New fencing for foal

[Victoria25]

Hi guys

Right … as long as foaly ‘cooks’ properly and things go well at the birth, Im now looking at where he/she will go out with mummy …

Luckily, me and a friend rent a private yard and they let us ‘do as we wish’ in terms of everything – we see them only at Xmas and in the summer when they come out to work on their gardens next to the farm – yet are always there when we need them (love them!).

At the moment we have three sections of land. The ‘big field’ where they have access to 24/7/365 days a year – approx. 20/25 acres. Next to this is another ‘winter field’ there’s a gate that separates them both and I open the gate around November time and they have this until Feb/March and then we close off again for it to recover in time for the following winter. Winter field is about another 5/6 acres?

Now running alongside both of these is the third part of the land – it’s the main access to the barn where they are stabled. This is only about 3 acres and where Im thinking of putting mum/baby for the summer. It’s all fenced off nicely from the two fields so no worries there but I’d still like to section the grass part off from the main pedestrian route (it doesn’t matter if they went on there but just my preference). Electric fencing is a no go as we tried this last year and my arab just escaped time and time again (Houdini) and don’t want to risk with baby. We have a number of very large secure trees in the area and just my luck they’re literally in the place I want the fencing – so thinking of using them as the main ‘posts’ (there’s a lot of them) and then getting some kind of heavy duty mesh (small holes) but around 4/5 ft high …

Any suggestions??? Either an alternative idea I’ve not thought of or a ‘mesh’ that’s very good?

I work in the construction industry so have access to heavy duty staplers (to attach to trees) etc.

The other reason Im thinking of sectioning it off is that when my friends bring her ponies in – they’re not in direct contact with my girl/baby yet after summer I’ll probably let them have free run of the front section so they can then meet over the fence. Then over winter, my friend’s can go in the winter field and I’ll put my three (hopefully together by then) in the main field.

On the yard there is:
My arab mare and my TB mare + foal
My friends: very chilled older TB mare, a Shetland mare and two ponies (mare and gelding).

x

 

[Victoria25]

Images to help you understand setup more easily ...

This is the current fencing between the 'big field' and the bit I want to put mum/baby in (ignore horses in there - not the same ones as now)

These two show the 'front bit (not very good Im afraid) - the electr fencing isnt there now but thats the 'area' I want to still use using the trees you can see x

 

[Victoria25]

Or perhaps use electric fencing as well as something like this?

http://premierbarriers.co.uk/catalog/orange-barrier-fence-light-orange-plastic-mesh-p-496.html

 

[CBFan]

To be honest with you, I wouldn't be affixing any fencing to trees... poor trees!! Electric fencing, if used correctly can be a very effective fencing... Personally I would use some wooden posts as corner posts and then some TALL plastic posts at 3 metre intervals in between and run 3 rows of leccy fencing pulled tight between the corner posts... make sure you have a good energiser and two batteries if you don't have mains power - one for back-up while the other is charging. test it twice daily to make sure it works. Most foals will be very respectful of it.

Any mesh / netting or any fencing for that matter will be hazzardous if not put up correctly.

 

[david c]

I would not use temporary electric fencing with tape for a young foal - too dangerous. Permanent electric would be much safer, and as you say with a good energiser if you were to use electric.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Only my view, but foals are best fenced with post and rail. With the bottom rail low enough to prevent a small foal rolling underneath. Mesh and post/rails is fine and the safest if it is proper stud mesh.

I wasted many a pleasurable hour watching my new born foal explore her nursery paddock in summer 2010 and realised that the post/rail and big hedges were by far the safest and I was so fortunate to have a paddock suitable. The foal was so curious, feet and face into everything. I plastic meshed the five bar gates.

Op, it may be worthwhile to save up and build a nursery paddock in post/rail ready for the newborn. It can always be taken down and used elsewhere, just remember to fill the post holes in if you do take it up.

Horses are accidents on four vunerable legs in my experience !! Good luck with your new baby, we are eagerly looking forward to 31st May 2013 for ours. More hours for me to waste, I love watching foals.

 

[Rollin]

I would not use temporary electric fencing with tape for a young foal - too dangerous. Permanent electric would be much safer, and as you say with a good energiser if you were to use electric.

This stud has all electric fencing, except on road boundary which is post and rail. We do have wooden posts not plastic.

We have never had a problem with foals, two yearlings have broken the tape but the plastic fittings break or unclip. We do use wide tape.

If you have just one foal, I do think post and rail is the best but in our case we breed from at least one mare each year and I ALWAYS put foals onto clean grazing and grass that has not been grazed by foals the previous year. Electric fencing is more practical for us as we can move the fields around.

