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F

EN ING

FOR

H

ORSE

O

WNERS

FENCING FOR HORSE OWNERS

h i s l e a f l et , pa r t o f th e C h i l t er n s L a n d ow n e r s G u i d e, a im s t o ad v i s e y o u o n di f f e re n t t y p e s o f f en c i n g t h a t a r e s u i t ab l eboth for horses and ponies, and the landscape in which they are kept. The Chiltern Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

( A O NB ) i s n a t i o na l l y i m p o rt a n t fo r t he e x c e pt i o n a l q u a l it y o f i t s l a n d sc a p e a n d i t s d i s t in c t i v e c h a r ac t e r a n d b e a u ty. H o rs e sTa n d po n ie s c a n ha v e a n e ff ec t o n t h e l a nd s ca p e, a n d it i s u p t o th e ir o w ne r s a n d ke e pe r s t o e ns u re t h at t h is e ff e ct i s a p o si t iv e o n e!

H o r s es a n d p o n i e s m u s t b e p r o p er l y f e n c ed i n t o pr e v en t th e m s t r ay i n g , b u t t h e s u i t ab i l i t y o f t h e f e n c in g d e p e nd s o n ma n y f a c to r s

n a m e ly c o st , n u mb e r s & s i ze s k e p t in a g i v e n a r e a a n d wh e t h er o r n o t t he f e n c in g i s p e r ma n e n t o r t em p o ra r y. B o u n da r y f e n c es t e n d t o

be permanent with temporary fencing used to subdivide fields. Any fencing carried out should try to benefit the local landscape and

environment rather than detract from it.

Legislation

P l a n n in g p e r m i ss i o n w i l l b e r e q u i re d f o r f e n ci n g i n

s o m e i n s t a nc e s .

F e n c i ng o v e r 1 m e t r e i n h e i g h t a d ja c e n t t o a

h i g h w ay g e n e r al l y r e q u i re s p e r m i ss i o n .

Elsewhere, fencing over 2 metres in height will

r e q u i re p l a n n in g p e r m i ss i o n .

A d d i t io n a l p l a nn i n g c o n tr o l s , k n ow n a s ' A r t i cl e 4

D i re c ti o ns ' , m a y r e qu i re p e rm i ss i on t o b e o b ta i ne d

f o r a ll f e n ci n g , i r r e s pe c t i ve o f h e ig h t . C h e c k w i t h

y o u r l o c al p l a n n i ng a u t h o r it y b e f o re a n y f e n c i ng

w o r k i s u n d e r ta k e n .

Specification

T h e B r it i sh S t an d ar d s I n st i tu t e s e ts t h e s t an d ar d s f o r fe n ci n g d e si g n an d

c o n s t ru c t i o n. A l l t he f e n c e s d e s c r ib e d i n t h i s A d v i c e N o t e m u s t co m p l y w i t h Br i t i s h

S t an d ar d 1 7 22 i f th e y a r e t o b e r e co m me n de d .

A g e ne r al h e i gh t c a n b e t a ke n f r om a s t an d ar d f e nc e p o st o f 1 . 8m w h i ch a l l ow s

f o r 1 .3 m o f p o s t to b e a b o v e t h e g r o u n d, 5 0 c m d r i v e n o r c o nc r e t ed i n t o t h e

g ro un d, a nd t he t op ra il or to p w ir e t o b e a t a h ei gh t o f 1 .2 m.

T re e s m u st n e ve r b e u s ed i n st e ad o f fe n ce p o st s . It h a rm s t h e t r ee a n d as i t g ro w s

upwards, so would your fence.

B a rb e d w i re s h ou l d b e a v oi d ed b ec a us e o f th e i n ju r ie s t h at c an b e c a us e d,

particularly to horses' legs if they become entangled. Where it is unavoidable

e n su r e i t i s k e pt t a u t a nd c o ns i de r u s in g e l ec t ri c t a pe t o k e ep h o r se s a w ay f r o m i t.

an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Fencing types

H i s t o ri c a l l y f e n c i ng s t y l e s h a v e e v o l v ed t o t a k e a d v a n ta g e o f l o c a l m a t e r ia l s . I n t h e C h i l t er n s t h e t r a d i ti o n a l f i e l d b o u n d ar y w a s a h e d g e

w h ic h w ou l d ha v e b e en l a id w h er e i t w as r e qu i re d t o c o nt a in l i ve s to c k. O f te n t he h e dg e w o ul d h av e b e en p l an t ed o n a b a nk m a de f r om t h e

m a t e r ia l d u g o u t o f a n a d ja c e n t d i t c h . H e d g e p l a n t s w o u l d b e t h o s e t h a t we r e b e s t su i t e d t o g r ow i n g in t h e l o c a l c o n d it i o n s .

