Advice needed on fencing for mare and foal

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pinkcatkin

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We have a six acre field which is currently divided in two, fenced in wooden posts and two strands of electric tape. My mare is due to foal in May and I need to plan where I am going to put her, hopefully in one of two paddocks in that field so that I can rotate. We also have another horse and a pony companion at present so I can't just take the whole thing!

What is the best fencing for mare and new foal? I cannot afford to post and rail (I wish!) the whole thing but am willing to do whatever I can to make it safe for the babe.

Any advice would be much appreciated.
 
If it's already got wooden posts in, is it possible to put rails on? Maybe you could find some 2nd hand? It's so simple and quick to do if the posts are already there. What part of East Anglia are you in?
 
I`d be a bit hesitant useing electric fence again as i had a foal caught up in one a few years back .
Post and rail`s great, 2 rails great untill they realise they can roll under them 3 rails better .
 
I have posts with 3 strands of 40mm extra strong or premium tape as they call it from HorizonT. This is run of the mains electricity so pumps out 6000v and works great for my mares and foals. Foals usually touch it once and never again!
 
if you possibly can dont use electric fencing. i lost my youngster because the electric fencing got wrapped round her leg and stripped it to the bone :-( i personally wont have any electric fencing by any future foal of mine and luckily there is none in the mare and foal field at my yard.
 
I have the same fencing and didn't have problem with my 2 last year. What I would say though is let the foals get used to the idea of being able to see through something, such as a gate, but it doesn't mean they can run through it.

My 2 were born in a barn which had a cattle gate dividing it into 2. So when they were born they learn't that they couldn't get through which meant the electric fencing was fine!
 
Second above post and rail is best.

Found that very young foals don’t always get a good belt from battery powered fencers and are inclined not to see it as a proper barrier until they are already through it!! I use post and rail, I buy the 1/2 round posts and use the cheaper sawn timber rails from SCATS, or if you have a reclaimed timber yard nearby you might get a good saving but they won't be treated.

Or you could try the stud wire fencing, with one rail on top. Price it up. There is also the plastic barrier tape, the orange stuff they use around holes in the ground, they do it in green and I use this to escape proof my foaling paddock (I foal outside in a small purpose built paddock), with a rail to hold it.

I run a line of the wire electric fence along the mare and foal paddocks, then they learn what it is, some foals are real escape artists and you really don’t want them in with other horses without their dams as all hell will let loose!

Over the years I have found that the wire, though not high vis is best for horses. I have never had an injury from it, it breaks very easily and is also easy to repair. I use ribbon on it to make it visible if I move a fence, but they are not stupid and know exactly where the fence is.

However I have seen some horrific injuries on horses from that dreadful nylon rope electric fence and will not have it near the place, it’s absolutely lethal if they get caught up in it, one was PTS from its injuries, and the fence didn’t break.

I have also found that the tape especially the thicker stuff is difficult to break and I’m on a hill so the fine wire filaments in it breaks really easily when is blown a lot, so not an option for me as it no longer conducts.

Hope this helps
 
I had post and rail on three sides, but then there was a huge ditch on one side, so we electric fenced that area with 4ft posts and four strange of electric tape
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We never use electric fencing with babies - sorry to disagree with many of you, it's just perceived as being too dangerous.

Post and rail where possible - and definately no barbed wire.
 
We have always used rope type electric fencing for our horses which is alot easier for them to see than convential tape and wire. The first few weeks the foal and mare were put out into the garden which has post and rail. Although to keep them off the trees we put two lengths of electric rope which was electrified. The first couple of days baby didn't look at. The next day she went up to it and put her nose against it and got a electric shock and has respected it ever since although she tests it just like her mum. Make sure it is always electrified the only time we found her tangled up in it was when the battery went flat and we hadn't realised.
 
i found somewher for my filly to live with 3 railed post and rail fences as ive also seen foals get tangled,some fatally, in electric fence(from battery)
she was introduced to electric at about 3months old(in front of the post and railed) and has been kept in iether post and railed or electric fenced fields since.
hate barbed wire its bad enough for the adult horses!
 
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