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The Solution Section (FAQ)
What are Panel Caps and what problem do they solve?
Panel Caps (Patent Pending) are a product designed to enhance your horse's safety by filling the gap left where two standard corral panels are connected. Those exposed gaps can become a source of trouble and danger, and Panel Caps eliminate the problem completely. They were designed by horseman Rex Painter.
Why are the gaps between corral panels dangerous for a horse?
The gaps left in standard corral panels can trap a horse if they are left exposed. Nearly every horse owner has witnessed the nightmare of a hoof caught in a panel space, or a neck bruise or cut where a horse used a gap to reach tempting grass just outside the fence. Panel Caps are made to close those gaps so your fencing works for you and not against you.
What are Panel Caps made of, and will they hold up outdoors?
Panel Caps are made of tough, durable plastic. They are sun-resistant and built to last, and the company describes them as easy to install, durable, and extremely affordable. They are designed to take everyday outdoor use in your pens and corrals.
Will Panel Caps fit my round pen or angled corral?
Yes. Panel Caps conform to any angle up to 90 degrees, so they work on straight runs and corners alike. They are made for round pens, corrals, and everywhere your panel fencing leaves a gap.
Do you make caps for gates and gate connections too?
Yes. If your panel system includes gate units, Panel Caps offers panel-to-gate-unit connectors and gate cap sets, and the gate caps will make all of your gates safer. The company also offers specialized panel cap units made for multiple panel connections.
Are Panel Caps hard to install?
No. Panel Caps are designed to be a simple, affordable, and extremely easy way to close the gaps in your fencing. The company says you can't afford not to have them given how much time, care, and money your horses represent.
How do I order Panel Caps or ask a question?
Reach out and they'll get your order shipped to you right away. You can contact Panel Caps at 877-668-0699, email
[email protected], or visit http://www.panelcaps.net to learn more and get started protecting your horse.
What sizes do Panel Caps come in, and how do I know which one fits my corral panels?
Panel Caps are available in two sizes, Regular and Large, sized to the outside diameter of your panel or gate tubing. Most standard corral panels and gates are built from steel tubing roughly 1 3/4 inches outside diameter. To choose, measure the outside diameter of your panel rail: the Regular size fits tubing from 1 1/2 inch up to 1 7/8 inch, and the Large size fits 1 7/8 inch up to 2 1/16 inch. When you place your order, simply specify Regular or Large so your caps snap on snugly and hold a safe, tight connection.
What exactly are Panel Caps made of, and how do they hold up in the sun?
Panel Caps are molded from durable polyethylene with added UV inhibitors, so they resist fading and breakdown from constant sun exposure on outdoor round pens, corrals, and arenas. They come in a medium gray color that gives a clean, finished look to your panel fencing. The body is hinged, which lets a single cap conform to any angle up to 90 degrees, so the same cap works on a straight run or in a tight corner of a round pen.
What products are in the Panel Caps lineup?
Panel Caps offers a full lineup for closing gaps across an entire panel system: the Panel to Panel cap for joining two standard corral panels, the Panel to Bow Gate connector for tying a panel into a bow gate unit, the Gate Cap Set for finishing gate connections safely, the Three-Way for points where multiple panels meet, and the Three-Way with Bow Gate for multi-panel junctions that include a gate. Whether your setup is a simple round pen or a larger arena with gates, there is a cap or connector designed to fill the gap.
How are Panel Caps installed, and are fasteners included?
Installation is simple and the hardware comes with your order. The basic Panel to Panel caps snap on by hand for a safe, tight connection, and you can further secure them with nylon cable ties that are provided with every order. Panel to bow gate connectors install with two self-tapping screws per side, and gate cap sets use one self-tapping screw per side, with the self-tapping screws included. No special tools or fabrication are required to close the gaps in your fencing.
Will Panel Caps work on my gates and round pen, not just straight panel runs?
Yes. Panel Caps were designed to fit a variety of corral panel systems and are ideal for round pens, arenas, stalls, and gates. For panel systems that include bow gates, Panel Caps offers dedicated panel-to-bow-gate connectors and gate cap sets that make every gate connection safer. The hinged design conforming to any angle up to 90 degrees means the caps follow the curve of a round pen as easily as they finish a square corral corner, giving you a safer training environment throughout.
