Fencing

Purpose of Fencing
Keep horses separated Maintain boundaries Decrease liability Keep horses from getting hurt Add value to acreage

Fencing Basics
Average 2-10 acres/horse for year-round pasture Smaller paddocks increase amount of fencing and need for supplemental feeding Minimum recommended height o Five feet o Will deter most horses from jumping o Will also deter people from reaching over General rule o (especially for smaller paddocks/round pens) o The fence should be at a height that is even with the horses eye when the horses head is in a natural upright position o Approximately 4-6 above the withers Large pasture fencing can be shorter (4.5 feet) The fence rails should be a maximum of 6-8 from the ground o Helps prevent pawing injuries o Especially important in wire mesh fencing o Allows fence line to be grazed

Types of Fencing
Wood
Board/plank Buck fence

Good visibility Dimensions o 6 width o 8 sections o Posts > 4 diameter Traditional Many variations o Wood posts, visibility board at top Aesthetic appeal Increase property value Good visibility and safety

Wood Fencing Options Pine o Doesnt splinter o Better for young horses Cedar o Weathers and doesnt rot Spruce o Cheaper Oak o Best but expensive o Splinters when breaks $8-10/foot

Pipe
Strong Safe Dimensions o 2-3 diameter o Rails 16 apart o Posts 4 diameter Up to 15 apart Cost o $6-8/foot

Stone/Hedges

Very attractive Indestructible, unforgiving Provide windbreak Used on terrain where posts are difficult to set Expensive labour and materials if not in rocky area

Wire
Square (2x4) Chain link High tensile Dimensions o 3-4 off ground o 12 gauge wire o Posts 8-10 apart o $1/foot

Electric
Bad visibility Power o 1000-3500 volts o grounding

PVC
PVC-covered wood High tensile polymer Cost ($8-10/foot)

Rubber
Conveyor belts, tires Strong, resilient, visible 3/8-5/8 thick, 2.5-3.5 thick 4 posts set closer together because of the give brace corner posts

Posts
Fence posts are the foundation of the fence

Need to be vertical and in a straight line Rot retardants are important when using wood posts (chromated copper arsenate) o Pressure treatments o Untreated posts have life of treated posts o Treated can last 35 years Set 6-12 apart Corner and gate posts take more load, thus need to be 25% larger and set deeper (min 4) Set 2-3 in ground o Below frost line Driven or dug o Use concrete o Bell the hole o Most important to tamp soil o Compacts about 25% o Add 4-6 soil at a time to tamp

Gates
Sturdy Swing both ways 4-16 wide o 12 for tractor o 16 machinery Prevent sagging Easy operation

Bracing
12.5 gauge wire o the diagonal wire can be tightened with a wooden twitch as shown or with a wire tensioner

Dead mans brace o The end post should be large (10-12 in diameter) at least 4 feet in the ground o The dead man is a short (4 foot) piece of post buried just under the surface perpendicular to the end post on the loaded side o This positioning supports the post so when the post tries to lean, it must push the dead man through the soil sideways

Wood Preservatives
Prevent against

o Molds and stains o Fungi o Insects Wood preservatives o Waterborne o Oil-borne o Creosote solutions