 

[Victoria25]

Oh lord, I think I may just let them have free access to the entire field and just let them be – we normally use this area as a ‘poorly paddock’ as it’s less muddy and a place where they can go if they need to be away from the herd so my girl knows this section very well and we’ve never had a problem! The fencing is already in place … may just ‘mesh up’ a few little areas or perhaps section little areas off that may not be 100% baby proof (there’s a little 2ft drop which could cause damage if he/she jumped off) so perhaps just line that with fencing so they have to walk around – a normal horse would just step down it but worried about a charging foal!

 

[Victoria25]

Actually if you look in the middle picture you can see the drop Im talking about - if you see where my head is and go right to where the tree's are - you can see the slight drop

 

[AdorableAlice]

Actually if you look in the middle picture you can see the drop Im talking about - if you see where my head is and go right to where the tree's are - you can see the slight drop

A sloping field won't bother the foal, they are born, up and able to run in less than an hour. What you don't want is potential traps for legs and heads. Electric tape would worry me for a young foal, even if it was on wooden posts. With traditional post and rail there is nothing to come adrift.

 

[Victoria25]

No what Im saying is that I wont bother creating a 'temporary' area - just let them have free run of the field as it is (which is permenant abnd great for adult/young horses) but perhaps where some of the fencing isnt 100% baby proof, just upgrade the already installed fencing

 

[SusieT]

I presume youre removing or fencing off that stock fencing in the first picture? I would be using post and rail as it's safest.

 

[Victoria25]

No I wont be post and railing a farm that's not mine - spending thousands just isnt an option (onviously if it was mine I would) - I will be putting that orange fencing or small chicken wire behind the already existing fencing to keep little feet out.

 

[CBFan]

To be honest, horses will injure themselves on anything given half a chance. I'm in agreement with Rollin, Leccy fencing is perfectly safe if put up properly and with a good Zap of leccy running through it.

I wouldn't be too keen on any barbed wire - particularly between fields where nosy occupants may encourage baby to try to cross the boundary - have seen a nasty accident involving a mare and foal where foal squeezed through a gap, that no one considered big enough for a foal to fit, never mind a VERY wide mare, foal did fit, and then through the fence, mare followed and got tangled up in fence... not a pretty sight...

Maybe fence other horses off, well away from boundary fence, certainly for the first few weeks... some find foalies quite a novelty!!!

 

[SusieT]

i am quite surprised that someone has decided to breed a foal and then not bothered to get a safe fence. 'orange fencing' is really not any better, it has no strength!
Wooden posts and wide tape would be an option i would not like to use but would probably be effective and has less risks than what's there now... you breed a foal it's your responsiblity to look after it properly-it is not like an adult horse when it's born! Another option might be to send her to stud to live out with a group of mares and foals in a suitable field?

 

[Tern]

Wooden Post and rail which you can then nail and end into a tree or something along those lines will be fine But don't use electric fencing on baby - But then that is my preference.

 

[Victoria25]

Wooden Post and rail which you can then nail and end into a tree or something along those lines will be fine But don't use electric fencing on baby - But then that is my preference.

Thanks for your input cobbyhoof ... good idea - something I will def think about.

Ive come on here for constructive advice which a lot of people dont ask for and end up in a stick situation. I also know a lot of people/breeders that have lost foals through problems not relating to fencing - my mare means the entire world to me - she will be staying on the yard not going away - I just want as many helpful opinions as possible before I decide what to do.

 

[Victoria25]

To be honest, horses will injure themselves on anything given half a chance. I'm in agreement with Rollin, Leccy fencing is perfectly safe if put up properly and with a good Zap of leccy running through it.

I wouldn't be too keen on any barbed wire - particularly between fields where nosy occupants may encourage baby to try to cross the boundary - have seen a nasty accident involving a mare and foal where foal squeezed through a gap, that no one considered big enough for a foal to fit, never mind a VERY wide mare, foal did fit, and then through the fence, mare followed and got tangled up in fence... not a pretty sight...

Maybe fence other horses off, well away from boundary fence, certainly for the first few weeks... some find foalies quite a novelty!!!

Thanks CB fan, going to get one of our joiners to come and see what they can do for us

 

[CBFan]

Wooden Post and rail which you can then nail and end into a tree or something along those lines will be fine But don't use electric fencing on baby - But then that is my preference.

