Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The land in pens and runs is considered a “sacrifice” because no vegetation is expected
to survive the constant traffic. If the natural lay of the land doesn't slope away from the
barn or shed, then excavation should remedy this so that the shelter under the building is
high and dry and the pen or run gradually slopes about 2 degrees away from the building.
There should be a buffer zone around the sacrifice pen, especially on the downsloping side.
The buffer zone can be well-established grass, trees, or bushes that will act as a filter for
pen runoff.
Depending on the native soil, footing can be added to provide cushion and minimize
mud. Some choices are decomposed granite, road base, and pea gravel.
A sheltered feeding area with rubber mats allows a horse to eat off ground level without
ingesting sand or wasting feed.
In the loafing area of the pen, bedding can be used to encourage a horse to lie down, but
it usually invites a horse to defecate and urinate there also. This behavior can be minimized
or eliminated by locking a horse out of the loafing or eating area except during specific
times.
Pen fencing can be made from metal panels or continuous fencing. Panels don't require
setting posts, so are more adaptable to changing pen size or shape. Whatever pen fencing
is used, it needs to be tall enough (5 feet is OK; 6 feet is better) and strong enough to with-
stand roughhousing, rubbing, and playing across the fence. Panel connections should be
tight and safe. (See
chapter 11
,
Fencing, for panel details.)
