Equine Fencing & Building OptionsScott S. McKendrick

CoordinatorStatewide Small Acreage & Equine

Programs

Thanks toLiving on the LandDr. Pat EvansDr. Craig Burrell

What kind of fence do I want?

USU, Logan, UT

Fencing considerations

• Balance looks, functionality and economics

• Safety of animals and people• Installed or do-it-yourself • Life expectancy• Annual maintenance costs

Fencing for Small Acreages

• What are you fencing in?• What do the neighbors have over the

fence?• An old timer described a good fence as

being “horse high, bull strong and hog tight.”

• Will the animals injure themselves on the fence?

Fencing types• Type depends on:

– CC&Rs– Purpose – Soil type – Terrain– Weather– Safety– Construction costs– Availability of power– Maintenance requirements– Visual impact

Missoula Conservation District, MT

Good Fencing Bad Fencing• Visible• Not prone to cause

injury• Inhibits horse from

trying to go through or over

• Inhibits injury if horse gets caught in it

• No corners

• Not as visible• Not sturdy• Materials cause injury• Does not inhibit horse

from attempting to go through or over

• Corners

Materials

• Post and rail• Vinyl• High tensile wire• Barbed wire• Electric

• Metal• Hog wire• Horse wire• Rubber

Post and Rail• Materials

–Wood–Vinyl–Polyethylene

Post and Rail

Wood Fencing• Pros• Cons

• What is the difference between these two fences?

Post and Rail Cont.

Alleyways and Trees

Rounded Ends

Wood Fences are sturdy but require maintenance.

Wood rail or post• Cost

– $6/ft materials– $3/ft labor

• Pros– Visually appealing– Handles heavy snowfall– Can be adjusted or small

animals by adding mesh• Cons

– High maintenance– Lifetime?– Need additional fencing materials for small animals– May need hot wire for livestock

USU, Logan, UT

Post and Rail

Vinyl Fencing• Pros• Cons• Cost

Vinyl fencing is attractive.

Vinyl 3 rail or 4 rail• Cost

– $5/ft Materials– $3.50/ft labor

• Pros– Visually appealing– Low Maintenance– Last many years?

• Cons– Expensive– 3 rail may not be best

choice for horses

USU, Logan, UT

www.ncvinyl.com

Post and Rail

Polyethylene• Round Rails• Stainless steel wire

embedded below surface

• Temperature resistant• Safety• Cost

Chain link: 6 ft• Cost

– $4.50/ft materials– $2.50/ft labor

• Pros– Security– Good for small animals– Low maintenance– Long lifetime– Can get colors to blend with surroundings

• Cons– Not typically used with large animals– May not mesh with surroundings– May be regulated by CC&Rs

USU, Logan, UT

High Tensile

High-Tensile Polymer Fences

• Pros• Cons

4 to 10 Strand smooth wire• Cost

– $0.75–$1.30/ ft, depending on number of wires• Pros

– 4 to 5 strand good for horses– 10 strand will

contain all large livestock and exclude large wildlife

– Durable– Can be electrified

• Cons– Expensive– Requires routine maintenance

www.kiwifence.com

Mesh wire is a popular alternative.

Woven wire• Cost

– $1.15-$1.30 per foot• Pros

– Readily available– Good for sheep – add 1 - 2

strands of barbed wire at top for cattle

• Cons– Expensive– Requires routine

maintenance

www.farmphoto.com

www.farmphoto.com

Poultry netting• Cost

– 1 inch round holes, 48 inch high 150 ft rolls-$54.99

• Pros– Inexpensive– Lightweight– Can be used with existing fences – Good for small animals– Good for small wildlife exclusion

• Cons– Low strength – will stretch and/or collapse by itself– Not effective for large animals or livestock– Needs frequent monitoring and maintenance

USU, Logan, UT

Horse Woven Wire

Hog Wire

• Pros• Cons

Wire Mesh• Diamond Mesh• Square Knot

Mesh

Electric fence• Cost

– $1.50/ft materials– $2.50/ft labor

• Pros– Portable– Inexpensive– Versatile– Can make an existing

fence more effective• Cons

– Difficult to see– Dangerous to people (children) and wildlife– Maintenance?

