Horses - fencing advice needed

[tractorshopper]

Longer term plan for my property is to put up the nice looking 4 rail wood fencing at least around the perimiter, and section the rest, but let's say I wanted to put two horses over there in the meantime (will build there later, live about 4.5 miles away currently), what would be the most economical and easy set up to get started with? How many acres should I initially fence for 2 horses? Short while back had 2 horses offered to me for free but couldn't take them because I'm not set up for it yet. Again last night had another person mention a possibility. Some people change priorities over time and get tired of the upkeep or the kids have left home and they have no need to keep them up when they want to retire and travel etc. Also, can horses drink from a spring fed creek or do I need to route the fencing to keep them out of it? No down stream issues if they did get into it. Creek feeds into a 30 acre lake. Appreciate any help and insight. Just looking for a quick solution that can be made better in the future as I get more time and money.

 

[RDrancher]

Our horse fence for the last eight years has been t-posts spaced at ten feet with four strands of slick wire. We use fence stays between each post and t-post braces at the corners and gates. Inexpensive and easy to put up. Finicky horse owners (you know how they are) will tell you that t-posts are dangerous but we've had zero problems with them. They make rubber and plastic caps for the posts if its a concern.

You'll hear the same complaint from those same finicky horse owners concerning your creek. A spring fed creek is the best water you will ever find for your horses. Our half acre pond is fed from pasture runoff and works just fine.

Rule of thumb is one acre per horse.

 

[jayste]

I agree with RD on all matters up to and including the finicky horse owners! :laughing: Anyway, we've got 'em and even have them around some "BARBED" wire. Yes, we've had mishaps and it's a calculated risk. Lets face it, horses are an accident waiting to happen! But! we like 'em and we put up with them.
'Nuff said on all that. T-posts and wire will work, electric will work, pipe and wood rail will work. It really depends on your situation and if others (people types) will be fooling around since you won't be close to check on them. As a temporary means we use solar powered fence chargers with small fiberglass posts along with T-posts as well. As far as the head/acre call it's yours since you live a little East of us folks in the current "drought zone". Folks around here are culling them due to no feed or water as well. Be careful of over-grazing since horses like short grass and will eat it right to the dirt. They need constant access to water especially if that's what they're used to. Horses digestive system will adapt just not too rapidly. Oops, I'm running off on tangent again and not about fencing. Sorry, I'll pitch it back to you.

 

[NorTracNY]

I put in wood rails. The fence has held up well. I think the one thing to note about RD is that it's not necessarily the "finicky" owners. It's really going to depend on the horses and their environment. If they have plenty of space and grass you may be more likely to get away with the fence. I've had horses that didn't like eachother. I had one nail another into the fence and bust the rails. I have t-post fencing around my garden. I had a deer get caught up in it and bend a t-post.

 

[RDrancher]

I think the one thing to note about RD is that it's not necessarily the "finicky" owners.

I'll clarify...Wood rails and posts are better IF you can afford them. Pipe and cable is even nicer!

No insult intended for "sane" horse owners. My wife belongs to a couple of equine forums. Any mention of t-posts invites an instant verbal thrashing! I think she may actually do it on purpose.

 

[jayste]

I'll clarify...Wood rails and posts are better IF you can afford them. Pipe and cable is even nicer!

No insult intended for "sane" horse owners. My wife belongs to a couple of equine forums. Any mention of t-posts invites an instant verbal thrashing! I think she may actually do it on purpose.

No explaination needed here, RD. I know the type....usually have deep pockets, with a lot of cash but not always a lot of "sense" uh, I mean cents. You could put a calm horse in a padded room and he'd find a way to get a cut, sore his back, gouge his eye, get rain-rot or founder! :laughing: One thing he'd do in a hurry and that's poop in it!

One thing I forgot to tell the OP is that strung along with those T-posts and fiberglass posts leading from the fence charger is fence string. Tape is more visible though.

 

[Hollow]

I live in the Southeast and I wouldn't put a horse on any less than 2 acres per horse if the land is available. They can live off of a smaller lot but if there is a small drought they can eat the grass down to the dirt in a hurry. If that happens you'll have to feed them hay in the summer time which can easily pay for the extra fencing. As far as fencing goes, a two strand electric fence will hold them but I have a four strand fence. I alternated barbed wire on top, electric, barbed, electric. The electric will keep them off the fence completely but if it goes out while I'm not home I don't have to worry about them getting out with the barbed wire backup. I put the t-posts every 14' apart and I've never had a problem.

 

[bucktaker]

As a Common sense horseowner I would recommend the High tensile wire fencing. cost per foot is low is if installed yourself. Plan on fencing the entire perimeter of your property.
1) build strong corners they are the base of the system.
2) wood posts set 50-75 feet apart with fiberglass spacers if needed
3) solar powered fence charger if no onsite electric available.

Free Horses????? Stay away from them no horse is really free. With the economy the way it is horse prices have dropped so low a really good horse is affordable (and costs the same to keep) . Be very selective and picky before you get one. A cow or calf is cheaper than a horse if you need a animal to put on the place.

 

[MMagis]

A cow or calf is cheaper than a horse if you need a animal to put on the place.

Cheaper to buy, or cheaper to maintain? To maintain I would agree with, but horses are cheaper to buy these days.

 

[drssg]

This is a little off from the OP's original question, but I would suggest working in the following order:

1. Build a house and move to the property.
2. Build fence, shelter, and utilities to reasonably house horses.
3. Get a horse or two.

Horse's are dirt cheap (to purchase) and there are plenty of them. You don't have to jump at a "good deal". The initial cost is a tiny fraction of the expense of keeping horses.

If you don't live there, and are too busy to develop the facilities you want, any "temporary" solution will drag on for years and years. It will become very easy to neglect providing the horses with the care you'd like. They will become a burden that you never have time to enjoy and struggle to provide the most basic care.

Just MHO.

 

[5030]

We have had horses for 30 years and the best fencing is hot fencing, the hotter the better. Only takes one or two times for a horse to get the idea when it's nose gets BBQ'd........

I'm into lighting them up and saving the fence work.

Keep in mind it will 'light you up as well' if you get forgetful and never pee on an electric fence wire............

 

[lockhaven]

a few points that I have always gone by.
when building any fence for horses make the corners a large radii that way an aggressive horse cannot squeeze another into the corner, electric always works well with horses because it takes them some time to realize that the electric and or the fence is down, in most cases. as far a horses being cheap????? i dont care if the cost of obtaining one is zero. horse feed $12 per 50# hay $9 per bale, hoof trimming 25 per foot and the vet bills better take out a second mortgage. just my humble opinion :confused2:

 

[grsthegreat]

For my place i put up white vinyl 3 rail in front where people drive by ....cause it look so nice.

The rest of my fencing is non-climb 60" fence using t post spaced 10' apart and a wooden post every 100'. Anytime there was a drastic change in slope, i installed a double h braced wood section.

I had 20 acres to fence and x-fence all by myself, so it took some time. But its real easy to maintain, keeps the dogs and horses in, allows wildlife access, and keeps the 2 legged vermin out.


Now for the 10 acres accross th street. This is all grass pasture and its nothing but metal t post every 10-12 feet and 2 runs of poly electric fencing hooked up to a Gallagher charger. But one good thing with Fjord horse's is...i probably don't even need any fencing. If there is grass on the ground, they wont walk away from it. Even if all the fences blew down, the horses would still be there.

