Best fencing advice please

[Bananaman]

Having just persuaded OH to let me have another 2 acres of grazing, I now have to make enquiries re. fencing.

Is post and rail still considered the best?
How about stock fencing with a rail on top?
What about this? http://www.studrail.co.uk/studrail.html

Obviously money will have to be a consideration but I need it to be safe. One side of the 2 acres is alongside a busy road and although we will plant a hedge, it will be a few years befor it's of any use as a barrier.

Ideas please?

 

[martini55]

As far as I am aware post and rail is one of the safest fencing options. I can't comment on the fencing that you posted the link to as I have no experience of it

 

[Bananaman]

I quite liked the idea that it looks like post and rail but the horses are supposed to 'bounce' off it rather than the possibility of it splintering and breaking. Also there is the bonus of horses not chewing it?

 

[ihatework]

would wooden posts with electric cord be an option for you?
cheaper than p&R, safe and non chewable!

 

[Bananaman]

Yes, it could be an option.

The field is opposite the farm, across a side lane, so we'd have to look into the cost of running the electricity across. I'd not be happy about a battery for such a large area and also I'd probably forget to check it.

I wonder if the rope would be sufficiently viewable for the main road side?

 

[Maesfen]

Speaking as wife and mother of fencing contractors I can honestly say that post and rail is still the first choice for horses! Where possible, we always run electric rope either along the top to prevent chewing or on both sides through insulators that are level with the top rail/post and about six inches from the top of them. I have this myself at home (after many years of asking!) and it's been brilliant. After they have had the first kick from the electric rope at the first sign of attempting to chew they never go back to it again! Mines been up two years now and not a chewed rail in sight!
There is the netting, Horseguard, I think which is in use a lot in Ireland at the studs and some over here but it doesn't look anywhere as professional as a good length of post and rail IMO; it is also very expensive compared to the cost of p & r although it might have a longer shelf life.

If we were fencing against a busy road we would like to do double fencing so that you could plant quicks in between which will give you a good shelter break in a few years time and increase security. Would definitely recommend electric along the top, another deterrent to sightseers and people tempted to climb up and feed the 'pretty horses'!

If you can get your fencing done shortly you will be at the best time of year to plant quicks (they should be in by November at the latest) and then keep them clear of smothering weeds for the first year else they will choke them and they will die. If done by November it also means you won't have to water them, another bonus!

 

[mandy4727]

We have wooden posts with electric rope between. The big field is split into 13 individual paddocks with 2 horses in each and we all have 2 fields so we can rotate the grazing. There is a gateway into each field with the electric rope with handles on it. Just have to make sure everyone closes the gateways behind them as the entire field is a circuit and 1 bit of fence undone stops the circuit. But the rope doesn't have give a whack when you touch it.

 

[Tia]

I have post and rail fields and also post and stock fenced fields. The post and rail is by far superior! However we are just in the process of having stud rail put up and I have to say it is waaaay better than post and rail!! Stud rail wins hands down and if you can afford it then go for it instead.

 

[Lark]

Fieldguard is becoming extremely popular as its safe and less expensive than post and rail.

 

[Skhosu]

Just curious, what is stud rail?
I have post and rail in all our fields and one rented field with barbed wire, guess which they get injured more in?!
Post and rail wins hands down!

 

[4whitesocks]

I've just bought a small amount of land from the farmer who owns the field behind me and he's
fencing it for me but what we're doing is high tensile sheep wire in front of which I'm planting whitethorn quicks, then in front of that we're putting electrice fence (which he's kindly letting me run off his fencer until the quicks are up (about 5 years???) I'll put up white tape then as Sid is white tape savvy...does this sound like a reasonable plan (as to be honest I can't afford to put in my own and he's doing it as part of the deal but if its a no-no then I need to agree something else with him quick!

 

[Bananaman]

Thanks guys for all your replies. I'm getting some quotes from a couple of contractors shortly will then be able to make the decision.

4whitesocks, I'm sure that would be OK providing you put the tape far enough in from the quicks so they cant reach them.

Maesfenhorse, I hadn't though of a stretch of double fencing. Good idea! Luckily that bit is on a bend in the road so is unlikely to attract people stopping to look at the 'pretty horses'!
When we planted the hedge around the existing paddocks, we planted it into that black plastic on a roll. So, I guess I need to get some of that ordered and get planting!

 

[sallyf]

We have some post and rail and some Horesafe netting with a rail on top.
Have to admit although its very expensive i like the Horsesafe netting for the mares and foals.