( S ee H e dg e P l an t in g a n d H e dg e M a na g em e nt a d vi c e n o te s ).

T i mb e r P o s t & Ra i l

Strong, long lasting and safe but only if well maintained.

E x p e n si v e , wi t h r ou g h l y h a l f th e c o s t of a f e n c e b e i n g t h e l a b o ur i n v ol v e d .T h e p o st s s h ou l d b e h a rd w o od , s u ch a s o a k o r c h es t nu t , b u t t h e r a il s c a n

be treated softwood. Using timber from a local source can help to

support local woodlands. (Contact Chilterns

Wo o d l a nd s P r oj e c t 0 18 4 4 5 5 50 3 f o r m o re d e t a i ls ) .

M i n i m um re q u i r em e n t i s t w o r a i l s b u t t h r e e a r e

f a r b e t te r , w it h t h e t o p r a i l p r ot e c t e d f ro m c h e w i ng

by running a stand of electric wire/tape along it or

i n si d e i t . I n su l at o rs c a n b e s c re w ed t o t h e p o st s a n d

e i t h e r a m a i n s o r b a t t er y s u p p li e d p o w er u n i t

generating the necessary power.

Ideal fencing; well maintained post and rail infront of a mature hedge. An electrified top wire

protects the fence and the hedge behind.

Hedges

A t h ic k , m at u re , n a ti v e h e dg e m e as u ri n g 1 .2 - 1 . 5 m

( 4 - 5 ft ) o f f e r s a n e x c e l l en t b o u n d a ry a n d a l s o a n a t u r alwindbreak.

I f t h er e a r e g a ps i n p l ac e s a d di t io n al f e n ci n g s uc h a s

post and rail/post and wire

s h ou l d b e u s ed .

T hi s i s t he m os t n at ur al

o f a ll t h e f en ce t yp es h er e

a n d i s i m p o r ta n t f o r t he

l o c a l l a n d s ca p e a n d

wildlife.

Trimming/flailing willbe required every 2-3 years

t o p r ev e n t th e h e d g e

becoming a line of trees.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION,PLEASE CONTACT

Tracy AdamsF a r m i ng a n d L a n d U s e O f f ic e rC h i l t er n s C o n s e rv a t i o n B o a r dT h e L o dg e 9 0 S t at i on R o ad

Chinnor Oxon OX39 4HATel: 01844 355523email: tadams@chilternsaonb.orgwebsite: www.chilternsaonb.org

an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Metal Park Fencing

W ir e n e t ti n g

M o s t o f t e n s ee n a r o u n d h i s to r i c f o r m a l l a nd s c a p e p a r k s .

Ve r y e x pe n si v e b u t d u e t o th e i m po r ta n ce o f th e

parkland setting, grant aid may be available to replace or

r e p a i r s e ct i o n s o f b r o k e n f e nc i n g . L o c al a u t h o r i ti e s o r

E n g l i sh H e r i ta g e c a n g en e r a l ly a d v i se o n t h e l i k e l ih o o d o f

this.

H a s t h e l e as t v i s ua l i m p ac t o n t h e s u rr o un d in g l a nd s ca p e

a s f ro m a d is ta nc e o nl y th e f en ce p os ts a re v is ib le .

A m o r e v i s i b le t o p r a i l , o r gr e e n o r br o w n e l e c t ri c t a p e

s ho ul d b e u se d a t th e t op o f t he f en ce . T hi s h el ps h or se s s ee

t h e f e nc e a n d d et e rs t h em f r o m l ea n in g a g ai n st i t ,

s t r e t ch i n g t h e w i r e s , a n d , i n t i me , l o os e n i n g t h e f e n c e

posts.

