Stallion Fencing

bakewell

bakewell

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I am really sorry, this is very long but wanted to make sure all the info is there.
Thanks in advance for any help.

Our stallions have their own turnout. At the moment we've got 160cm post and rail, then a 4.5m access track, then another 160cm post and rail. We have low stimulus horses directly opposite, others viewable in next field across (if that makes sense). If we've had particularly stimulating horses we've alternated day/ night turnout.
We graze the grass quite low with sheep apart from a strip held back at full length so the stallions don't get too fat. They're very good doers, even in work.

We're looking at a new property that would enable us to set up fields in a different manner.
Ideally I'd like to get the horses the stallions are stabled next to and find ok for a chat through the stable bars directly the other side of a fence. For their quality of life. However I obviously don't want the stallion going over. We'd be able to get four long narrow stallion turnouts, adjacent to a main paddock, with thick wood/ hedging to one side for visual cover.

So I'm looking at a few options:

http://www.thefenceline.co.uk/non_climb_horse_fence.html
1800mm, pros, smooth sided for lack of injury to horse.

http://www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk/p...-1.9m-high.aspx?tpc=AR&fmc=BO&fnc=BF&timber=1
1900mm, but I'm not sure the quality is as high? may be more durable.

http://www.thefenceline.co.uk/keepsafe_horse_fence.html
Two lots of this overlapped to give a height of 2000mm. Clearly brill but frightfully expensive.

Stallions are not big on jumping, 17hh. They're used to other horses etc treated as normal creatures. They wouldn't be in sight of each other whilst on turnout. They're in full time work and have walker time. They've been used for stud in the past and may go back to it if the market ever recovers!

Q's: which fencing option would you favour?
am I missing anything or suggesting anything stupid?
do you think I should get a strand of electric for the top/ to give another 200mm of coverage?

Gates....
http://www.mcveighparker.com/product-listing/63/65/298
so far the only option I've come up with is deer gates. We use a pen around the entrance, tall standard gates and a wire on the top at the moment but this is faffy and not ideal as clearly not as resistant as the fence.

Thanks chaps.
 
Whatever one has the smallest holes to stop hooves going through. I know a stallion that is notorious for kicking out at mares if they are not in season (strange boy) and he did it once and got his hooves through and was almost pts cause of the damage.
 
I'm probably not the one to ask. I've kept mine for years behind 2 electric tapes (20mm) on 5' posts - with a 10' wide passageway between the stallion fields and other horses. Has worked fine - both with my old boy (who I lost last year at 22) and the young lad!
 
JanetGeorge said:
I'm probably not the one to ask. I've kept mine for years behind 2 electric tapes (20mm) on 5' posts - with a 10' wide passageway between the stallion fields and other horses. Has worked fine - both with my old boy (who I lost last year at 22) and the young lad!
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Sniggers! I was thinking much the same! I used to look after the stallions at the Muschamp Stid, and they went out in a normal field, with normal fencing - with mares over the hedge, and never caused a moments bother! They were only ever uppity when they had their covering bridles on!
 
Auslander said:
Sniggers! I was thinking much the same! I used to look after the stallions at the Muschamp Stid, and they went out in a normal field, with normal fencing - with mares over the hedge, and never caused a moments bother! They were only ever uppity when they had their covering bridles on!
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Unfortunately these guys were imported, so they come from a background of not having any turn out. I'd be more confident if I knew exactly how they'd been brought up but beyond seeing them in the breeder I bought them from's place... who could say. Likewise most mares now haven't run with a stallion and I hear a kick in the balls smarts.

I know they've been beyond good so far. However it's directly on my head if they or another horse gets injured because I could have prevented it. Plus what if I need someone to cover me due to sickness etc...
I'm such a worrywort it's a wonder I manage to ever get in the saddle!
 
bakewell said:
Unfortunately these guys were imported, so they come from a background of not having any turn out. I'd be more confident if I knew exactly how they'd been brought up but beyond seeing them in the breeder I bought them from's place... who could say. Likewise most mares now haven't run with a stallion and I hear a kick in the balls smarts.

I know they've been beyond good so far. However it's directly on my head if they or another horse gets injured because I could have prevented it. Plus what if I need someone to cover me due to sickness etc...
I'm such a worrywort it's a wonder I manage to ever get in the saddle!
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Sorry - I didn't mean to mock! I've worked with stallions on the continent too, so I know what you mean about lack of turnout. The ones in Switzerland were turned out in stallion paddocks, which were fenced with very white plastic bouncy fencing - they could see through it, but not get their heads over, and it was extremely strong, but flexible, so they bounced off it if they ran into it, or messed around. Generally they didn't bother - they just enjoyed being out.

