During the course of your daily chores, you probably encounter areas of your horse fencing system that need some serious help. You know that the longer you wait, weather and your horses will continue to take their toll. But, of course, budget, time and manpower considerations may make installing a new fence system out of the question. What are your options? There are actually several ways to improve the condition of an existing fence system, but you need to know where to start!
First, you need to evaluate the fence in question, making careful notes about the condition of posts, rail, wire, mesh, brackets - whatever materials are used. Prioritize your problems by identifying those areas that need immediate attention to ensure the safe containment of your horses. Now find an expert with a fencing company like All About Fencing. Be prepared to tell them what kind of fence you have; how many rails and of what material (wood, flexible rail, woven wire, mesh, etc.); current post spacing; bracing used (if any) for ends, corners and gate areas; size of the fenced area; number of horses regularly maintained in the area; unusual soil conditions; and the problems you are experiencing. The more information you share and the more questions you ask, the better equipped All About Fencing will be to advise you about the solutions available. You may want to discuss some of the following options with your fence expert:
- Adding electric to a spilt rail "broken" fence system. This type of post-and-rail fence generally constructed of wood is referred to as "broken" because the rails are installed as an independent unit from one post to the next contiguous post. As a rule, a split rail fence without electric will last anywhere from eight to twelve years with moderate daily use. Install new posts in the place of any that have begun to rot at the base, replace warped or damaged rails, and ensure that you have even soil compaction on both sides of the fence line to prevent loose or leaning posts. Avoid "quick fixes" such as supporting bad posts by driving stakes next to them or tying rails to posts; these can create a hazard for your horses. Supplement your repaired fence with electric mesh to minimize cribbing, "walking down", leaning or other equine behaviors that will damage your fence.
- Add a top site rail to woven wire fence. First, replace or repair any broken or damaged areas in a woven wire fence. Exercise care in splicing woven wire; each splice needs to be crimped and checked for sharp edges that can cut your horse (or you!). Check tensioning of your woven wire fence and ensure you have proper bracing in place on corners, ends and gate posts. Never use uncoated wire for fencing horses or other animals. Improve visibility of the fence by adding a top rail of continuous run flexible fencing. In widths ranging from 1" to 5-1/4", this type fencing has tremendous break strength which will alleviate the load on the woven wire.
- Ensure proper post spacing. For all fence systems, posts should be spaced at no more than 12 feet. Generally, a need for more than normal levels of maintenance may indicate inadequate post support for your fence. If your current fence has post spacing of 15 feet or more, you should consider adding posts to better distribute the pressure that your horses and the weather place on a fence.
Horses spend 50 to 100% of their time in a pasture surrounded by fence, so you need to make sure you maintain a safe, strong living space for your equine friends!!!
Whether you're looking for a repair or an entire new fence, All About Fencing will do the job right! give us a call at 615-587-0520!
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