Fence posts

**Orchid** · 02-01-2006, 10:24 AM

Ack! The cheapest 5" x 8' treated wood posts I can find in my area are $8 each.

That's a lot compared to $3.50 for steel posts, but I'm not really comfortable using those. If one of my horses skewered itself I would never forgive myself.

What do you use for posts and what do prices run in your area? FYI: I am planning on using Electrobraid fencing.

**beth55051** · 02-01-2006, 10:31 AM

Call the power company and ask them who picks up their old power poles and if they're replacing any in your area. Around me (Mora) if I can get there before they pick them up they're free, be sure and ask the land owner first, they always have first dibs on them. If I don't get there in time usually they're about 50cents a foot in 10-12 foot lengths. I know they're alot bigger but free is free. And they last forever unless you have a horse that likes cedar/tamarack which is rare most can't stand it.

**taelesean** · 02-01-2006, 10:33 AM

4x4's work great. I get mine for free, usually they are even painted.

Also, check out the 8' split fence RAILS - they make great posts if you cut a foot or so off the top.

Treated landscape timbers work as well, as do used railroad ties.

lonearrow · 02-01-2006, 10:42 AM

That's close to what I just paid for posts of the same size here. Around $7 and double that for the bigger ones. In the process of having woven wire horse fence put up to replace old, worn out boundary fence. I have used the fiberglass posts with electric fence tape/rope and it works fine, especially easy to move when rotating pastures.

Brandy · 02-01-2006, 11:01 AM

We did the cedar poles, I forgot how much they cost but I will ask my mom when she calls. But I don't think they where $8!

edited: it cost $4.77 per round 4" x 7' cedar post

**divinemisselle** · 02-01-2006, 11:04 AM

We replaced the rotting wood poles with T posts, and added safety toppers to them. Although for the corral near the barn, we used landscape timbers, and have used the 4 x 4's in the past, they were the bomb! If there is a saw mill nearby, you can use their seconds for posts. Definitely cheaper!

northern states · 02-01-2006, 11:06 AM

I used the steel post, but put caps on all of them. I have had no injuries...I also used 1.5" tape, 3 strands....it has stayed up very nice and looks beautiful.

carlagsd · 02-01-2006, 11:18 AM

T-posts with plastic caps on them and 6 x 6 treated wooden corner braces for three strand electric fence. No problems at all, but I have one gelding who likes to pull the caps off the T-posts. Actually, he only pulls one certain cap and it's in the paddock where we have woven fence instead of electric.

**QuarterCowGirl** · 02-01-2006, 12:33 PM

A neighbour of ours got a whole pile of rail road ties and he is using them as fence posts. They're pretty big and soild and will last many years. He got them for free!

TxHorseMom · 02-01-2006, 01:41 PM

We have a sawmill nearby (just found out last week) and their 4x4x8 (treated) are 5.99. I think I'll ask about "seconds" and see how much they are. As a side note, if there is a sawmill, you can also get shavings there. We got a pickup truck full and stripped out our 2 foaling stalls (12x16) and put 4" of shavings in each of them, and then had enough left over for 13 (kitchen size, so we could lift them) garbage bags full of shavings. All for only $12.81!!!

joustinggirl · 02-01-2006, 03:39 PM

We used treated landscaping timbers for the main fence and then 5x8 posts for the brace posts. They have lasted 5 years so far and they still look great. We also have electric, so nobody is pushing them.

02-01-2006, 10:24 AM
Orchid Super Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 10,062	Fence posts Ack! The cheapest 5" x 8' treated wood posts I can find in my area are $8 each. That's a lot compared to $3.50 for steel posts, but I'm not really comfortable using those. If one of my horses skewered itself I would never forgive myself. What do you use for posts and what do prices run in your area? FYI: I am planning on using Electrobraid fencing. __________________ I have nothing witty or even charming to say at this point.

02-01-2006, 10:31 AM
beth55051 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 4,868	Call the power company and ask them who picks up their old power poles and if they're replacing any in your area. Around me (Mora) if I can get there before they pick them up they're free, be sure and ask the land owner first, they always have first dibs on them. If I don't get there in time usually they're about 50cents a foot in 10-12 foot lengths. I know they're alot bigger but free is free. And they last forever unless you have a horse that likes cedar/tamarack which is rare most can't stand it. __________________ Do not mind anything that anyone tells you about anyone else. Judge everyone and everything for yourself.

02-01-2006, 10:33 AM
taelesean Administrator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 5,756	4x4's work great. I get mine for free, usually they are even painted. Also, check out the 8' split fence RAILS - they make great posts if you cut a foot or so off the top. Treated landscape timbers work as well, as do used railroad ties. __________________

02-01-2006, 10:42 AM
lonearrow Long Yearling Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 1,289	That's close to what I just paid for posts of the same size here. Around $7 and double that for the bigger ones. In the process of having woven wire horse fence put up to replace old, worn out boundary fence. I have used the fiberglass posts with electric fence tape/rope and it works fine, especially easy to move when rotating pastures.

02-01-2006, 11:01 AM
Brandy Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Six Lakes, Michigan Posts: 546	We did the cedar poles, I forgot how much they cost but I will ask my mom when she calls. But I don't think they where $8! edited: it cost $4.77 per round 4" x 7' cedar post __________________

02-01-2006, 11:04 AM
divinemisselle Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 6,650	We replaced the rotting wood poles with T posts, and added safety toppers to them. Although for the corral near the barn, we used landscape timbers, and have used the 4 x 4's in the past, they were the bomb! If there is a saw mill nearby, you can use their seconds for posts. Definitely cheaper! __________________ *Ditto.*

02-01-2006, 11:06 AM
northern states Halter broke Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 88	I used the steel post, but put caps on all of them. I have had no injuries...I also used 1.5" tape, 3 strands....it has stayed up very nice and looks beautiful.

02-01-2006, 11:18 AM
carlagsd Yearling Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 730	T-posts with plastic caps on them and 6 x 6 treated wooden corner braces for three strand electric fence. No problems at all, but I have one gelding who likes to pull the caps off the T-posts. Actually, he only pulls one certain cap and it's in the paddock where we have woven fence instead of electric.

02-01-2006, 12:33 PM
QuarterCowGirl Welcome and Introductions Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 6,744	A neighbour of ours got a whole pile of rail road ties and he is using them as fence posts. They're pretty big and soild and will last many years. He got them for free! __________________ I'm a farmer - I'll grow on you.

02-01-2006, 01:41 PM
TxHorseMom Greenbroke Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 3,034	We have a sawmill nearby (just found out last week) and their 4x4x8 (treated) are 5.99. I think I'll ask about "seconds" and see how much they are. As a side note, if there is a sawmill, you can also get shavings there. We got a pickup truck full and stripped out our 2 foaling stalls (12x16) and put 4" of shavings in each of them, and then had enough left over for 13 (kitchen size, so we could lift them) garbage bags full of shavings. All for only $12.81!!!

02-01-2006, 03:39 PM
joustinggirl Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Boones Mill, Virgina Posts: 3,386	We used treated landscaping timbers for the main fence and then 5x8 posts for the brace posts. They have lasted 5 years so far and they still look great. We also have electric, so nobody is pushing them. __________________ Pink Tiger says \'Grrrrrr\'