My concern about wire mesh fencing is that if they were to strike out, there is a slight chance they could catch the branch of a shoe in the mesh. The holes don't have to be that big for that to be possible.
 
bakewell said:
Unfortunately these guys were imported, so they come from a background of not having any turn out. I'd be more confident if I knew exactly how they'd been brought up but beyond seeing them in the breeder I bought them from's place... who could say. Likewise most mares now haven't run with a stallion and I hear a kick in the balls smarts.

I know they've been beyond good so far. However it's directly on my head if they or another horse gets injured because I could have prevented it. Plus what if I need someone to cover me due to sickness etc...
I'm such a worrywort it's a wonder I manage to ever get in the saddle!
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You don't sound over cautious to me, you sound as though you care about your horse's safety and that of those around you. Nothing to feel silly about, I think it's impressive.
 
Auslander said:
Sorry - I didn't mean to mock! I've worked with stallions on the continent too, so I know what you mean about lack of turnout. The ones in Switzerland were turned out in stallion paddocks, which were fenced with very white plastic bouncy fencing - they could see through it, but not get their heads over, and it was extremely strong, but flexible, so they bounced off it if they ran into it, or messed around. Generally they didn't bother - they just enjoyed being out.

My concern about wire mesh fencing is that if they were to strike out, there is a slight chance they could catch the branch of a shoe in the mesh. The holes don't have to be that big for that to be possible.
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Nono! no offense taken!
More a sorrowful wish they hadn't been adult and not used to socialising by the time I got them. I am leery of depending on their good nature to cover my own bum.
 
How about Heras fencing? Its what they use for putting round building sites. Ive got 9 panels of it, its very very high steel mesh so they cant get their hooves through it. It would probably be cheaper than most other stuff. Was very handy for making a very small "paddock" for one of mine who kept jumping fences...
 
TigerTail said:
http://www.mcveighparker.com/product-listing/9/12/140

I like this stuff - looks nicer than net but shouldn't get chewed/rot like post and rail does :)
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I agree it's much less prison-y! However it would probably require a void between fields. My *ideal* is that they could graze alongside another horse without the risk of kicking/ biting etc. I may be being overly idealistic.
The other thing is we have sheep... I'd like to have more powers of confinement than currently to keep the paddock grass right down. The new place is ex dairy so the grass will be excessively lush until overseeded. I feel like a bridezilla!
Thank-you for your suggestion though.
 
Over here all the fencing you've linked to is generally used for foal fields. I have some no-climb fencing and it's great however I'm not sure it's really up to being used as stallion fencing?
 
Spring Feather said:
Over here all the fencing you've linked to is generally used for foal fields. I have some no-climb fencing and it's great however I'm not sure it's really up to being used as stallion fencing?
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Do you think it could be used as a liner for a more robust fence/ more posts. If that makes sense? I'm looking at long stretches I suppose is the most vulnerable. I think I might end up calling everyone about the tensile strength of their fence.

They aren't monsters or destructive but what I am proposing is a change, hopefully to their benefit.

Thanks for input. It's one of those things that really isn't covered in a lot of stud training beyond "a really massive fence"
 
bakewell said:
Do you think it could be used as a liner for a more robust fence/ more posts. If that makes sense? I'm looking at long stretches I suppose is the most vulnerable. I think I might end up calling everyone about the tensile strength of their fence.
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I think it would be fine if you had post and rail (for example) running on the field side of the fencing. The only thing I'm thinking is that if you just use the no-climb without something else to protect it, it could easily get bent out of shape, even if it has been tensioned properly initially. It's expensive fencing and you want it to remain looking nice so I think I'd be tempted to try to protect it with some other form of fencing too.
 
Spring Feather said:
I think it would be fine if you had post and rail (for example) running on the field side of the fencing. The only thing I'm thinking is that if you just use the no-climb without something else to protect it, it could easily get bent out of shape, even if it has been tensioned properly initially. It's expensive fencing and you want it to remain looking nice so I think I'd be tempted to try to protect it with some other form of fencing too.
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I agree with this... The only way I can think to get around that would be to have 4 rails and the no climb fencing attached but that would be rather expensive.
 
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