How To Build A Wood Rail Horse Fence

Building a fence can help increase home security and keep unwanted critters from your property.

How to build a wood rail horse fence. Setting posts represents the hardest work and the most time consuming part of fence building and is absolutely the most critical to the long term success of the fence. Board fence is usually a 3 or 4 board layout with 4 x 4 or 4 x 6 post assembled from either smooth or rough sawn pressure teated wood. Before setting round posts into the ground cut notches for the rails. Take the number of fence posts times three plus eight cross braces to determine the number of 2 by 6 rails needed.

Other options include wire mesh fencing vinyl fences electrified horse tape fences or a combination of the above. This guide highlights the process of installing a simple square post and rail fence in your yard. Although many types of fencing exist a few are superior when it comes to a farm horse fence. Make a mark where the line hits each post then use a circular saw to cut at an angle 1 inch above the mark thereby eliminating a site for water to pool and rot the wood.

Wood board fences are revered for their aesthetics high visibility and good strength. At the end of a run install the rails flush with the edge of the corner post. Set square posts into the ground trim them to height and install the rails. Horizontal fence rails are typically full 1 inch thick by 6 inch wide lumber but can be conventional 2 x 6 lumber as purchased from a big box store.

The rails for the next run should overlap these rail ends and be flush with the rail faces. Some of the best fence types include. The fence post is the foundation of the fence so its importance cannot be overemphasized. Learning how to build a fence involves securing the posts attaching the panels or pickets and providing post caps.

The common element in virtually all successful horse fences is a wooden post. Wooden board fences are. Disadvantages include high initial cost 4 to 5 per linear foot for a traditional unpainted four rail fence and high maintenance due to horse chewing weathering etc. This will give you the number of fence posts needed to make the three rail wooden horse fence.

Popular types of fences include privacy picket split rail and basket weave and can be made from such materials as wood vinyl and metal. It s hard to top the beauty and presence of a wooden board fence which brings to mind images of lush pastures and galloping thoroughbreds in the heart of kentucky. Each 16 foot long rail will span three posts but you ll want to stagger them top to bottom so they don t always begin and end on the same posts. No matter what type of fence you decide to erect the basic common structural element of any horse fence is the posts.

Rails running along the fence should butt together at the middle of the posts. The most common type of fencing used to contain horses is a wooden board fence or a post and rail fence. Horses can break through if spooked and nails and splintering can present hazards.