Setup your own Livestock Pen Obstacle

One of the obstacles used in the Working Equitation Ease of Handling Trial is the Livestock Pen. For reference, the USAWE rules can be found here, the specifications for the Pen obstacle are located in Appendix B on page 5. The description of the Pen is as follows:

This obstacle consists of a round enclosure 6 m (20 ft) in diameter, with an entrance between 1.5-m (5-ft) and 2.5-m (8-ft) wide. Inside the round enclosure is a smaller round fenced enclosure 3 m (10 ft) in diameter meant to simulate a livestock pen. The inner pen should be made to fall down easily for the safety of the horse. The inner pen may have small animals or statuary placed inside of the enclosure. The corridor around the livestock pen should be 1.5-m (5-ft) wide.

If you're looking to setup your own Pen obstacle it can be challenging and a little expensive. In this article we share how you can set up the obstacle using our Pen Connectors, but this information can be helpful if you wish to setup your own without our Pen Connectors.

⚠️ Safety First

This Pen Connector Kit uses strong neodymium magnets. They can snap together quickly and pinch fingers. Handle with care and keep magnets away from electronics and children.

What’s Included in the kit

Inner Ring Connectors

  • 32 total – 16 × I1 and 16 × I2
  • Used for 8 inner panels (4 connectors per panel)

Outer Ring Connectors

  • 34 total – 17 × O1 and 17 × O2
  • Used for 18 outer ring 4″ × 4″ × 3′ wood pieces
  • 16 pieces use one O1 and one O2
  • 1 piece uses O1 only (end segment)
  • 1 piece uses O2 only (end segment)

Fasteners

  • 132 × #6 wood screws (2 per connector), stainless or coated recommended for outdoor use.

🔸 Some kits include magnets pre-installed; others require installation (see below).

Magnet Installation (if not pre-installed)

The connectors are designed for 3/4" x 1/4" N35 Neodymium Magnets, the specific ones we use are found on Amazon. For the standard kit, 66 of these magnets are required. Magnets are polarized and will only connect together if positioned with opposite polarity. All of the connectors labeled with a 1 must have the polarity the same, all the connectors labeled with a 2 must be the opposite polarity.

  1. Add a small drop of super glue on each side of the magnet slot.
  2. Ensure you have the correct polarity facing out for the connector.
  3. Push the magnet all the way in, should be slightly below the face.
  4. Let the glue fully cure before assembly (1 hour should be plenty).

Tools You’ll Need

  • Cordless drill/driver or manual screwdriver
  • 1/8″ drill bit (for pilot holes if needed)
  • Tape measure
  • Screwdriver or stake + string (for layout radius)
  • Gloves (optional for magnet safety)
  • Level (optional)

💡 Tip: Use a stake or screwdriver as the center point of your ring, tie a string to it, and measure out the desired radius.

Materials You Provide

  • Inner Ring Panels: 8 panels ≈ 4′ × 2′. Note: 4' panels are used because they are easy to source. It will create an inner ring that is approximately 10'6" in diameter, which is slightly bigger than the rules. If you want to have a ring closer to 10' in diameter you would need to cut the length down to 45 9/16". The exact length will depend on the thickness of your panel, but this should get you close. The following instructions assume a 4' length panel and a 10' 6" diameter inner ring.
  • Outer Ring Wood: 18 pieces of 4″ × 4″ × 3′
  • Large stores can often cut longer boards to 3′ lengths (free or small fee)
  • #6 wood screws: 132 total
  • (Optional) Paint or stain; use pressure-treated wood if unfinished
  • 💡 Pre-cut 4′ × 2′ “project panels” at Home Depot or Lowe’s work well for the inner ring and can be different thicknesses or styles, like picket fence panels

Prepare & Attach Connectors to the Outer Ring Pieces

  • 16 pieces get one O1 (left end) and one O2 (right end)
  • 1 piece gets only an O1 (end segment)
  • 1 piece gets only an O2 (end segment)
  1. Lay out your 18 pieces of 4″ × 4″ × 3′ wood.
  2. Align each connector flush with the ends, logo faces towards the top, will be facing up when setup; secure with two screws (snug, not overtight).

Prepare & Attach Connectors to the Inner Ring Panels

  • All 8 pieces will have connectors on each corner of the inside of your panels. The I1 labeled connectors go on the left side, the I2 ones on the right.
  1. Lay out the 8 panels on a flat surface.
  2. Align each connector flush with panel edges, logo faces towards the top, will be facing up when setup; secure with two screws per connector (snug, not overtight).

Assemble the Outer Ring (10′ Radius)

  1. Choose the center point of your ring and insert a stake or screwdriver.
  2. Tie a string and mark a 10′ radius from the center.
  3. Place the first 4×4 (with a single O1 connector) so its outside corner is exactly 10′ from center – this marks one side of the opening.
  4. Measure 10′ to the other end of that 4×4 and connect the next piece by clicking its O1/O2 magnets together.
  5. Continue around the circle, using the string to keep each outer corner at 10′.
  6. Finish with the final 4×4 that has only the O2 connector to complete the ring.

Assemble the Inner Ring (5′ 3" Radius)

  1. Using the same center stake, shorten your string to a 5′ 3" radius.
  2. Set the first panel so its outer edge is at the 5′ 3" mark.
  3. Connect the next panel by aligning and letting the magnets click together.
  4. Work around the circle, keeping panel edges aligned to the 5′ 3" mark.
  5. Slide panels slightly for fine adjustment as needed.

Disassembly

To take down your pen: slide panels apart rather than pulling straight away to reduce strain on magnets and connectors.

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