USU, Logan, UT

www.agry.purdue.edu/ext

Electric ribbon• Cost

– Vinyl post $4.59 – 1½ inch ribbon $.15/ft– T-posts 6’ $2.50– Insulators $.15 each

• Pros– Versatile– Easy to install and modify– Can be used to make existing

fence more effective– Easier to see than other types

of electric fencing

• Cons– Cost and availability of

electricity or solar source– Maintenance– Not a good choice for a

permanent fenceUSU, Logan, UT

New Zealand electric fencing• Cost

– 5 wire fence $0.30 to $0.60/linear ft

• Pros– Versatile– Eliminates grounding out

on foliage– Reduces fire danger

• Cons– Powerful shock produced

UCES

Electric

• Many types• Need charger

Electric fencing - temporary• Cost

– Variable• Pros

– Great for interior fencing– Portable - reels– Inexpensive

• Cons– Can be difficult to see - color

variations ease this problem– Can be dangerous

www.agry.purdue.edu/ext

Electric Fences are good for temporary situations and for

dividing pastures

Prefabricated panels• Metal 2 inch round tubing panels

– 12 feet $52.91– Gates approximately $70.00

• Cattle and hog panels– 16 feet $13.99

• Pros– Durable and strong– Good for large livestock– Panels allow for different configurations– Low maintenance

• Cons– Expensive– Less visually appealing– Not good for small animals

USU, Logan, UT

Bracing

Steel fencing is durable.

Metal Fencing

• Contours with land• Pros• Cons

Barb wire is dangerous for horses.

Barbed Wire

• Not horse fencing!!• Use electric line to

keep off• Visibility?

Barbed wire – 4 strand• Cost

– $1.50/ft materials– $2.50/ft labor

• Pros– Low cost– Easy to install– Fairly low maintenance

• Cons– Dangerous to people, livestock

and wildlife – Not suitable for horses– Not useful for small animals– Can be damaged by large wildlife

USU, Logan, UT

www.agry.purdue.edu/ext

Rubber Fencing

• Made from belting or rubber strips from old tires and conveyor belts

• Generally is not used much anymore• Sags• Loose fibers have caused colic

Jackleg

NRCS, Bozeman, MT

• Cost– $2.50/ft

• Pros– Good in areas where it is hard to dig or

drive posts– Visually appealing– Durable– Handles heavy snowfall– Can be adapted to marshy or wet

areas– Low maintenance

• Cons– High labor and materials costs during

construction– UV stability?

Privacy wood • Cost

– $10/ft materials– $5/ft labor

• Pros– Can be visually appealing– Good for small animals– Provides visual block

• Cons– Not typically used for large animals– Expensive– High maintenance– Often short lifetime

USU, Logan, UT

What kind of shelter do I want for my

animals?

What kind of shelter do my animals

need?

Considerations for shelter

• Provide adequate shelter - adequate for local weather conditions – summer – winter

• Durability• Maintenance costs • Visually appealing• COSTS

Shelter:

• Can be simple or elaborate

• Costs vary widely

USU, Logan, UT

USU, Logan, UT

Motel 7

The Ritz

Pole structures• Cost

– Relatively low$8 to 15/ft2

• Pros– Low cost– Easy to install

and maintain– Easy to clean

• Cons– Basic shelter – Consider placement – Less protection

than a barn – Noise

USU, Logan, UT

USU, Logan, UT

Metal buildings• Cost

– $15 to 30/ft2– Concrete floor may be 40% of cost

• Pros– Built on-site– Versatile– Low maintenance– Moderate cost– More protection than pole structures

• Cons– Not as visually pleasing– May not mesh with surroundings– Summer heat may be a problem– Concrete floor – is this good for hooves? USU, Logan, UT

Specialized structures – barns, etc.

NRCS, Bozeman, MT

• Cost– $35 to $50/ft2

• Pros– Convenience– Visual appealing– Designed specifically to meet needs – Can be built to mesh with existing structures and landscape– Increase in property value

• Cons– Expensive– Constant upkeep– Cannot be moved– Resale can be limited

USU, Logan, UT

Ventilation

• Why is it important?• What builds up without proper ventilation?• What kinds of climate is ventilation very

important?

Types of Ventilation

• Windows• Doors• High ceiling• High pitch roof• Dormers, cupolas,

vents at highest part

Ventilation Considerations• Winter • Spring and summer• Ventilation properties of

--cold air vs. warm air

Natural Ventilation System: Cold Barn

Natural Ventilation System: Warm Barn

Warm Barn, Fan Ventilated

• Fully insulated

• Exhaust fans

Steps for good ventilation

• Air exchange• Air distribution • Changes of air

Improving Air Quality

• Hay–Quality–Storage

• Inlet/vents• Outlets• Ultraviolet light

Food for thought

• Unnatural environment • Horses do not mind the cold• Give as much turn out as possible• Horses need movement• Blanket rather than heat barn