Re: Portable Stalls

[mbp@holly.colostate.edu (Brad Patterson)]

Greetings Cathy!

Like Angela, I made PVC corral panels, which generally work fine except for
the horse prone to pushing them around, especially at the start of rides
when their buddy is leaving and they aren't!

Metal corral panels - too heavy, and I saw a horse at a ride who had a pen
that must have been a 1/4 acre in size put its head under one panel and
dump the whole thing (about 14 panels)!

Electric fences - NO WAY!  My horses live all year in pastures that are
subdivided with electric fencing, and they respect them.  However, that is
home.  Out on the ride is a new experience for everyone.  The first ride I
went to I set up my electric corral, and I have never slept worse - it
would never stop my horse if it needed to run away from something.  Ask
Larry Kanavy - his horse was killed at a ride where a horse got out of an
electric corral.  As a Ride Manager I have been tempted to ban them from
rides - been there, done that - they aren't safe!

Picket lines - They seem to work well, but I have heard of one instance
where a horse got a leg over the lead rope and almost sawed its foot off
trying to get untangled.  As with anything, try it at home several times,
and be careful.

My favorite, and what I use:  The Safety Fence from Custom Iron Workers.
Would have never bought it until I saw it.  Expensive but excellent, and
over time, worth the investment!  When first using it, I was on a slant,
and that left slack on one side of the fence - I almost considered leaving
endurance for a career in jumping when I saw my horse - standing - cleanly
clear 4.5' - twice! (I may be slow, but . . .  I just couldn't believe it
the first time!), so I ran electric line woven in the top of the fence, and
this is the most secure, easiest to use portable corral system I know of!
This is NOT a paid endorsement (but tell Monte anyway!).

Good luck & Happitrails!
Brad & Tugg!

                                                      1998  ENDURANCE CALENDAR

* April 4:  BOXELDER TRAILS 30/50 & 15 mile ROOKIE Ride (Wellington, CO)
* April 18:  PAWNEE GRASSLANDS I 25/50/75/100 Elevator  & 15 mile ROOKIE Ride
        * Mountain Region National Series Championship Ride *  (Briggsdale,  CO)
* June 20:  BEAVER MEADOWS 25/50/75/100 & 15 mile ROOKIE Ride
         (Red Feather Lakes, CO)
* July 18:  A MIDSUMMER'S MOONLIGHT RIDE 30/50 & 15 mile ROOKIE Ride
        (Wellington, CO)
* August 3-7:  2ND ANNUAL ROCKY MOUNTAIN RIDE 55/55/55/55/30-55
          (Monday-Friday; Arlington, Centennial and Mountain Home, Wyoming &
           Gould, Red Feather Lakes, and Stove Prairie, Colorado - Each day
is a seperate
           event, and rig drivers are available - Pre-Registration deadline
is July 1st)
* September 5-6:  HORSETHIEF PASS 25/50/25/50 & 15 mile ROOKIE Ride (Walden,
        CO)
* October 17:  PAWNEE GRASSLANDS II 30/50/75/100 Elevator  & 15 mile ROOKIE
         Ride (Briggsdale,  CO)
* November-December:  Winter rides to be announced.

 ***All Pre-Registration deadlines are nine days (postmarked) before the
ride unless otherwise noted.

                  ***PLEASE, IF YOU DON'T RIDE THE RIDE, VOLUNTEER!***

"There is no better way to see the world than from the back of a horse."

- Teddy Roosevelt

RIDE INFO:
 Email:  mbp@holly.colostate.edu
Mail:  1600 West Plum Street #28-H, Fort Collins, Colorado  80521
Phone/Fax:  970-491-8891