How do I place an order and what payment methods does Panel Caps accept?
To order or ask which cap fits your panels, call Panel Caps toll free or email, and they will get your order shipped right away. Panel Caps accepts checks and money orders for payment. Because pricing is straightforward and per-piece, you can order exactly the mix of Panel to Panel caps, gate connectors, gate cap sets, and three-way connectors your round pen, corral, or arena needs to close every exposed gap.
Who designed Panel Caps and where is the company located?
Panel Caps (patent pending) were designed by horseman Rex Painter, who built them to solve the real-world danger of the gaps left where standard corral panels connect. The company is based at 7123 Track Road, Nampa, Idaho 83686. Because the product was created by someone who works around horses, the caps are made to address the exact spots where a curious horse can catch a hoof or scrape a neck reaching through the fence.
What types of panel connections does each Panel Caps part cover?
Panel Caps makes a specific part for every junction in a steel panel system. The Panel to Panel cap covers a standard connection between two corral panels. The Panel to Bow Gate connector joins a panel to a bow gate. The Gate Cap Set protects and finishes gate hardware. For points where several sections meet, the Three-Way connector handles a multi-panel intersection, and the Three-Way with Bow Gate connector does the same where a gate is part of that junction. Using the matching part at each joint means no improvised covers and no gaps left exposed anywhere along the fence line.
How much do Panel Caps cost for each product in the lineup?
Panel Caps keeps pricing simple and affordable. The Panel to Panel cap is $11.95 and the Panel to Bow Gate connector is also $11.95. The Gate Cap Set is $10.95. For multi-panel junctions, both the Three-Way connector and the Three-Way with Bow Gate connector are $16.95 each. Because horses represent a major investment of time, care, and money, owners often find the cost of capping their connection points is small compared with the risk of a single injury at an open panel gap. Every order also includes the nylon cable ties and any self-tapping screws needed for installation.
How do I measure my panels to choose the Regular or Large Panel Cap size?
Start by measuring the outside diameter of the steel tubing your panels and gates are built from. Panel Caps come in two sizes: Regular fits tubing from 1 1/2 inch to 1 7/8 inch outside diameter, and Large fits 1 7/8 inch to 2 1/16 inch. Most standard corral panels and gates use tubing of about 1 3/4 inch, which falls inside the Regular range, but measuring your own rail before ordering is the surest way to get a snug, secure fit. When you place your order, simply specify whether you need Regular or Large so the caps grip your tubing correctly.
Will Panel Caps fade, crack, or break down after a season in the sun?
No. Panel Caps are molded from tough polyethylene with added UV inhibitors specifically so they stand up to year-round outdoor exposure. The UV stabilizers help the caps resist the fading, brittleness, and cracking that affect cheaper untreated plastics left in direct sun. The medium-gray color is molded into the material rather than painted on, so it does not chip or peel. That durability is part of why Panel Caps describe themselves as a one-time, set-and-forget upgrade to your corral rather than a part you will be replacing every year.
Can one Panel Cap fit both straight runs and the curves of a round pen?
Yes. Each Panel Cap is hinged so a single cap conforms to any angle up to 90 degrees. That flexibility means the same part works on a straight panel run, on the gentle curve of a round pen, and at a square corral corner without forcing, trimming, or buying a different part for each angle. This is one reason Panel Caps are described as perfect for round pens, arenas, stalls, corrals, and gates: wherever two panels meet at an angle, the hinged cap closes the gap cleanly and follows the line of the rail.
What tools do I need to install Panel Caps?
Very little. The standard panel caps simply snap on by hand and grip the joint immediately, then can be further secured with the nylon cable ties included in every order, so no tools are needed for those. The Panel to Bow Gate connectors install with two self-tapping screws per side, and the Gate Cap Sets use one self-tapping screw per side. All required self-tapping screws come in the box, so the only tool most owners reach for is a screwdriver or driver bit for the gate connectors. There is no welding, drilling of large holes, or special equipment involved.
Are fasteners and cable ties included, or do I have to buy them separately?
They are included. Every Panel Caps order ships with the nylon cable ties used to further secure the snap-on caps, and the gate connectors and gate cap sets come with the self-tapping screws needed to mount them. That means you can install your caps as soon as the order arrives without a separate trip to the hardware store. The kit-style packaging is part of keeping installation simple for everyday horse owners rather than something that requires a contractor or specialty parts.
