feral horse
s are made of heavy lumber and up to 8 feet (2.4 m) high, to prevent the animal from jumping out or running through the fence. Most modern round pens, however, are intended for domesticated horses who do not fear humans, and are about 6 feet (1.8 m) high, to discourage jumping out, but less expensive. Traditional round pens had closely spaced rails, both for strength and also to discourage the animal from seeking escape. There are two common modern designs. One, particularly if made of pipe or round rails, is a traditional fence design, with fewer rails than the historic type, as the modern domestic horse usually respects fences and will not see the gaps between rails as offering escape. In this design, the bottom section of the fence may be solid to prevent the sand or loose dirt from being pushed out of the pen by the movement of the animal. The other design, sometimes called a "bullpen," has completely solid walls, usually plywood
placed over traditional rails, to completely block all outside visual distractions and to allow the horse to concentrate on the handler. Sometimes the walls of a bullpen slant outward slightly. The solid-walled design may also reduce wind, and thus allow work in more inclement weather than a more open design.
Most round pens are located outdoors, but due to their relatively small size can easily be enclosed by a roof or a tension fabric building. Round pens made of portable panels are sometimes set up within a larger riding arena
allowing one horse to be worked in the round pen while others may still ride along the rail of the larger area.
The round pen has historic roots dating to the tradition of Spanish horsemanship and probably even earlier antecedents. In North America, it was used for horse-breaking Mexico and came north with the vaquero
s to be adopted by cowboy
s in the western United States. Today the round pen is used in Europe for some forms of classical dressage
training and in the Americas as a common tool of western riding
training methodology that is particularly popular with the natural horsemanship
movement.
The round pen allows greater interaction between horse and handler and more control over the horse because it cannot fully avoid its human handler. It is used for many forms of training, including ground work such as longeing
and liberty work, or for riding
. If may also be used for turnout and free exercise. It is most often used today for the purpose of training young horses, though is also used for exercising or riding mature horses and a place for the first rides of a beginning rider who is controlling his or her own horse for the first time. More experienced horses may be ridden in a round pen in situations where control or focus are particularly desired.
Pen (enclosure)
A pen is an enclosure for holding livestock. The term describes multiple types of enclosures that may confine one or many animals. Construction and terminology varies depending on region of the world, purpose, animal species to be confined, local materials used, and cultural tradition...
used for horse training
Horse training
Horse training refers to a variety of practices that teach horses to perform certain behaviors when asked to do so by humans. Horses are trained to be manageable by humans for everyday care as well as for equestrian activities from horse racing to therapeutic horseback riding for people with...
. They range in diameter from a minimum of 30 feet (9.1 m) to a maximum of 100 feet (30.5 m), with most designs 50 to 60 ft (15.2 to 18.3 ) in diameter. Footing is usually sand or other soft dirt. The sides are 6 to 8 ft (1.8 to 2.4 ) high, traditionally made of wooden posts with rails or wooden boards, modern round pens are often made out of portable pipe panels that allow the pen to be made bigger or smaller, or to be moved.
Designs and those intended for control of untamed feral horse
Feral horse
A feral horse is a free-roaming horse of domesticated ancestry. As such, a feral horse is not a wild animal in the sense of an animal without domesticated ancestors. However, some populations of feral horses are managed as wildlife, and these horses often are popularly called "wild" horses...
s are made of heavy lumber and up to 8 feet (2.4 m) high, to prevent the animal from jumping out or running through the fence. Most modern round pens, however, are intended for domesticated horses who do not fear humans, and are about 6 feet (1.8 m) high, to discourage jumping out, but less expensive. Traditional round pens had closely spaced rails, both for strength and also to discourage the animal from seeking escape. There are two common modern designs. One, particularly if made of pipe or round rails, is a traditional fence design, with fewer rails than the historic type, as the modern domestic horse usually respects fences and will not see the gaps between rails as offering escape. In this design, the bottom section of the fence may be solid to prevent the sand or loose dirt from being pushed out of the pen by the movement of the animal. The other design, sometimes called a "bullpen," has completely solid walls, usually plywood
Plywood
Plywood is a type of manufactured timber made from thin sheets of wood veneer. It is one of the most widely used wood products. It is flexible, inexpensive, workable, re-usable, and can usually be locally manufactured...
placed over traditional rails, to completely block all outside visual distractions and to allow the horse to concentrate on the handler. Sometimes the walls of a bullpen slant outward slightly. The solid-walled design may also reduce wind, and thus allow work in more inclement weather than a more open design.
Most round pens are located outdoors, but due to their relatively small size can easily be enclosed by a roof or a tension fabric building. Round pens made of portable panels are sometimes set up within a larger riding arena
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
allowing one horse to be worked in the round pen while others may still ride along the rail of the larger area.
The round pen has historic roots dating to the tradition of Spanish horsemanship and probably even earlier antecedents. In North America, it was used for horse-breaking Mexico and came north with the vaquero
Vaquero
The vaquero is a horse-mounted livestock herder of a tradition that originated on the Iberian peninsula. Today the vaquero is still a part of the doma vaquera, the Spanish tradition of working riding...
s to be adopted by cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
s in the western United States. Today the round pen is used in Europe for some forms of classical dressage
Classical dressage
Classical dressage evolved from cavalry movements and training for the battlefield, and has since developed into the competitive dressage seen today...
training and in the Americas as a common tool of western riding
Western riding
Western riding is a style of horseback riding which evolved from the ranching and warfare traditions brought to the Americas by the Spanish Conquistadors, and both equipment and riding style evolved to meet the working needs of the cowboy in the American West...
training methodology that is particularly popular with the natural horsemanship
Natural horsemanship
Natural horsemanship is the philosophy of working with horses by appealing to their instincts and herd instincts. It involves communication techniques derived from wild horse observation in order to build a partnership that closely resembles the relationships that exist between horses.- Basic ideas...
movement.
The round pen allows greater interaction between horse and handler and more control over the horse because it cannot fully avoid its human handler. It is used for many forms of training, including ground work such as longeing
Longeing
Longeing or lungeing is a technique for training horses, where a horse is asked to work at the end of a long line and respond to commands from a handler on the ground who holds the line. It is also a critical component of the sport of equestrian vaulting...
and liberty work, or for riding
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
. If may also be used for turnout and free exercise. It is most often used today for the purpose of training young horses, though is also used for exercising or riding mature horses and a place for the first rides of a beginning rider who is controlling his or her own horse for the first time. More experienced horses may be ridden in a round pen in situations where control or focus are particularly desired.