Winter fecing

tamidoodle · 11-02-2009, 09:52 AM

I need some advice on fencing for winter keeping. Last year I only had my mare. She was kept in four strands of electric fencing. She had about 112' to herself. I did not know if this was enough room to keep her in for the winter months which would be starting this month until around April. I am also getting a TB gelding that I would like some suggestions for. He will be kept separate so he can have more food because he is way underweight. I also need some help with a pen size for my stud. He is going to be kept with the 2 pygmy goats. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

EquineAlberta · 11-02-2009, 07:50 PM

An ideal setting that is reasonible (to me) would be to have one large grazing pasture, with two smaller pens attached. Then your horses can go in the smaller pens for feeding, or when the grass needs a break.

You need to look into the requirements for your area and for insurance for your stallion...some areas have special requirements. I don't know much about goats other than that they are clever and can climb, so a really tall no climb (diamond mesh) pen may be the best option for him and the goats. They should not share a fence line with your mare.

Karen

tamidoodle · 11-02-2009, 08:59 PM

Well as I do live in Michigan there is no grass during the winter.

During the summer they have a 10 acre pasture that is sectioned off for grazing. I just did not know how much room they would need for the winter months when they would only be getting fed hay. The stud and the goats will have a fence made out of cattle panel which he is in one now as well as the goats. I'm looking to make smaller fences where they do not graze during the summer so they do not butcher the grass as soon as a little blade appears in the spring.

Horselady44 · 11-02-2009, 09:15 PM

the more room the better IMO. That way your 'pen' dosnt get all poopy and muddy. Its a mess to have them in a smaller area. Its much better to have them in a bigger area with pens to feed them in, and then turn them back out. Just a idea

Or, if you have stalls...that would be a choice too. I dont like to keep mine penned up like that...they enjoy being outside and running around. I would try to keep them in a larger area, where you can turn them out if possible

pippy · 11-06-2009, 04:46 PM

I can keep 2 adult horses (that get along) per one paddock that is 18 wide and 56 long w/ a shelter that is 18' deep so altogether length is 74ft of use. This has been working well for me(- except when it rained for 3 wks and became super mud and someone became BORED and chewed on the wood. If you can go bigger, I would go as big as you can- the more room the better but sometimes, as in my case, you only got so much to work with and do the best you can.)
I have the paddock gates attached to my arena which is 55 x 130 or something like that- can't remember exact dimensions, that I open so they are all turned out together & then have the paddock/shelter and arena area to mosy around, when I want to keep them off the pasture.
All my fencing in the paddock and arena is wood, the pasture is 3 strands barbless wire w/ an additional 2 strands of electric.
As for the stud- I would think no matter how mellow he is you'd want to be sure to have a sturdy and tall environment for him. I know nothing about goats!

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11-02-2009, 09:52 AM
tamidoodle Halter broke Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 77	Winter fecing I need some advice on fencing for winter keeping. Last year I only had my mare. She was kept in four strands of electric fencing. She had about 112' to herself. I did not know if this was enough room to keep her in for the winter months which would be starting this month until around April. I am also getting a TB gelding that I would like some suggestions for. He will be kept separate so he can have more food because he is way underweight. I also need some help with a pen size for my stud. He is going to be kept with the 2 pygmy goats. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

11-02-2009, 07:50 PM
EquineAlberta Kid Safe Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 6,004	An ideal setting that is reasonible (to me) would be to have one large grazing pasture, with two smaller pens attached. Then your horses can go in the smaller pens for feeding, or when the grass needs a break. You need to look into the requirements for your area and for insurance for your stallion...some areas have special requirements. I don't know much about goats other than that they are clever and can climb, so a really tall no climb (diamond mesh) pen may be the best option for him and the goats. They should not share a fence line with your mare. Karen __________________ New Hillside Website The Art of Praise

11-02-2009, 08:59 PM
tamidoodle Halter broke Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 77	Well as I do live in Michigan there is no grass during the winter. During the summer they have a 10 acre pasture that is sectioned off for grazing. I just did not know how much room they would need for the winter months when they would only be getting fed hay. The stud and the goats will have a fence made out of cattle panel which he is in one now as well as the goats. I'm looking to make smaller fences where they do not graze during the summer so they do not butcher the grass as soon as a little blade appears in the spring.

11-02-2009, 09:15 PM
Horselady44 Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 2,395	the more room the better IMO. That way your 'pen' dosnt get all poopy and muddy. Its a mess to have them in a smaller area. Its much better to have them in a bigger area with pens to feed them in, and then turn them back out. Just a idea Or, if you have stalls...that would be a choice too. I dont like to keep mine penned up like that...they enjoy being outside and running around. I would try to keep them in a larger area, where you can turn them out if possible __________________ A happy horse equals a happy rider!

11-06-2009, 04:46 PM
pippy Started Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: minnesota Posts: 2,298	I can keep 2 adult horses (that get along) per one paddock that is 18 wide and 56 long w/ a shelter that is 18' deep so altogether length is 74ft of use. This has been working well for me(- except when it rained for 3 wks and became super mud and someone became BORED and chewed on the wood. If you can go bigger, I would go as big as you can- the more room the better but sometimes, as in my case, you only got so much to work with and do the best you can.) I have the paddock gates attached to my arena which is 55 x 130 or something like that- can't remember exact dimensions, that I open so they are all turned out together & then have the paddock/shelter and arena area to mosy around, when I want to keep them off the pasture. All my fencing in the paddock and arena is wood, the pasture is 3 strands barbless wire w/ an additional 2 strands of electric. As for the stud- I would think no matter how mellow he is you'd want to be sure to have a sturdy and tall environment for him. I know nothing about goats! __________________ "It's never to late to live happily ever after." Last edited by pippy : 11-06-2009 at 04:48 PM.