Their such pigs

 

[rasimmo]

I have t-posts every 8 feet with 4 strands of smooth wire. I put a hot wire at the top and between the two middle strands so they don't push on the fence. I would also use the 2 acres per horse rule as a minimum. I am not sure about prices where you are, but fencing 4 acres this way would be around 12 or 15 hundred in materials in my area.(that is a rough guess)

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Longer term plan for my property is to put up the nice looking 4 rail wood fencing at least around the perimiter, and section the rest, but let's say I wanted to put two horses over there in the meantime (will build there later, live about 4.5 miles away currently), what would be the most economical and easy set up to get started with? How many acres should I initially fence for 2 horses? Short while back had 2 horses offered to me for free but couldn't take them because I'm not set up for it yet. Again last night had another person mention a possibility. Some people change priorities over time and get tired of the upkeep or the kids have left home and they have no need to keep them up when they want to retire and travel etc. Also, can horses drink from a spring fed creek or do I need to route the fencing to keep them out of it? No down stream issues if they did get into it. Creek feeds into a 30 acre lake. Appreciate any help and insight. Just looking for a quick solution that can be made better in the future as I get more time and money.

I just went through this.
Here is my journey, http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/222283-temporary-horse-pasture-fencing-advice.html
so far we are VERY happy having our horses on our property now.

Best of luck!

David

 

[yelbike]

I work with some local farmers and horse owners, all I can say is it depends on the particular animals. I have one character of a horse owner:confused2: that has young stallions and he has a hard time keeping them in their pens with post and rail with electric line on top and bottom. Keep in mind some of his horses race at the local track.

Strong, well anchored corners is good advice. :thumbsup:

Also check with local bylaws concerning the horse per acre count. I think one horse per acre is the norm though.

 

[grsthegreat]

. I think one horse per acre is the norm though.

gee, i need 25 more horses then...wait, did i say that

Just shoot me now

 

[Ken45101]

This is a little off from the OP's original question, but I would suggest working in the following order:

1. Build a house and move to the property.
2. Build fence, shelter, and utilities to reasonably house horses.
3. Get a horse or two.

Horse's are dirt cheap (to purchase) and there are plenty of them. You don't have to jump at a "good deal". The initial cost is a tiny fraction of the expense of keeping horses.

If you don't live there, and are too busy to develop the facilities you want, any "temporary" solution will drag on for years and years. It will become very easy to neglect providing the horses with the care you'd like. They will become a burden that you never have time to enjoy and struggle to provide the most basic care.

Just MHO.

Good sense there.

Don't collect horses just because they are cheap. Even a free horse is very expensive.

If you have good pasture, 2-3 acres/horse should be the minimum. Ideally you should cross fence it so that you can do rotational grazing.

How strong of fence you need depends on the horses and how much grass they have. We get by with fairly light fencing but we have plenty of grass (30+ acres) so they don't have any reason to go next door.

IMO, the cheapest is 2-4 strands of smooth wire (heavy gauge like barb wire) with at least the top line hot. The easiest to put up is the electrified rope. Less posts needed (they can be spaced 30-35' part) and unbraced wood corner posts. We have one pasture with only two strands of that and it's worked very well. We have had a couple of horses get out of that, but only after the electric had been off for a month :laughing: The downside of that is that the grass and weeds need to be kept down underneath it, and it is more expensive than wire fence. But easier to put up.

I don't like the "field fence", we put some of it up when we were breeding and had to keep the foals in. But it's hard to trim or mow around it and horses can get their hooves caught in it unless you use the very expensive "no climb" type of fence.

Board fence is expensive and a lot of work and isn't enough by itself. It need electric fence to keep the horses from breaking it down.

Ken

 

[MMagis]

Also check with local bylaws concerning the horse per acre count. I think one horse per acre is the norm though.

Laws? I've never heard of any such law. Not saying they don't exist somewhere (CA?), but I don't know of any.

 

[Ken45101]

Laws? I've never heard of any such law. Not saying they don't exist somewhere (CA?), but I don't know of any.

I think some places may have such restrictions based on zoning, e.g. neighbors not wanting to live next to a 2 acres spot with a herd of 50 horses. It's probably more to do with "residential" neighborhoods than with rural land.


Ken