ISLE DU BOIS UNIT — Volunteers with the Denton County Horse Committee just finished two 12-square-foot horse pens at Ray Roberts Lake, the only of their kind in a Texas state park.

Part of campsites 177 and 178 in the Bluestem Grove equine area, the holding pens give area horse owners the chance to camp overnight with their animals, yet save money by staying close to home, said project chairwoman LeeAnn Jernigan, of Copper Canyon.

“People want and need to exercise their horses,” Jernigan said. “It was a no-brainer to be able to do this at Lake Ray Roberts.”

The horse committee, part of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, sponsors educational events. But with the economic downturn, the group shifted its focus this year toward projects that can help horse owners, Jernigan said.

Denton County extension agent Eddie Baggs estimates that there are about 26,300 horses in Denton County. Because his office has received more calls than usual from distressed horse owners, he asked the committee to come up with projects that support horse ownership.

In addition to organizing a low-cost horse health clinic each spring, the group decided that holding pens would improve the already-desirable facilities at Isle du Bois, Jernigan said.

Park personnel mow and maintain horse trails, which have multiple access points and small loops throughout, ultimately extending about 30 miles from around the lake and the Greenbelt Corridor, according to park ranger Sonny Solis.

“It’s not just a regular, half-mile loop,” Solis said. “It has elevation changes and is worthy of a day’s ride.”

Before the two pens were finished this week, Bluestem Grove only had hitches for horses, which are good for a temporary hold but not for a horse to be tethered for any length of time.

“Horses need to be able to look around to feel secure,” Solis said.

Caprock Canyons State Park features a large corral, but Isle du Bois offers the state parks system’s only corrals adjacent to individual campsites, Solis said.

The committee’s contribution is worth about $2,500, Jernigan said. It purchased the pipe at cost, and two area welders — Miller Hammond and Heath Campbell — donated their services to build the pens.

Park officials are pleased by the contribution, Solis said, particularly since the project strengthens its community ties.

Denton County is known nationally for its horse industry, which contributes about $110 million to the county’s economy, Baggs said.

Jernigan and Solis expect the pens to be a popular feature at the park.

For now, the park won’t charge extra for the sites, Solis said, but park officials may have to revisit the issue this winter if the pens become so desirable that they are like premium sites at other state parks.

Jernigan said the committee already has discussed building more pens if needed.

“We expect them to book fast,” Jernigan said. “You don’t realize sometimes how big an idea you’re having until it gets going.”

PEGGY HEINKEL-WOLFE can be reached at 940-566-6881. Her e-mail address is pheinkel-wolfe@dentonrc.com.