Nailing into trees really isn't a good idea - particularly if the trees aren't even yours. You run the risk of killing the trees and pi**ing off the yard owner... what is wrong with using fence posts which are not particularly expensive and designed for the job in hand?? Cutting corners like this is the way that the risk of accidents are increased. Do the job properly!!!

 

[Tern]

Nailing into trees really isn't a good idea - particularly if the trees aren't even yours. You run the risk of killing the trees and pi**ing off the yard owner... what is wrong with using fence posts which are not particularly expensive and designed for the job in hand?? Cutting corners like this is the way that the risk of accidents are increased. Do the job properly!!!

Sorry didn't read right - I now see it isn't her yard, Yes i agree lol fence posts shoved into the ground which are quite hardy and strong.

 

[Lark]

We use Fieldguard and wooden posts for all the paddocks and in our opinion it is the safest of any fencing type.
If will stretch as opposed to break and youngster being youngsters they do have a tendency to do desperately stupid things.
The other permanent best solution is the stud mesh topped off with a rails.
The larger mesh in the pic will not suit a foal or young horse a they will likely stick a foot through.

 

[stimpy]

OP I feel your pain, I went through this dilema whilst waiting for my first and only foal last spring.

My yard is my own but I was on a tight budget so whilst I would have loved to put up post and rail it wasn't possible. I built a foaling pen, 20m X 30m as close as possible to the stables. The pen fencing was permanent wooden posts 4 ft high, 8 ft apart with tensioned horse mesh and a split rail on top. I had gates either end formed with wooden slip rails, 4 per gateway as I wanted a rail very close to the ground to stop her rolling out. In retrospect the mesh was not small enough for the tiny foal feet but luckily I got away with it. If I was doing it now I would probably try to cover up the tensioned mesh with plastic mesh/chicken wire. Mum is extremely sensible and so far has passed on her genes (touching wood everywhere). They stayed in the pen for the first two weeks, out during the day and in the stable at night as there was no shelter in the paddock and the weather was foul. Having the pen as close as possible to the stables was a god send, by day 3 foalie was stronger than me in terms of manhandling her into the stable. When the foal was two weeks old they then moved 24/7 into a large paddock I had made for them using three strands of Fieldguard-like wide electric tape, well tensioned and powered with a main energiser on wooden posts. I introduced the baby to electric tape in her pen, I put up a single strand of tape the day before I wanted to move them in one corner and let her get her first shock in a paddock she was familiar with. After that first shock she has stayed respectful of the fence and 7 months on I haven't yet had her break out/go through the fence.

 

[Victoria25]

Looks like one of our joiners from work will be sorting for me – problem solved – post and rail area (with chicken mesh on the bottom section to make sure it doesn’t go underneath) within the field so my other mare can still be in a separate field from the others but next to my other mare/foal …

Thanks for your v helpful reply stimpy - so many options isnt there

 

[stimpy]

Thanks for your v helpful reply stimpy - so many options isnt there

You're welcome I think it's easier when you are planning a regular or large stud activity, when it's just a hobby owner-breeder with one foal, the idea of putting large-investment infrastructure in isn't usually an option so deciding what is the best/most reusable/most flexible way to go whilst not compromising the foal's safety is a nightmare!

I guess this is why most hobby breeders foal at stud but I wanted my girl at home (for a whole host of reasons, not least of which was that she had laminitis and so couldn't be managed as you would normally manage a brood mare )

 

[Victoria25]

Yes, deffo – as much as they let us treat the place as our own – imagine if in two months they decide to sell up (which they wouldn’t) but you just never know 100%.

I also want my girl at home – we’ve not spent a day apart since I bought her as a three year old (she’s 11 now) apart from holidays - it will be my only foal.

Although saying that my new ex racer has exceptional breeding and perhaps in a few years …..

Have you just the one foal stimpy?

Will look at that fieldguard too Lark - thanks for that x

 

[stimpy]

Have you just the one foal stimpy?

Yes just the one and I don't plan to have another. I really only have her as Mum needed a year off in the field to recover from an injury and the vet confirmed that having a foal wouldn't hinder that aspect. Foalie is my future horse as Mum is now 15 and I'm not convinced she will come back into full work but her temperament is so exceptional that I was prepared to take a chance and try and get something similar. Even if foalie is half as good as her mother I'll be happy (she is my best horse but don't tell the others!) but whatever happens foalie will have a forever-home here with me.

I'm so glad I did it, it's so exciting and rewarding, I wish you all the luck in the world Victoria25

 

[Victoria25]

Ahh thats what I wanted ... I wanted something that was half as good as my mare - she's just like one huge dog and has the most wonderful temprement ... ekk, wonder what foaly turns out like ... excited