Fence ideas needed

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I'd like to fence 250ft near house across driveway and row of evergreens. First picture shows it, second is it starts at a building (6x6 pt post in concrete), run just below pines & cedars, a 10ft gate, over to step columns, a 4ft gate, over to an 8" pt gate post set in concrete. Sketch shows the idea.
10ft gate to rarely drive truck or tractor through, 4ft walk through.
It would be for horses, they now can go on two sides of area and I'd just put a gate there.
My idea was a split rail fence, slotted posts with 3 rails. I called a fence company and they said they put in 4x4pt posts in concrete, 4 cross boards screwed on & trim board up & down each post. Gates galvanized with boards screwed on (1×6 pt boards). $7,700 which to me sounds expensive.
They said split rail warps, lumber shrinks & horses can get out (?).
I put in a few 1000ft myself, pastures, pt 8" round every 50ft, 4 seven ft T posts between,
Posts 2ft down either tamped or concrete. Woven wire stretched super tight.
Near house I want something looks nice, not woven wire. One problem is just this side of step column down 18" is 240v+water lines.
(Sorry...long story)
Questions now: is there a better way? Growing up neighbor had draft horses and he kept them in with split rail, back then split chestnut zig-zagged and stacked. As bottom rotted he added new on top...6ft if he wanted. That would be ideal...anyone use pressure treated lumber stacked? His looked like last picture.
Close to trees I'm thinking I'd hit tree roots, my Danuser is 9" digger.
Any other better ideas appreciated!

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Oh...also close to trees since they drop needles so no mowing or weed eating around fence.

 

[Birdhunter1]

I would think digging anywhere near those trees you will hit roots and it will not be fun with a pto powered auger. A hydraulic one on a skidsteer would be ideal as if the hit a root and wind in at least they will unwind via the machine.

I think if you place a wooden post on each end of the trees and use t posts along the trees you will be ok, the trees act as somewhat of a visual barrier for horses and the fence will be the physical barrier. For fencing I like high tensile, it simple, its strong and durable and cheap and if done right looks great. Barbless wire of poly rope would be my second choice.

I would opt for a minimum 12' gate and forget about a 10' for trucks or a tractor entering. A truck and trailer can get through a 10' gate but a 12' is much easier.

 

[scootr]

Also 10' can be narrow if the approach is a 90º turn.
And if you are going to use openers on the gate you may loose some of the access opening.
My rolling gate stays 1' in the opening when fully open due to guide wheels and motor.

 

[2manyrocks]

Other than places like the Hermitage and Civil War battlefields, I don't see much split rail fence. Takes a heck of a lot of material to build and the zig zag lines make it really hard to mow and keep trimmed.

Zoning and building ordinances in some cities now dictate what you can build and may require an approval process.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I appreciate the suggestions but thankfully we don't live where there is any zoning, inspections or ordinances. We would move first...that's my idea of he//.
I'm trying something that looks good since so close to the house so no T posts, wire, high tensile.
I can't go wider than 10ft because of tree spacing and have 16ft gates around so I wouldn't have to have a gate...10ft is plenty for a mower and once a year truck or tractor.
Any experience with split rail since that's what I'm considering. There's no drilling, horses wouldn't jump, I can Roundup, put down more pine needles to eliminate weeds & grass. I'm thinking pt rails?
Open for any ideas, Esthetics in mind.

 

[2manyrocks]

Traditionally, split rail was made from trees cut down on the property because it got rid of the trees and the material was put to use as fence. Most split rail I've seen seems to have been oak, not sure, but some kind of species that they could split. PT wouldn't look the same because it's been cut to dimension, it's pine, and pine doesn't split in the same way as oak and how would you split it all?

The most similar vintage style wooden rail fence I see being put up isn't a split rail, but round PT posts with round PT beams that pass through slots cut into the posts.

 

[scootr]

Around here we all had painted wood 3 or 4 rail fences. They were typically 4x4 posts in concrete and 2x6 rails. They required painting and occasional post replacement. Like many people I replaced mine with the new PVC vinyl look a like fencing - But eventually it needs washing
People do keep horses in PVC fencing but it won't take much to break it. There is quite an assortment of styles available

 

[2manyrocks]

More of a picture of all the initials carved in this tree off a state park trail, but this is the style of rustic fence I see being installed these days. Still, it's a little modern looking because it's all round PT material where back in the day it would have been split oak and probably three rails instead of two.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

We're thinking more straight 3 rail as opposed to "snake" zig zag. The problem is most want 24" post hole...no problem with auger except tree roots. I'm wondering about less depth set in concrete? I'm not so concerned horses getting out. A large tree fell across wire fence in a pasture, they could easily have walked out but didn't.
They know where stable, hay & grain is!