I just set up a 60 ft. round pen in what used to be a sand volleyball court. After I graded it I couldn’t decide what footing to put it. After three months I still have not finished the round pen because of the question of footing. I kept coming back to the idea of pea gravel…I thought it would be a great way to exercise and ride my horses to help keep their feet tough through our wet, rainy Washington winters (and springs, summers, falls!). But I’ve never heard of anyone using pea gravel in a round pen, and nobody I even know rides their horses barefoot (except my friend who does my barefoot trims). I put pea gravel in my horses’ run-in stalls, but though my crazy idea of pea gravel in the round pen might be going overboard. Then I read your blog!!! I’m not crazy!

So please, tell me everything you can about the process you used. Did you just grade it, put down crushed limestone and then pea gravel? How thick was each layer? What size pea gravel did you use? Is the pea gravel compacted, or is is laid thick enough that there is some give? How are you keeping the pea gravel in the round pen? Will you exercise AND ride your horses in the pea gravel?

Any info you could post would be greatly appreciated!

PS…when you Join Up with Noelle I would love it if you would record and post it. I have the Join Up DVD series, but I think I’m having trouble with my timing. Monty is a professional horse trainer, he makes it look so easy. When I go out and do it I feel as though I’m not quite getting it right. I’d love to see someone who isn’t a professional horse trainer Join Up.

I recently purchased and set up a 60 ft. round pen in what used to be a sand volleyball court…after grading the area I’ve been pondering what kind of footing to put in, given there is already beach-type sand (which has been fairly compacted by the grading). I kept coming back to the idea of pea gravel, thinking I could help keep their feet tough year round by working them and riding them in the round pen on a regular basis. But I’ve never heard of anyone putting pea gravel in a round pen and thought I might be going overboard. And of course, all my friends who shoe their horses (I’m the only barefoot fanatic amidst the bunch of old-school friends I ride with) told me I was nuts to think about doing that. Then I read your post! I’m not crazy!

So please, tell me everything about the footing for your round pen. Did you just grade it, put the crushed limestone down and then top it with pea gravel? About how thick are each of your layers? Is the pea gravel fairly compacted, or did you lay it thick enough so it has some give? What size pea gravel did you use? I assume you will be joining up with, exercising and riding your horses in the round pen? How do you keep the pea gravel from spilling out of the round pen?

Anything and everything you can tell me about the process you used would be greatly appreciated! And just out of curiosity…what size is your round pen?

PS…I have Monty’s Join Up DVD series, but I’d love for you to record your Join Up session with Noelle and post it so those of us who are trying to do it (I just don’t think I’ve been able to get my timing right) can see it done by someone who isn’t a professional horse trainer. Monty makes it look so easy, but I’ve had trouble getting it right.

Thank you!

Big Hug to you and kathleen and all the horses and BENJI!! xxxxx