Central Florida is home to a majority of the state’s livestock and equestrian land. Hillsborough County is close to several colleges offering equestrian centers and riding clubs, as well as acres of rolling farmland in the rural parts of the county. With so many properties home to livestock and horses, FloriFence offers a variety of ranch fencing as part of our commercial services.
Below are some of the general rules, precautions, and tips for building fencing on your working land. For more questions, feel free to contact us!
General Rules for Equine Fencing
When building a fence for horses or livestock, safety is of the utmost priority. There are several precautions you should take to prevent accidental injuries, escapes, and other problems related to livestock enclosures.
- All fencing should be a 5-foot minimum for areas near highways or where livestock may escape. Stall runs and paddocks typically need a six-foot minimum but will depend on your facilities and the number of animals.
- The bottom should have 8-12 inches of clearance to prevent the trapping of feet and legs, but be small enough to prevent foals and calves from rolling underneath and getting stuck. Any other opening such as gate hinges should either be big enough that feet can’t be trapped, or small enough that feet cannot fit through (3 inches maximum).
- All paddocks and pastures need at least one swinging gate to move animals in and out, and all gates must follow the same safety features to prevent accidental injuries.
- Gates and fence posts should have no sharp edges or anything sticking out that could cause injury.
- Minimize sharp corners (90-degree angles) to prevent horses from trapping others. This is especially important if you have aggressive or domineering animals who like to bully.
Wire and Wood Fencing
The most common type of fencing for ranches and equine centers is a mix of wire and wood fencing. While vinyl and split rail fencing is also an option for any working land, we recommend a combination of wire and wood as the safest and most affordable solution. However, choosing the right wood is crucial to a long-lasting and safe fence.
Cedar, redwood, and cypress woods are the best options for deterring pest damage. However, they can become pricey if you are covering a lot of land. Therefore, we recommend pressure-treated pine that is stained for longevity. These wood options will help extend the life of your fence and give it a beautiful, water-resistant finish.
It’s also important to incorporate enough wood into your fencing design so that the animals can see your fencing clearly from afar. Wire can be difficult to see, so we recommend adding a top rail of wood to your wire fences to improve visibility.
FloriFence can help with any livestock or working farm fence installation project in Central Florida. To learn more about our services, call the office today!
FloriFence LLC. 