Portable Corral Panels Posted: Feb 2, 2009 at 12:56 PM
I'm looking at purchasing a set of portable corral panels,,for camping/overnight trips, etc. Found some that are 6' x 4' and attach with velcro straps; a set of 8 makes a 12' sq. pen, or can be used against your trailer for a larger one - they are made of galvanized tubing, and weigh 17# each if I am reading the specs correctly. Available from Metro Gates in Paris, TX. Would like to know if any of you have them or have any knowledge of this type. Any info on any type of portable corral would be great - but keep in mind - I will be hauling/setting up these by myself :-)- so can't do the really heavy type..thanks! ~Jude~
Re: Portable Corral Panels Posted: Feb 2, 2009 at 1:26 PM
Jude, I have a portable electric corral and I just love it. It is VERY easy to set up and uses very little space for storing. I purchased it at Teskey's in Weatherford. It comes in a bag that is is about 1 foot by 4 foot. Easy to carry, easy to tote and easy to store. The entire set up was about $250 and one of the best investments I have made. Melissa
Re: Portable Corral Panels Posted: Feb 2, 2009 at 1:53 PM
Classi: I have regular tubing panels with a mount attached to my trailer . I had my trailer place weld on the mounts and I can make a 12x12 pen for mine, as i hate chasing loose horses in the middle of the night lol Washy
Re: Portable Corral Panels Posted: Feb 2, 2009 at 3:31 PM
I use the electric corral myself, and just love it - I don't even have to hook up the power to it anymore - and almost anytime I need to put my horse "in" i can just wrap the electric string around anything and he'll stay in the wire - the panels previously they always leaned against, bent,pawed a foot through, rolled and got a leg hung into and than of course there was set up and tear down of it all...it is easy to train them to it... in your own pasture or fenced area...
But if you are set on panels - each has its pros adn cons - lifespan, weight, how hard your horse is on it, stored inside or out, how much effort you want to put into assembly - naturally the galvenized or aluminum types will last longer, no rust, be lighter than your steel type. Steel type or steel Tubing will be prone to holding water at any stress/fracture point - thus rust...steel will weigh more... there are vinyl pvc type panels if your horse is easy on corrals - they are adjustable to height, easy to assemble and of course if he gets hung up in them not as prone to injuring him.
Re: Portable Corral Panels Posted: Feb 2, 2009 at 7:47 PM
I have used both panels and electric and for me it's electric fence hands down. I put together my own kit.
a little battery operated charger, a few fiberglass rods, a roll of elec string, a couple gate handles, and a pkg of fasteners. oh and a stake (with a circular top for safety) as a ground rod. about $125
Not only is it a million times easier, but it is much more adaptable as well. You can make it as big or small as your space warrants. The ground doesn't have to be even. It takes up hardly any space, weighs basically nothing and goes up in minutes.
Re: Portable Corral Panels Posted: Feb 4, 2009 at 2:08 AM
Hey there...you can call Spur Innovations, they make the "Carri-lite" system....might be what you're looking for. http://www.carrilitecorrals.com or phone them direct at 317-442-5783. Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions.
Re: Portable Corral Panels Posted: Feb 5, 2009 at 2:32 AM
I hate to spoil what sounds like a good idea, but thought you would want to know. A friend bought a set of the "Carri-lite" panels and used them once. Only once. Her 'gentle' horse pushed until he pushed them over, reaching for grass. They were not very stable, but we thought they would hold her horse. Boy were we wrong! Now some of the panels are broken, totally unusable without major repairs.
I put together an electric fence with a set of stakes and a battery, and they work great.
Re: Portable Corral Panels Posted: Feb 5, 2009 at 7:15 PM
Thanks for all the suggestions/info! I already have a bunch of step in posts for electric fencing/tape..and a battery powered charger(using it on the dog yard but could steal it for a trip)...was just wondering about such things as water buckets, hay, etc, getting pushed under the wire and horse getting "popped" and tearing it up. Guess anyway you go, especially with horses there is always the potential for a "wreck"! At least that has been my experience. Don't have that many occassions where there are not pens/stalls,,but was just thinking ahead about the benefit ride at Tarrant,,and the Memorial Day "wing-ding" at the Circle G! Gotta get something going so I won't be missing out on any upcoming fun...thanks again,,and any more input and suggestions will certainly be appreciated .. ~Jude~
Re: Portable Corral Panels Posted: Feb 5, 2009 at 7:40 PM
Classy, instead of a regular water bucket I take one of those round muck tubs, you know the kind with the rope handles on the sides. If you pack stuff in them they don't use up more room in the trailer and are much less likely to get tipped over and spill that precious hauled water. I still take a regular bucket to fill it with. Personally I'd rather make several trips at once then not worry all day how long that one bucket of water lasts. Tip: Purchase them at WalMart for about 1/3 the price of the feed store. Make sure you pull one side of each rope handle down to make it tight up against the bucket so there is no loop a horse can stick a leg into. Feed your hay and grain in the middle and it is less likely to get pushed outside the fence. Also, rather than feeding large amounts of hay a couple times a day, If they are going to be standing around, I tend to feed a smaller amount many times a day so that they always have 'new' hay to keep them interested.
My charger makes a little whiney mosquito sound that tells the horses it is ON and they never, ever challenge it. Another trick is to make it zap against something when you first put them in so they hear it shock. The only horses I see challenge the electric are horses that the owner often leaves the fence off and have become savy to the fact that it does not always shock. You can always run a double strand a foot apart if you are uncomfortable with just the one.
I don't know what size your step in stakes are, but the ones I've seen are usually too low to be very effective, so make sure you have ones that will let you put that strand about chest height on your horse.
