Fence Post Spacing

MikePA · Aug 2, 2005

However It seems a bit insulting the way some people speak so boldly about it. 
Perhaps it's because we've seen what barbed wire can do to a horse. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

FL_Cracker · Aug 2, 2005

Hey, when I did my pasture I didn't use barbed wire after all I heard but then when I was done here came the stories about metal T-Posts. Then I capped the T-Post and then that wasn't going to make a difference. Some times you can't win. You try to do what's best but there is always better. When ever someone is reviewing your work you will likly hear about the next better solution....

You just have to weigh all the options and do what's right for your needs.

mudcat · Aug 2, 2005

I heard that.

Soundguy · Aug 4, 2005

( won't argue your point that barbed wire isn't the safest possible fence out there. However It seems a bit insulting the way some people speak so boldly about it. )

I think the biggest issue is that the possible outcome is that a horse may not see the fence.. charge thru it, become entangled in it, and then the barbs start cutting the horse.. the mor ethe horse struggles.. the more and deeper it gets cut.. makes for a tough job to free the horse and then treat it.

There are several ways to 'mitigate' these problems.

First.. make the fence visible.. there are varuous ways to do this.. Tape runners along the top or inbetween the wire strands ( this would apply to plain non-barbed stranded wire fence too ).. they also make plastic flags.. as well as reflectors.

A top board, or 3 board fence in addition to a few strands of barb wire makes it very visible. A mesh wire fence, with or without top board, and a top barb wire.. is also abit more visible.

Addition of a hot wire will train horses to stay off fences, Braided tape and hot wires work well.. they are both visual and they 'train'.

I think the stereotypical 3-4 strand barb wire and t-post fence is just a bit hard for horses to see.. not much to the t-posts.. nor the wire..

For what it's worth.. I've seen field fence with 4x4 holes put just as meny.. or more horses down than a barb wire fence ( I've seen 1 horse that had been entangled in a barb wire fence... it got cut up good.. but lived. .. My horse, also was bought from a farm with a barb wire fence. Aside from some check marks on his face and neck from reaching thru... he's a pretty happy healthy horse /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif... Now.. the 4x4 fence.. I know of at least 2 horses that stepped thru a wire fence and got a hoof caught.. and cut most of the hoof off trying to get out.. both died. Incedentally.. I've also seen/read about locally where a board on a wood fence split and poped out a pointed end, and spear and kill a horse as well /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I think the key issue is training and visibility. My peremiter fence is 3-board black and woven 2x4 wire. Some of my cross fencing is nothing more than Plastic 'step-in' t-posts with 4 wire electrifiet 1/2" tape runners. The horses stay a good 2'-3' away from that 'flimsy' fence... etc.

Incedentally.. cows do a pretty good job about geting caught in barb wire fences as well. I've had to help neighbors take bolt cutters to wire entrapped cows before...

Soundguy

MikePA · Aug 4, 2005

There are many types of fences that are wrong for horses, barbed wire and 4 x 4 are two of them.

mudcat · Aug 4, 2005

Never understood why anyone would want a horse. Just get a motorcylce, you don't have to feed it every day, don't have to pay the vet and when your done with it you just put it up and forget about it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif It does make for an enjoyable topic when people are passionate about it.

kensfarm · Aug 5, 2005

"Gusto, our Paint got tangled in a strand of barb and almost cut his front left hoof off"

A friend from work had the same problem w/ her horse after her neighbor's had replaced a wood fence(on her property line) w/ high tensile.. I think she had to put it down.

Foxpoint · Aug 5, 2005

For the fence we built last year, we used a top rail of the 5" Centraur HTP Vinyl flex fence along with 4 strands of Centaur vinyl coated high tensile mounted on 5" pressure treated posts. We felt this was the best combination of price, visibility, and safety for our needs. We intend to have boarders so we went more conservative on the safety aspect. If I had the cash, I would have put in 4 strands of 5" flex fence. In my opinion, this is probably the safest way to go - if a horse hits it, they will just bounce off.

In central DE, the the vinyl coated high tensile is becoming very popular. In Pensylvania horse country (where the DuPont, Cambel Soup, Smith Kline Beechem Heirs live) the most popular fence is diamond mesh with a board on top for visibility / rigidity. Since money is no object to these people, my guess this is one of the safest set up.

That being said, there is no perfect horse fence - all types have their pro's and con's in regards to price, safety, maintenance, etc. We had a horse a couple of months ago get its leg wrapped around one of the strands of vinyl coated high tensile. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Don't ask me how she did it - the strands on our fence practically sing in the wind from the tension. Luckily she didn't struggle much and we had to cut the wire to get her out. She was sore for a couple days afterward but no worse for wear. The vinyl coated wire prevented it from digging into her. If it was the bare high tensile wire, she would have been cut up bad.

Keith_B · Aug 7, 2005

( I think the biggest issue is that the possible outcome is that a horse may not see the fence.. charge thru it, become entangled in it, and then the barbs start cutting the horse.. the mor ethe horse struggles..

Addition of a hot wire will train horses to stay off fences, Braided tape and hot wires work well.. they are both visual and they 'train'.

I think the stereotypical 3-4 strand barb wire and t-post fence is just a bit hard for horses to see.. not much to the t-posts.. nor the wire..

Soundguy )

Visibility isn't a big concern for horses when electricity is involved. I have roughly 20 acres or so fenced with two strands of electric fence, the old bare wire type. I have six horses and a small pony, and they simply do not bother the electric fence.

Horses are funny creatures, their senses are really sharp and they seem to sense the presence of the electricity. I have introduced new horses into the pasture, and they will come within two or three feet of the fence and go no closer, even though they are completely unfamiliar with the pasture.

No matter what kind of fence you choose, all you need to do is throw a strand of electric wire in it about 24-30 inches off the ground and the horses will not bother it. An electrified top wire will not prevent the horses from sticking their hooves through a 2X4 or 4X4 wire fence nearly as well as having the electric wire about 24-30 inches off the ground.

Soundguy · Aug 9, 2005

( Visibility isn't a big concern for horses when electricity is involved. )

Visibility is a concern for non-electrified fence.. as I pointed out. Electricity adds another aspect.. conditioning / training.... most animals don't like being shocked.

( An electrified top wire will not prevent the horses from sticking their hooves through a 2X4 or 4X4 wire fence )

I'm trying to visualize haw a hoow would step thru a 2x4 fence. I've never seen that one... 4x4.. yes.. easilly.. and I've seen the dead horses to prove it... but 2x4 would seem to me to be a tad hard to step thru, as the hoof plain won't fit...

Soundguy