Building a safe horse fence

When building a horse fence, there are several things to consider to make it a safe roaming area for your horses. The article below highlights some of the most important things you should consider:

Visibility and Strength
If your fence isn’t visible enough, it’s likely your horse may accidentally run into it. If you choose a wire fence, make sure it has a rail or board on top so the horse has something to focus on. Additionally, you should build a fence that’s strong enough to handle if it is run into. This is also important around the areas of high traffic like the gate and near the barn.

Smooth Edges
The inside edges of your fencing should have a smooth surface with nothing sticking out. Check the fence frequently to make sure there aren’t any nails or broken wires that might injure the horse.

Fence Height
For most breeds of horses, your fencing should be at least 5 feet tall. For taller breeds, a height of 6 feet is recommended. If you incorporate an interior fence inside the main fence, this can be at a shorter height like 4.5 feet.

Fence Design
When designing your fencing, it’s recommended you use rounded corners instead of square. If you have a dominant or aggressive horse, square corners make it easier for him to trap other horses. Rounded corners can prevent bullying and make all horses feel comfortable and safe in their surroundings.

Round Pen Fundamentals: Base and Footing

Before you begin building your round pen, there are several fundamental steps you should follow to avoid mistakes. By learning this fundamentals before you start building, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and money. Over the next couple of days, we’ll review the important things you need to know to build a long-lasting round pen.

A safe and secure pen starts with a good base. As you’re planning your round pen, make sure you have a layered base and level ground. This will not only make it last longer, but it also provides the necessary drainage for your pen, which is essential after an especially heavy rainstorm.

It’s unlikely you’ll have a perfectly level piece of ground to work with, but there are many methods you can use to level your existing ground and make it suitable for drainage. Each option varies by budget and how much work you want to put in it.

When properly constructed, your pen’s base and footing will resemble a layered cake. You should slope your bottom layer, then add mixtures of gravel, stone dust, and landscaping cloth. Although this is time-intensive at first, it will pay off in the end.

The last layer on the cake – the icing – is the footing that supports your horses. Common options are wood shavings, shredded rubber, grass and dirt, and sand – your choice should vary based on your climate and conditions.

Wood shavings add an organic material to the pen, which help maintain its cushion. The negative aspect to wood is that if it gets too wet, it will become slick and break down quicker than normal. It will also break down if it gets too dry.

Rubber shavings are another option. The cushion of rubber breaks down any natural hardness and absorbs soil water better. However, the lightweight substance can blow away during heavy winds or be carried away during a rainstorm.

Natural grass and dirt is the cheapest and easiest, but not the best option. Grass can be damaged very easily, especially when it’s in a high-use area. Dirt will compact and eventually create a very hard top layer that could cause injury to your horses.

Sand is a very good choice for your round pen footing. It provides a great cushion and well drained, it can be used in wet climates.

When ordering your footing material, keep in mind that it will need to be replaced periodically. You may want to consider ordering 10 – 25% more than what you’ll need so you’ll have it on hand as needed.

Keeping these tips in mind as you’re planning your round pen will result in a secure and long-lasting solution for your horses.