S u ff i ci e nt s t ra i ni n g po s ts m u st b e u s ed t o k e ep t h e w i ret a u t , an d i d e al l y m e ch a n i sm s p u t i n pl a c e t o a l l ow f o r t h e

w i r e t o b e r e - t i gh t e n ed o v er t i me .

H o rs e s c a n p a w a t th e w i re a n d g e t t h ei r sh o es / ho o ve s

caught.

P r e s s ur e t r e a t ed s o f t w o o d p o s t s, o r m o r e i d e a l ly, l o c a l l y

s o ur c ed n a ti v e s w ee t c h es t nu t f e nc e p o st s s h ou l d b e u s ed .

Narrow gauge high tensile steel wire can injure horses

a n d p o ni e s , a nd s h o u ld n o t b e u s e d w he r e t h e y a re c l o s e ly

confined.

A s f o r pl a i n wi r e .

Sheep/pig netting

a ll ow s he ep t o b e

grazed with or after

h o r s e s a n d p o n i e s

without them

escaping.

Specialist horse

n e t t i ng i s p r o d u ce dwith smaller mesh to

o v er c om e t h e

problem of horses

h o o v e s b e c o m in g s t u c k.

Plain Wire

E l ec t ri c f e n ci n g

U s e d p r o pe r l y, e l e c t r ic f e n c i ng i s e c o n o mi c a l , e as y t o i n s t a ll a n d s a f e .

A b a tt e ry / ma i ns e l ec t ri c -r u n e n er gi s er i s c o nn e ct e d t o t h e f e nc e m a de o f

a c o nd u ct i ve m a te r ia l . An e l e c tr i c p u ls e o f a b o ut o n e p e r s e co n d i s

produced which will give an animal (or person) a shock, but is entirely

safe.

E l ec t ri c f e nc i ng t a p e c o ns i st s o f w o ve n p l as t ic w i th a n u mb e r o f

c o nd u ct i ng m e t a l s t ra n ds w o ve n i n . Va r io u s w i dt h s a r e a v ai l ab l e f r om 1 0 -

40 mm in several colours.

C o st i n c r ea s es w i th w i d t h b ut w i d e r t ap e i s m o re v i si b le a n d t h er e fo r e

safer.

F or i nt er na l temporary f e n c in g on l y, 1 0m m ta p e o n pl a s t ic s t a k e s i s

s u it a bl e b u t M U ST b e

c h ec k ed r e gu l ar l y a n d k e pt

t a u t t o f o r m a n e ff e c t i ve

barrier. High winds can

c au se t he t ap e t o li ft t he

s t ak e s o u t of t h e g r ou n d.

W hi te i s t he m os t

c o m m o nl y a v a i l a b l e c o l o u r

f o r ta p e a n d po s ts b u t is

highly unnatural and

i n tr u si v e i n t h e l a nd s ca p e.

C o n t r ar y t o p o p u l a r b e li e f ,

w hi te i s N OT e as il y s e en

by horses.

O n l y f e n c i ng d e s i g ne d

f o r h o rs e s a n d p o ni e s

s h o u l d be u s e d a n d mu s t b e

e r e c t ed a c c o r di n g t o t h e

manufacturers

recommendations.

B r ow n o r g re e n ta p e a n d

posts have the least visual

i m p a c t o n t he l a n d s ca p e .

Permanent internal

f e n c e s s h o u l d b e

c o n s t ru c t e d f ro m w o o d en f e n c e p o s t s a n d 4 0 m m t a pe , p r e f er a b l y g re e n o rbrown.

T h e f e nc e m u st h av e a w a rn i ng s ig n on i t i f it i s n e ar t o a p u bl i c r i gh t of

way.

Ve g e t a ti o n sh o u l d b e p r e v e nt e d fr o m to u c h in g t he e l e c t ri c t a p e a s i t w il l

w e ak e n t h e e l ec t ri c p u ls e .

Sheep netting fencing.Electrifying the top wire would

prolong the life of the fence.

T he t yp e o f e le ct ri c f en ci ng u se d c an h av ea b i g i mp a c t o n t h e v i s u a l a p p e ar a n c e o ft h e c o un t ry s i de . G re e n t a pe a s u s ed a b ov e ,i s p re f er a b le t o w h it e .