Time to build more Horse Pasture Fence - How do/did/would YOU handle a curved fence?

[dieselbeef]

naturally the board or wire goes on the animal side..unless its purely aestetic

 

[MossflowerWoods]

naturally the board or wire goes on the animal side..unless its purely aestetic

Exactly. So when the horses lean on it they are not popping out the nails...

 

[drssg]

I have a fair amount of fence that is about ten years old and I used almost exactly the same materials that you used. I also used a framing nailer with very similar galvanized ring shank nails. I have found that some of the nails tend to work loose over time. I've even had several where the board is still in place, but the nail has come out about an inch. I have periodically replaced loose nails with screws. The nailer is so much faster than using screws, so I'm not sure what I'd use if I was starting over.

With the boards on the inside, I would keep an eye out for nail heads working loose. If the horse is running the fence line, that could create a nasty injury.

Your fence looks good!

 

[RobertBrown]

galv ring shank round head nails

That's what I use...there is no getting one of those nails out of a 6" PT post, not with out vise grips and some patience.
The nails will pull through the boards before they come out of the post.
I don't know much about horses...other than I prefer to keep a fence between me and the nearest one....I thought your were supposed to use creosote boards with horses. I heard that they will chew up regular fence boards.

 

[Sawdustsmb]

A small electric fence wire between rails works wonders teaching horses fence respect.

Bob

 

[MossflowerWoods]

That's what I use...there is no getting one of those nails out of a 6" PT post, not with out vise grips and some patience.
The nails will pull through the boards before they come out of the post.
I don't know much about horses...other than I prefer to keep a fence between me and the nearest one....I thought your were supposed to use creosote boards with horses. I heard that they will chew up regular fence boards.

Robert,

On the few times I goofed building the fence, yes I had to pull the head thru the board, was NOT coming out...

Some horses are "cribbers" who chew wood. Not mine though.

Be well,
David

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Time to build more Horse Pasture Fence - How do/did/would YOU handle a curved fence

Update - I've been planning this out and measuring and prepping the ground along the fence line so I decided it is time to bring this thread back and get more specific advice.

This run will be ~280 feet long, and really it is the ~56' that is curved that I am the most concerned about.

This batch of pics is from Thursday 7/5/12, I think of them as "before".

The first picture, I was standing on the fender of my tractor to get an ariel shot, and clearly it was HOT and that distorted the picture, but it shows the degree of the curve from the North perspective. The second shows the entire run looking South. The 3rd pic is a closer look at the curve from the south.

I will have a straight section 112 feet, then the 56' of curved fence, then another straight 112 feet. I need to put a gate in, at least an 8', and I am considering putting it on a portion of the curved section just for easy access for vehicles.

This gives you a view of what I am facing here.

Thanks in advance,
David

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Friday, 7/6/12 I ground ~23 and in general cleaned up the fence line area. One of the things I did was fill in the ridiculous rain ditch he had dug. the road is basically flat and there is NEVER water in it, it just followed a incnsistent line and was a impediment to entry to the field. I could tell that he had just dug it with his backhoe, and piled the dirt on the inside, because of the way it broke up when I was cleaning it up. Now it is level and smooth. I will set the fence a consistent 2-3' inside (just leave a strip to mow between the fence and the driveway).

I think of these pics as "Current"

First is another time standing on the tractor NOT over the canopy, so less heat distortion, but a similar shot of the curve while facing North. 2nd is ground level facing North.

Just a point here. I am going to build a 40' x 40' "Night Pasture" with Run-in shed first, so the first 40' will be square with the other fence, then I will have a slight angle and run ~72 feel close to straight, and then enter the curved section of fence.

Pic 3 is about the apex of the curve, looking West, and at the Y in my driveway, close to where I am considering an 8' gate.

Pic 4 is trying to capture the entire run from a SE perspective showing the current fence etc. The last section does begin to slope down, but is not steep.

This is what I have as of yesterday.

Let 'er rip guys!
What do you think?

Thanks in advance.
David

 

[ScottyChip]

David, I agree with most of the other posters, keep going as you have been doing. Oh! by the way great job on the fence so far and nice property. When it comes to the curved section you will need to shorten the distance between your posts to make a nice curve. I know you are trying to keep the same spacing between posts and but by changing the distance between them to make the curve will not affect the look of your fence because it will still be the samee post and rail. You will still have a real nice looking fence.
Keep going it looks great. I agree with use of nails, I had screws in my fence and with the weight of the snow on it in the winter they just shear clean off. With nails they may pull and then bend allowing me to straighten and reuse in the spring.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Oh! by the way great job on the fence so far and nice property. When it comes to the curved section you will need to shorten the distance between your posts to make a nice curve.

ScottyChip,

I thank you for the kind words and good advice.

Be well,
David