Why are the gaps between corral panels actually dangerous for a horse?
At every point where two steel panels connect, the pins, loops, and rail ends leave an open gap or a hard protruding edge. Horses are curious, active animals that explore fence lines with their noses and lips, paw at rails, and reach through openings for grass just out of range. In that environment a hoof can slide into a panel space, a leg can become trapped, or a neck or lip can be bruised or cut on an exposed edge, often in the blink of an eye. Panel Caps close those gaps and smooth those edges so the fence that contains your horse cannot also injure it.
What is the Gate Cap Set and when do I need it?
The Gate Cap Set is the Panel Caps part designed to finish and protect gate hardware, priced at $10.95. Gates are a common trouble spot because the latching and hinging hardware creates pinch points and exposed edges right where horses crowd to come and go. The Gate Cap Set covers those points so the gate area is as safe as the rest of the enclosure. It installs with one self-tapping screw per side, with the screws included. If your panel system includes gates, pairing the Gate Cap Set with the appropriate Panel to Bow Gate connectors makes the entire opening safer.
What is a bow gate connector and how is it different from a standard cap?
A bow gate is a gate built into a panel run, and the connection between that gate and the adjoining panel is its own kind of junction. The Panel to Bow Gate connector, priced at $11.95, is shaped to tie a panel cleanly into a bow gate and close the gap at that specific joint, where a plain panel-to-panel cap would not fit correctly. For junctions where a bow gate meets more than one panel, the Three-Way with Bow Gate connector at $16.95 handles that more complex intersection. Choosing the bow-gate-specific part ensures the cap actually seats on the geometry of your gate.
In what settings do horse owners and trainers use Panel Caps?
Panel Caps are used anywhere steel panels connect or a gate meets a rail: round pens for groundwork and starting young horses, riding arenas, stall fronts and stall dividers, corrals, and gated turnouts. Trainers value the safer working environment when they are in close quarters with a horse during groundwork. Breeders use them to protect valuable foals and young stock that test fence lines. Everyday owners install them simply for peace of mind. Because the hinged caps adjust to any angle and the lineup includes parts for gates and multi-panel junctions, the system adapts to almost any portable or permanent panel layout.
How do Panel Caps stay in place once installed?
Panel Caps use a two-part hold. First, the cap body snaps directly over the panel connection and grips the tubing for an immediate, tight fit. Second, the nylon cable ties supplied with every order lock the cap down so vibration, weather, and a horse working the rail will not loosen it over time. For gate connectors and gate cap sets, the included self-tapping screws fasten those parts solidly to the steel. Together the snap fit plus ties or screws give a connection that stays secure season after season without needing re-tightening.
What payment methods does Panel Caps accept and how do I order?
Panel Caps accepts Visa, MasterCard, checks, and money orders. To order, owners contact the company toll free or by email, specify the cap and connector types they need for each junction in their panel system, and indicate the Regular or Large size based on their tubing diameter. Because every order includes the cable ties and any required self-tapping screws, the parts arrive ready to install. The company is based in Nampa, Idaho, and orders ship out promptly so you can close the gaps in your corral or round pen quickly.
Do I need a different part for a junction where three panels meet?
Yes, and Panel Caps makes one for exactly that situation. The Three-Way connector, priced at $16.95, is designed for multi-panel junctions where three sections come together, a point a standard two-panel cap cannot cover properly. If one of those three sections is a bow gate, the Three-Way with Bow Gate connector at $16.95 handles that combination. Using the correct three-way part at busy intersections keeps the connection smooth and gap-free, so even the most complex corner of your corral or pen is as safe as the straight runs.
Are Panel Caps worth it compared with leaving the gaps open?
Panel Caps frame the choice around what a horse is worth. Each animal represents a significant investment of time, care, and money, and a single injury from a trapped hoof or a cut on an exposed edge can be far costlier and more heartbreaking than capping the connections in the first place. With individual parts priced from $10.95 to $16.95, including cable ties and screws, and an easy snap-on installation, the upgrade is inexpensive and permanent. For most owners the value is simply knowing the fence keeping their horse safe is not also a hidden hazard.
