Ansc 440: Horse Management *************************************************************************** Lecture 8: Fencing *************************************************************************** Description: Many factors are involved in trying to decide the appropriate type of fencing to meet your specific needs. Cost, type of horse, durability, maintenance, animal use, and safety are many considerations horse owners need to evaluate before choosing their fencing material. Horse owners should know all of their options for fencing materials first, and then choose the strongest, safest, most cost-effective fencing for your particular operation. Lecture Outline: I. Purpose II. Considerations for type of fence to be used III. Height of fencing A. Perimeter fencing B. Small paddocks (<3 acres), corrals, stallion pens IV. Types of fencing A. Wooden board B. Post and rail wooden fence C. Wire fencing 1. 5-diamond, V-mesh wire 2. Rectangular woven wire 3. Regular stock woven wire (square) 4. High-Tensile wire 5. Electric wire fence 6. Chain link fencing D. Rubber fencing E. Pipe fencing F. Poly vinyl chloride (PVC) fencing V. Gates Objectives: 1. Describe the considerations that need to be evaluated before choosing a fencing material 2. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using a 3 or 4 board wooden fence 3. Discuss the advantages of using 5-diamond, V-mesh wire for horses fencing 4. Describe the common disadvantage of using rectangular woven wire and stock woven wire 5. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using high tensile wire fencing 6. Explain why a fence of solely of electric wire should be used only as temporary fencing 7. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using PVC fencing 8. Explain the considerations that need to be evaluated before purchasing a gate I. Purpose A. Management/movement B. Safety of the horse C. Protect others D. Aesthetic properties/boarders II. Considerations for type of fence to be used A. Cost B. Type of horse that will be using pasture/paddock 1. older horses - may not require as strong of fence 2. foals/yearlings/stallions = more solid fencing C. Durability/life expectancy = maintenance D. Neighborhood location E. Animal use 1. time in pasture 2. animals/area = more horses a. more pressure between fences b. closer to barn F. Safety III. Height of fencing A. Perimeter fencing 1. min. of 5 ft 2. 6 ft with taller breeds B. Small paddocks (<3 acres), corrals, stallion pens 1. general rule -= top of fence should be eye level with the horse's head in a natural upright position - discourages fence fighting 2. stallion paddocks a. double fenced b. lane between them and next paddock IV. Types of fencing A. Wooden board 1. description a. 3 or 4 board = 12 to 16 ft long hardwoods rough cut 1" x 6" b. round or square posts = min. 4" (5" stronger) ->round posts are stronger 7 1/2 - 8 ft tall posts 2 1/2 - 3 ft set underground c. boards should be secured to the inside (horse side) d. bottom board 10 - 12" above ground -safer, strong, more efficient, practical d. white washed, black asphalt paint e. vertical boards optional diagram: 2. advantages a. aesthetics b. good for show and sale rings c. practical for stallion paddocks 3. disadvantages a. high maintenance b. horses chewing c. injury due to fractured or damaged boards 4. price/running ft a. 3 board = $1.20/ft b. 4 board = $1.85/ft B. Post and rail wooden fence 1. diagram 2. advantages a. aesthetics b. safer than some other types of fencing c. can be fairly strong 3. disadvantages a. highest maintenance of all types of fencing b. if not properly installed, rails can slip out of posts -unsafe fence -risk of loose horse c. not recommended for use with horses C. Wire fencing *lower maintenance that wooden *needs to be stretched and braced at corners 1. 5-diamond, V-mesh wire a. description -4-6" poles -wire can be raised 8 -12 " off ground to prevent horses from "walking down the wire" -all the way down = prevent dogs/other animals from getting in diagram: with 6" board or strand of electric wire (prevent "riding down") b. advantages - best and safest wire for horse fencing - close weave prevents horse (even foal) from catching foot in it - strong due to design/some flexibility - longer life span, less maintenance , and safer than board fencing c. disadvantages - may be harder to obtain the wire - more expensive e. price/ft w/wooden board $2.05 - $2.10/ft 2. Rectangular woven wire a. description -2" wide by 4" high -board at top to strengthen and increase visibility diagram: b. advantages - less maintenance than wooden - lower cost c. disadvantages -openings are lg. enough for a pony or foal's hoof to pass through -not as safe or as strong as V-mesh 3. Regular stock woven wire (square) a. description -openings at top of wire are larger than at bottom -wire should be at least 10 gauge or heavier (lower gauge # = heavier wire) -board on top to strengthen and increase visibility b. advantages -less maintenance than wooden -lower cost c. disadvantages -not as safe or as strong as V-mesh -openings at top of fence are lg. enough for horse to pass foot through d. price/ft -$1.18/ft 4. High-Tensile wire a. description -12.5 gauge smooth wire; high breaking strength of 1,300 to 1,800 lbs; stretch (bounce off) -ratchet-type tighteners for retension -posts can be as far apart as 60 ft w/spaces to keep properly positioned - 10 to 12 strand - electrified diagram w/ cloth or plastic (no long boards) b. advantages -doesn't break easily -low maintenance c. disadvantages -low visibility -safety d. price/ft -$1.80/ft installed 5. Electric wire fence a. description -3 strands with metal posts and insulators diagram: b. advantages -cheap c. disadvantages -not very strong -visibility -only temporary fencing d. price/ft -3 strands = $.35/ft e. visibility: fiberglass band/strap w/electrified center -looks like boards -3 strands -price/ft w/3 strands = $1.00/ft NO BARBED WIRE!!! 6. Chain link fencing -small pens or paddocks -9 gauge recommended -sharp edges at top and bottom must be covered by board -lacks horizontal strength = sags D. Rubber fencing 1. description a.-3-4" wide tire stock or black rubber b.-wooden posts c.-nailed on diagram 2. advantage a.-safety = bounce off b.-cost 3. disadvantage a.-sages easily if not properly installed b.-some horses pull at edges of material and swallow pieces of rubber/nylon cord = impaction colic, # of deaths c.-freezing makes strands brittle (not good in cold weather) 4. price/ft -$0.80/ft E. Pipe fencing 1.. description a.-usually 3-4" diameter posts b.-2-3" rails c.-steel pipe 2. advantages a.-low maintenance b.-good for paddock fencing 3. disadvantages a.-need to paint b.-material availability? c.-price 4. price/ft = 4" posts and 3" rails -$2.10 - $2.20 F. Poly vinyl chloride (PVC) fencing 1. description a.-plank/board = flat or round b.-different colors c.-look like board fencing/plastic-like diagram 2. advantages a.-don't have to paint, won't crack or peel b.-very low maintenance 3. disadvantages a.-very expensive b.-not very good for between fences 4. price/ft = 3 plank/8' centers -$2.20/ft V. Gates Considerations A. 12' wide min. horse gate (14' wide if equipment) B. 4' wide people gate C. rounded corners for safety with steel tubing or pipe gates D. easy to unlatch, open, shut, and properly refasten gate w/one hand E. normally hung in middle of fence rather than at corner 1. horses congregate at gates 2. prevents trapping in corners