THE ZIG CORRAL

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Next-at the fence ends and the gate opening-dig pairs of postholes about three feet deep and 6" or 8" apart. (You want them close enough so the cedar fenceposts that go into the holes will hold the rails snugly.) As you can see in Fig. 2, made allowance for an 18" walk-through where the fence meets my shed. To do this, I placed the first pair of postholes about 30" from the outbuilding. (A man can walk through an 18" gap easily, but a horse can't.)

Now set the posts in their holes and place foundation stones between or against them.

HOW TO ERECT THE CORRAL'S SIDES

Starting at the walk-through, place a log on the first set of base rocks. Check to make sure that the timber protrudes far enough through the end posts so that it leaves less than an 18" gap at the walk-through. (The excess will be trimmed off later.)

OK. Working from the outside of the paddock, lay the small end of the next log on the right end of the first log (assuming you intend to work from left to right, or counterclockwise, around the corral). Move around the corral, setting the left end of each successive rail atop the right end of the preceding one. (Hint: Always keep the small end of each log to your left. The right end of each log should rest on a foundation stone.) Complete the circuit, but leave the gate area empty. (See Figs. 1 and 2.)

You may find it necessary to flatten the contact areas of the poles to keep them from rolling. If so, have a friend hold up the end of the upper rail as you do this (see Fig. 4). Also, as you build the fence higher, try to keep the logs' centers of contact directly above the base rock (or-if anything-tilted slightly toward the center of the corral) and in a straight line. Eyeball accuracy is good enough

Before you begin the second course of rails, nail pairs of rail rests (the 6" X 24" boards mentioned under "Materials" above) between all four sets of double fenceposts at right angles to the rail just below, as shown in Fig. 3 and to the far right of Fig. 5. (Nail additional pairs of the rests to the posts every time a new course of rails is to be put in place.)

Now-starting back at the walk-through-you can begin to lay the second course of rails. Lay the left end of the first log on top of the rail rests you've just installed and work your way around the corral (counterclockwise as before), again keeping the small end of each log to your left.

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