08/26/2026
Obstacle highlight: The Pen
The example in this video received a 7.5/10 in competition
The pen is performed at a walk at the lower levels and a walk or a canter at levels 5, 6, 7. The horse should enter the obstacle at the prescribed gait in one direction, exit the obstacle, and re-enter the obstacle going the opposite direction. The rider may choose which direction to go first unless specified on the course map or by the judge. A higher score will be given if the obstacle is entered straight at a perpendicular angle (this is required at L6). If cantering, a lead change is required.
In the speed trial, the pen is prescribed in one circuit only and rider may choose direction unless specified by the course map or the judge.
The pen consists of a round enclosure, 6 meters or 20 ft in diameter with an entrance between 5 and 8 ft wide. Inside the round enclosure is a smaller round fenced enclosure 10 ft in diameter meant to simulate a livestock pen. The corridor should be 5 ft wide. It must be able to fall down easily when hit by horse or competitor.
Now Ria’s advice for the pen!
Admittedly, the pen is not my strongest obstacle but I can give some advice based on the things I have struggled with.
1. Have a plan so you don’t forget which way you have already gone. I tend to go the same way first each time so I don’t forget which way to go. I still practice both ways at home but in competition I usually go the same way first
2. There is only one change of bend in the pen! If you enter tracking right first, you exit with a right bend, change directions to the right and change bend to reenter the obstacle tracking left with a left bend.
3. When introducing a new horse to the pen, it can be helpful to start out in hand or following another horse. I like to start by walking circles around the outside of the pen to give my horse a chance to see the obstacle out of both eyes before entering the enclosure.
As always, the explanation of these obstacles was paraphrased from the rule book at usawe.org
