"High-Traffic" Areas: 10 Mistakes You Want to Avoid

I just love owning horses! And I have had many over the years. From the time I was little and had the best "puppy dog-teacher" horse, to later in life when I would go to the thoroughbred auctions at the track (to find young hunter prospects), I have loved horses. Every particular horse had its own unique personality and habits. Just like us, horses have their own good and not so good sides... I have found when the day is over and our horses are turned out in their own "living quarters", what we provide for them to live in will be what we maintain for our beloved horses.

Throughout many years of being involved around fencing, I saw many fence projects fail the horse owners expectations. To the owner's dismay, they unintentionally created a "high-traffic" area for their horses! We coined this term due to the abuse the fencing system had to withstand until it ultimately failed. What was needed was a better-planned fence layout, otherwise, no fence on the market is capable of withstanding that kind of abuse. Ultimately the fence system would fail.

10 Common Mistakes That Create a "High-Traffic" Area:

1. If You Have a Dry Lot – Make sure that your horses have enough grass hay to keep them busy. Horses are grazing animals and need to have food if they are in a dry lot for long periods of time. Horses will tend to lean or push on the fence for grass outside of the fence. This will put wear and tear on your fence and posts. Solution: Feed grass hay to the horses throughout the day. Consider electric with your existing fence system to help save on your fence investment.
2. If You Have Foals You Are Weaning or Young Horses in the Pasture – Be sure that they have room to run and play. If not, they can skid up on the fence and cause wear to your rails after time. Also, this will lead to dirt movement around posts, and expose the lower part of the post and this can create a weak or leaning fence system. Solution: consider having a "baby sitter horse" in with the young horses. The mature horses tend to calm the younger ones and show them how to relax. Also, keep a close eye always on young horses or weanlings. If they start to run excessively or show signs of distress, be sure to be ready to move them to a place where they are calm and relaxed. Sometimes, shorter turnout times and stall time needs to be done twice in a day until young horses learn they have nothing to worry about.
3. Running the Fence Line – If you see horses running the fence line, something is distressing them. It's not good for the horse (they can become overheated or colic) and definitely will wear on your fence. Solution: Once again, try using some grass hay. It could be that you need to put horses together that get along or need to be with a "buddy" and not alone. If it's hot, be sure horses have fly spray on them and provide an area where they can get out of the sun.
4. Cross-Fencing with Horses Playing on Both Sides – The result from this high-traffic area will be wear from rearing on the rails, kicking through/on the fence, and pushing down on the top rail. Solution: Consider rotational grazing instead of horses on both sides of the fence at the same time. Consider splitting turnout so that only one pasture is used at a time. Or have a day turnout and night turnout with horses in only one pasture at a time. If you must put horses out together in both pastures, use electric down the common fence line. This will help to protect the dollars you have put into your fence.
5. Small Paddocks or Small "in and Outs" from the Barn – Smaller paddocks and entrances are confined, high-traffic areas. Waiting only leads to broken fencing or injuries that could have been prevented with early maintenance. Solution: If an area is too small for the amount of turn out time, consider a shorter turnout or larger pasture. I would not even consider using electric in any small area of containment. Instead, consider using larger posts and concreting all of them in. Realize this is will be a high-traffic area and you will need to watch for any high-priority maintenance that may need to be addressed right away.
6. Letting Your Horse Lean over Fence to Eat Along a Natural Boundary Line – Eventually, you will see your fence line lean, causing weak posts and wear to the rails. Solution: Clear the brush from the fence line or use electric.
7. A Large Number of Horses Waiting to Come in at Feeding Time – Horse's will congregate when it's time to eat and can lean on gates and fence. Kicking can hurt both your horse and your fence. Solution: If your pasture is large enough, consider putting in an aisle. Through design, you can create a "catch area" allowing each pasture of horses in at one time. In the event the horses are young or excitable, you have a second chance to calm them down just before going through a gate to the wide-open spaces (walking through the catch area). This allows you to safely lead them to the barn.
8. If You Have Cribbing Horses – They can literally eat your posts into tooth-picks. Solution: Consider cribbing straps/collars. Cribbing is contagious; horses can and will pick up the bad habit. Electric can sometimes help, however, if the horse is a die-hard cribber, it's next to impossible to cover all the posts and wood in electric.
9. Putting Your Rail on the Outside of Your Posts – This can be a problem if your horses are leaning on the fence. Rails on the inside is a stronger system because the post acts as a brace for the rail. Solution: Aesthetics can sometimes warrant your rail to the outside, however, be sure you check all brackets frequently so that fence rails are not loose from the post.
10. Not Turning on Electric Fences – This is something I see frequently and is very common. Solution: An electric fence needs to be on at all times to keep the fence in good shape and keep your horses in.

*These are just some of the issues that create high-traffic areas. I hope this increased your awareness of what your horses are going to do to in high-traffic areas and how it will affect the time you put into maintenance.

As horse owners, we need to be aware there is no fence that is 100% horse-proof. Even if you had a concrete wall, your horse may try to clear it and could possibly get injured (and then you would have a loose horse, too). Please research to get the best information on your fence layout so you avoid high-traffic areas and you get the most out of your fence system. Not to be confused with a fence that breaks, a failed fence system means the fencing is not doing the job of safely containing the horses.

If you have more questions on what you can do to prevent high-traffic areas, you can talk to a reputable fence expert who knows horses and is looking out for your best interests. They should tell you everything about their products as well as what the warranty covers!

*FYI – Flex Fence® warranties cover any cracking, peeling, chipping, discoloration, UV weathering, or any manufacturer's defect; they do not cover abuse. Most rigid PVC fencing is the same, but is not intended for horse containment; we recommend electric with any PVC fencing. See manufacturer's requirements for installation and always ask what warranties they provide before you purchase.

Laugh Much & Ride Often!