| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| breederdreamer |
Posted - May 13 2005 : 06:39:33 AM
Hey everyone, I could REALLY use some help here. I'm doing my research on what kind of fence to purchace. Metal will cost me about $10 per foot for the materials alone, but of course it's durable. Wood will cost me anywhere between 4.50 and 5.50 per foot for the materials alone, but of course horses chew wood. So, in the long run I will be replacing it. However I can putt vinyl coated large mesh over the fence so that it is harder for them to crib, and of course keep them from getting bored (this adds 1.00 to 1.50 per foot). And all that is left is the wear that weather and time has on wood. My other option is Vinyl fencing. This will cost me between 6.50 and 7.00 for the materials only. It's right inbetween. The problem is, I don't know how good it is. How strong or how durable. Truth be told all the dealers will sing praise about this type of fence, but they would promise me hair made of gold for my buisness. So, really, I'm wanting to hear from people who keep horses or cattle in vinyl fencing. My neighbour did have several horses in vinyl pens, and I never once saw any damage done to them. However one of her employees says I'm asking to set my horses free, that it breaks all the time. (But that her fence didn't break...) So, do you have this form of fencing? How long has it been up? Has it withstood a kick or charge from an animal? If you can't help me, I would appreciate it if you can help me find a forum where this question might be more appropriate. I've been to all sorts of fence related forums, but the ones I have found are all companies putting up advertisements. Wood companies saying vinyl is useless, and the other way around. Thank you so much for any help you can provide!
Someday I will wake to find hundreds of acres full of pregnant plump mares, giddy yearlings, and testy stallions. Someday. |
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| ThymeForEweFarm |
Posted - May 28 2005 : 03:13:08 AM
Instead of planning around cribbing it's better to take the steps to prevent and correct cribbing. Ingested air, splinters and poor teeth are a few of the consequences for this bad habit. We've taken in some serious cribbers and broke most of the worst ones by running a hot wire an inch over the top of the first board. More exercise, correction of poor habits and working through the horse's problems should take care of the majority of cribbers.
I don't have any experience with vinyl. I'm like Jacqueline for asthetics. I love the look of white painted wood fences. At Due Process (sold and under a new name now I believe) there were hundreds of acres fenced in this way. It was absolutely beautiful to look out the brood mare barn and see mares and foals behind those fences.
Robin
Thyme For Ewe Farm
www.thymeforewe.com |
| Jacqueline |
Posted - May 27 2005 : 5:24:58 PM
Well....I am a horse breeder so speaking in terms of raising horses within it, I chose wood when faced with the decision.
The reason was this: According to everyone I spoke to, one very good rub from the butt of a strong full grown horse can snap that vinyl fence right in two. Or a charge from a strong stallion to get to a mare in heat. Or a charge from a mare protecting her foal from another mare. It wont happen everytime, it may only happen once, but once is all a horse needs to get out, run into the road and get killed by a car..or possibly kill the folks in the car too.
At least with wood, you can SEE when it starts to get weak and repair or replace the worn boards.
I lined my wood fences with stud wire for extra security so my young foals dont get their feet or legs stuck underneath or their heads stuck between the boards. The stud wire keeps the rest from chewing most of the wood also. Its lasted really well, and nothing beats the look of wooden fences. With the wire, the socts ended up being comparable to vinyl fencing, so I really didnt save very much, but the safety of my horses and of strangers passing by was the deciding factor in my decision.
Hope that helps!
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| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - May 13 2005 : 09:44:05 AM
My husband worked for a fence company for 12 years and he says that the vinyl fencing is great stuff. I have personally never had it, but just thought I would pass that along.
Jenny in Utah
Bloom where you are planted! |
| MeadowLark |
Posted - May 13 2005 : 09:26:46 AM
Amanda, My ob/gyn lives near me and keeps lots of horses. He put up vinyl fencing and swears by it. His whole horse operation has nothing but white vinyl fencing. He told me that supposedly it is tornado proof. We have white vinyl fencing lining our property by the main road and my DH set it in concrete. I can tell you it does not hold up in a fire, because we had a bad grass fire 5 years ago because of drought and part of it melted. We had to replace the section that melted. Other than a bad fire I believe it is very sturdy. Hope this helps you in your decision.
"Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I'll meet you there." Rumi, 13th century. |
| jpbluesky |
Posted - May 13 2005 : 06:59:15 AM
Amanada -
I should not even be replying to you, since I do not have horses, or vinyl fences! However, I know that vinyl fencing is used a lot (you will laugh here) around condos and pools on the beaches of Florida. They did not stand up well to the hurricanes last year. The rising tides and fallen debris took them out. Just a thought from way down in Florida.
jpbluesky
O, cease to heed the glamour that blinds your foolish eyes,
Look upward to the glitter of stars in God's clear skies.
from God's Garden by Robert Frost |
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