This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Horse Care » Horse Pasture, Fencing, Barns » Fences for Horses »
  Discussion on Post and Rail Fencing Specifics
Author Message

Posted on Friday, May 3, 2002 - 8:07 am:

Hi Everyone!

I'm new at this so please bear with me. As part of a non-profit organization that will be restoring and using a 500 year old estate in the Czech Republic, I'm sure to have many odd-sounding questions. As director of the riding center, I'm responsible for everything horse. I tried to research everything while I was still in the States, but as many of you know, you can never know everything about a farm until you die and go to heaven. Any advice you can share will be much appreciated. Onto the most pressing question...

Because we have unlimited access to timber, we will be building wooden fences. Post and rail appeals to everyone the most. (Of course, I researched post and board.) To prevent chewing and leaning, we will use electric wire on top. What I'm looking for are specifics on sizes, construction, and longevity. Post and rail is not typical around here so we have to give our mill exact specifics on the holes in the posts, etc. We will also be using green (raw) wood.
1. How deep should posts go to have 1.5 meters (5 feet) above ground?
2. Diameter of posts for 3 rails?
3. Length and diameter of rails?
4. Distance between posts?
5. Treat entire post or just below ground?
6. Shape and size of holes in posts?

Our soil is mostly clay, soggy, but not eroding (no horses yet), and can be pretty rocky. We can get 1.5 meters (5 feet) of snow in the winter, and have lots of intermittent mountain showers and dampness the rest of the year. (We are blessed with beautifully maintained fields that have been used for hay for years.) Both are on gentle hills sloping to the edges, highest in the middle. Pastures are 1 hectare (approx 2 acres?) bordered on 2 sides by woods, 1 side by 1.75 meter (6 foot) stone wall, and road. The second is 3-4 hectares (6-8 acres) bordered on 1 side by woods and 3 sides by road.

Until we can transform a mossy pile of rocks into a barn with home above, we will only have 2 horses. Later we will have 8 to be used for combined training (building arenas and courses too), distance trail riding, and equine-related psychotherapy.

Again, *thank you*.
Laura

Posted on Sunday, May 5, 2002 - 9:31 am:

Hello Laura,
I have never built a post and rail fence Laura and I don't know who on the board might. It is
fencing that either requires a large dedication to special wood cutting techiniques (the holes in the posts and the tabs in the rails that fit into the post) or more commonly the buying of expensive pre-cut posts and rail parts. If you going to manufacture the parts yourself you would do well to but a premade post and rail and them use them as a "pattern" to work from as the size of the holes in the post and the shape of the wedge of the tab critical for a secure fence.

Most of your questions are answered by having this pattern to work from. I would treat the whole post with perservative. Around here we put at least 2 feet in the ground which is a firm clay consistancy and the shape of our holes are round with a diamter about 6 inches wider than the posts so that the dirt going back in can be tamped.
DrO
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC