>>>> Do get panels that are square at the top corners or buy an insert so a horse can't get a hoof caught in the "V" where the two panels meet if they happen to rear up in play and come down with a hoof in between the panels.
The horse that I know locally that had to be humanely destroyed got caught in the bars of a pipe GATE. The pipe gates sold here don't have any "v" associated with them. Sure, horses are prone to accidents, and we can't protect them from everything...but when they are going to be stabled, they are more likely than ever to be bored, get cast, paw, whatever. Sheesh, Eitill would stay in a stall until he was bored, then he'd jump out - I shudder to think of a 13H pony trying to flat-foot over a pipe gate or panel. Mac, my 15.3H TWH, panicked in the pasture once when a tractor-booger unexpectedly came out of the woods near where he was standing. He, tall as he was, caught a rear foot in the gate as he jumped out, mangling the gate badly...but luckily his leg was ok. The smaller the enclosure, the greater the risk. Horses in pastures aren't too likely to lean on the gates, at least not for any extended periods. The way I see it, is that I rarely need to use a stall anyway. Stalls are mostly for MY convenience. If I can't have a really safe stall, I'll live without one until I can get a good one. In fact, we lived without stalls for about 10 years. Karen Thomas, NC No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.17/1178 - Release Date: 12/8/2007 11:59 AM
