From: Lisa
Hi Jessica,
Thanks as always for your fantastic advice. I've really come to depend on this column! I've been around horses for a long time, but you always provide a new bit of information or an interesting new perspective.
I've written to you about my 3 yr. old thoroughbred, Woody, before. He is doing great!! My question is this: I am about to close the deal on the purchase of a home on a little over three acres of land. I think my dream of having my horse at home is finally going to become a reality, but now come the worries!
All of a sudden I'm realizing all kinds of things that I didn't worry about with a boarding stable. I plan to get a second horse, but maybe not right away. The neighbors have goats on the other side of a fence adjacent to where my horse would be. There are also other horses not on an adjacent fence, but in sight. Would this be enough company for my horse for a month or so until I get him an equine friend?
How tall do fences need to be? I've read a bunch of different things about types of fences, but nobody seems to be able to tell me how tall the fence should be or to even give me a guideline. The property already has a small shed/barn area. I plan to leave the doors open and just let my horse have access to the land. Eventually I hope to be able to cross fence the pasture to save the grass, but I know we won't be able to do that immediately. The pasture area is already fenced with wood posts and wire mesh. I think the wire mesh is thick enough to be sturdy and the holes should be small enough that a hoof couldn't fit through. My big concern is the front of the pasture that has a chain link fence. I haven't measured it, but I think it is only about 4' tall. Is there a way to raise the height of a fence without replacing the whole thing?
My other problem is that there are a lot of thorny kinds of bushes in the pasture. Should I shred it? Is there a good source of information about dealing with the pasture?
I'm sorry this ended up being so long! I've been so excited about buying this property, now I'm scared to death! Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer these questions!!
Your horse will probably adjust well to his new situation, but if he is used to being turned out with buddies, it will be a good idea to arrange to have one for him. Horses on the horizon may keep him quiet and calm -- or they may make him want to jump out of the enclosure and go find them. It depends on how desperate he is for company.
Fence height is a matter that affects the budget, I know. ;-) Sadly, the safest fencing is going to be the most costly -- tall, sturdy, as horse-proof as possible, and with "give" to it in case of a horse-fence collision. The best "horse fencing" is generally diamond-mesh or V-mesh wire, five feet or five and a half feet high, with a board on top. This will keep most horses in -- and safe. Stallion fencing is often higher -- six to eight feet. Some people get by for years with 4' fencing... but I wouldn't count on it to keep a horse in if he saw a reason to leave.
If your wire mesh is the V-style, you've got horse fencing, congratulations! If the openings are two-inch rectangles, then you have fencing that, with a top board and perhaps an electric wire if the fence is much under 5', should be suitable for adult horses (foal hooves WILL go through that size opening). Check whether the fence is woven or welded wire; if it's woven, work with it. If it's welded wire, plan to replace it, piece by piece, as you can afford it, and definitely put an inside-top electric wire to keep the horses away from the fence itself.
You'll probably want to replace the chain-link fence too; it's not particularly useful or safe for horses, and 4' is very low. Again, you can probably put a hot-wire on the top and slightly to the inside; that will help keep the horses away from that section of fence until you can replace it.
Call your county extension agent and ask him to come out and inspect the pasture with you. If there are dangerous plants growing there, find out NOW, and find out how to get rid of them. If you have thorn-bushes, they may need to be pulled up and/or burned; again, your extension agent will be able to advise you. He'll also be able to suggest grasses that are good for horse pasture and that will grow in your area, so that you'll know how to reseed the pasture.
You are very wise to want to be prepared BEFORE you bring your horse home! If possible, you might want to go on boarding your horse elsewhere until you have your hot-wire installed and your pastures in shape. Oh, and one more thing: Don't forget that you'll need to walk every inch of that pasture -- there always seems to be some forgotten wire somewhere, and you want to find it, as well as any glass, old metal posts, or broken wires in your own fence, before your horse does. Horses seem to have built-in radar for Things That Can Hurt Them. ;-)
Jessica
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