Planning Your Fence

Fence Planning FAQs

Do you have an upcoming fencing project or looking to add horse stalls to your barn or facility? Our planning guide provides you with many useful tips and many different product options to fit any budget. If you're looking to map out all of your next steps, this project planner is for you!

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Your FREE 2019 Planning Guide

Horse fence can be one of the most attractive features of a horse facility, but not all fence is suitable for horses. Fencing is a major capital investment that should be carefully planned before construction. Most horses are in their pasture 50%-100% of the time, every time. A mature horse weighs between 1,200 to 1,800 pounds and will contact your fence at some point. This is why it's important to make your pasture as safe as possible by choosing a fence system that's suitable for your horses.

A fence should keep horses on the property and keep away nuisances such as dogs and other unwanted visitors. Fences aid facility management by allowing controlled grazing and segregating groups of horses according to age, sex, value, or use. Well-constructed and maintained fences enhance the aesthetics and value of a stable facility, which in turn complements marketing efforts. Poorly planned, haphazard, unsafe, or non-maintained fences will detract from a facility’s value and reflect poor management. Good fences can be formal or informal in appearance, yet all should be well-built and carefully planned.

Many experienced horse owners will relay stories about the savings for cheaper, but unsafe, horse fence (e.g. barbed wire). Eventually (and regretfully), these owners will have to pay for veterinary bills to treat their injured horses.

Often, more than one kind of fence is used at a facility. Different fences might be installed for grazing pastures, exercise paddocks, riding areas, or for securing property lines. Land topography influences the look, effectiveness, and installation of fencing. Consider different horse groups; stallions, weanlings, mares, mares with foals, and geldings all have different fencing requirements.

Pasture use may range from exercise paddocks (corrals) to grazing or hay production. Paddock layout should allow for ease of management, including the movement of horses, removal of manure, and care of the footing surface. Pasture design should allow field equipment, such as mowers, manure spreaders, and baling equipment to enter and maneuver easily. This will reduce fence damage by machinery and the time needed to work in the field.

Can't fence all of your property at once? No need to worry; RAMM can help you determine your long-term farm and barn needs for your horses. You can break it down into phases and complete your project(s) in a timeframe that works for your schedule! It's always better to know your goal, rather than "adding on" because, without a plan, your facility can become unorganized, which will lengthen the time it takes you to do your daily chores.

Have questions? We welcome you to give us a call at 1-800-416-1860 or visit our fence planning FAQs webpage. RAMM has been in the equine industry for over 30 years and have experts you can speak with today!

Fence Planning: Important Questions to Ask

How large is your pasture? If you don't know, measure the distance between your existing posts and add the total footage. Alternatively, you can measure the distance between your steps and walk off the area. If the area is open, drive stakes in the ground and string-off the pasture.
How many horses (geldings, mares, foals, stallions, etc.) or other animals (alpacas, cattle, goats, etc.) will be in this area?
Will you need to create separation between your horses? Do you need rotational grazing areas? Catch areas, pony or small animal containment, as well as large horse pastures?
How many gates will you need and where are they going to be located? Include any that you are thinking about now, rather than adding them after installation is complete. Consider having a 16' utility gate at one end of your pasture for the use of large vehicles or equipment. Most turn-out gates should be 8', 10', or 12' in length. Ask a RAMM expert about the best size and placement for your property.
What is the content of your soil (sand, rock, clay, etc.)? Do you have rolling hills? Standing water?
If you are considering electric fencing, do you have overhead electric lines or water lines close to where your fence will run?
Which high-traffic areas will have the most amount of horse congregation and foot traffic? What are your horses' temperaments like? Do your horses chew, lean, or otherwise abuse the fence? This is important to consider and discuss with a RAMM expert to protect your fence investment/hard-earned dollars.
Are you looking to add new fencing or update existing fencing? What will you want to fence in the future? Our staff can help you save money if you plan ahead for future additions.
What is your budget? We can help you choose the right fence for your situation and budget. Remember, the difference between a good fence and a bad fence is usually one vet bill. Ask how RAMM products will help you with easier, long-term maintenance. Our goal is to help you fence your horses safer and keep your fence looking new, longer!

The true test of a fence’s worth is not when horses are peacefully grazing, but when an excited horse contacts the fence in an attempt to escape or because he never saw it during a playful romp. How will the fence and horse hold up under these conditions? Please understand the purpose of a fencing containment system is to provide a safe living environment.

*Click on a link below to learn more about different horse fencing options:

RAMM Flex Fence®

Electric Horse Fence

Wire Mesh Horse Fence

PVC Fence

RAMM Tip: If you plan accordingly to place your gate(s) in the corner of your fencing, your fencing system will require less hardware because you will have fewer start-and-stops.