If you’re planning to build a farm or fence in a new pasture in the future, then it’s important to have a solid understanding of the basics of horse fence building. Here are a few topics to consider before you get to purchasing and installing your new fencing.
Height
Just how high you build your fence will depend on the horses you’re using it to contain. Fencing should be at least as high as the withers of the tallest horse to be turned out. If the fence will be used to contain stallions, then its height should be increased by a foot.
Number of Boards or Strands
Typically horse fencing consists of three or four boards. The height of your fence may help to determine how many boards you use – if your fence will be taller, using four boards instead of three reduces the amount of space between them. You will most likely want to hire a fencing company to do this, go to https://www.skilledfencing.com.au/colorbond-perth/ and have them help you install the fence. Three boards can also suffice for many fences, but be sure that the spaces between fence boards are small enough to deter horses from reaching through them. The bottom board should also be no more than one foot above the ground once the fence is installed; any more height allows horses to reach underneath the board, potentially damaging the fence or injuring themselves.
Fencing Format
How you design the layout of your fencing is just as important as the fencing itself. If fence lines will only house a horse on one side, then be sure to install the fence boards so that they are attached to the inside of the posts – this will prevent the boards from easily popping off of the posts if a horse leans on them.
When you design the layout of the pastures, decide if you will need walking lanes between them. If so, then leave plenty of space for a horse and leader to safely pass between pastures without horses in the pastures being able to reach the passing horse over the fence.
Corners of pastures can be another tricky area. If possible, try to avoid sharp corners, and round the fencing for a more gradual curve. Horses can pin one another into a corner, and corners also encourage sliding stops, which can result in injuries. Additionally, when you lay out the placement of gates, try to locate them away from corners to avoid horses bunching up to try to push through the gate at feeding or turn-in time.
Installation Plans
Just how you go about installing your fence will depend on the type of fencing you’re using and the amount of area you’ll cover, but regardless of your method, always double check your property lines before you install fencing. Double checking now can prevent a headache later on if you’ve made a mistake.
Careful planning can ensure that your fencing is a safe, effective, and pleasing addition to your equine property. Rest assured that whichever stage of planning you’re in, Buckley Fence, LLC has the engineering experience to help you design the perfect fence to suit your property and livestock needs.
