Seeing as Georgia is known for its high or otherwise wildly unpredictable temperatures and climate, it’s a widely favored decision among farmers and other horse owners to keep their horses in their pastures throughout the year. Pastures are the most horse-friendly way to keep your horses safe, happy, and healthy. In comparison to potentially-cramped stables, pastures offer a free-range way to keep horses from running off into the great unknown. But like most things, not all pastures are built the same. It’s important to understand what makes a good pasture, good. And what is a pasture but a fenced stretch of land? Here are some tips to consider when choosing a fence for your pasture:
- Avoid fences that are too rigid. A fence with no give to it can be harmful to some of the rowdier horses that might choose to bump into it.
- Your fence should be tall or bright enough for horses to see it. (Or both!) If a horse can’t see the fence for the trees, it might well run at full speed into it. This could be very harmful to the horse’s health — particularly if the fence has no flexibility to it.
- You want to horse-proof your fence with roughly the same mentality you’d baby-proof a house. When installing a fence, look out for narrow openings that could trap a horse, or where there are sharp barbs (by vegetation or loose chicken wire) and avoid or make those areas suitable for horse habitation. A cattle guard is a must-have, because horses can suffer life-threatening injuries (broken legs, in most cases) if their legs slip through a hole in the fence.
So you know of the dangers horses face, but what of the fence that can best prevent them? Well, you have a few options available, but two stand out among the rest.
Wooden fences, for example, make an excellent choice because they can easily be made to be sufficiently tall, sturdy (but not too sturdy) and they make for a beautiful addition to the idyllic pasture landscape. The downside to having a wooden fence is the possibility of maintenance, in case some of the planks rot or if the horses teeth on them too much.
Vinyl fences also make a great pick, and while they’re not quite as idyllic as the traditional wooden white fence, they beautiful fences with very little to no maintenance requirements. The only thing to watch for is to make sure you get a four board vinyl fence as opposed to a three board one, as the alternative could leave gaps big enough for foals to get under.
If you’re still on the fence as to whether or not you need a new fence, feel free to call us on our telephone number (1-800-221-6425) or visit us at one of our convenient locations in Swainsboro, Vidalia, Statesboro, or Sandersville. We’ll be happy to assist you in any way we can!