Recommended Fence Post Depths for Horse Fencing

Horses are a costly investment. The purchase price, in many cases, turns out to be the least expensive part of buying and owning a horse. A majority of the time, the upkeep, maintenance, and stabling of the animal far outweighs any initial investment in the purchase price. Knowing how to safely fence your horse is one of the most important skills you can have.

  1. Standard Horse Fence

    • The recommended post depth for standard horse fencing is 36 inches. In the case of a 9 foot treated 4-by-4, which is the standard material used for corner posts, this allows 6 feet to remain above ground, which is more than adequate for most breeds as far as inhibiting them from trying to jump or otherwise go over the fence line.

    Stallion Fencing

    • Stallions are far more destructive on fencing than any other kind of horse, so it is a must that you plan ahead for some serious wear and tear on your fence line. Posts for stallions should be sunk to at least 4 feet, and it is better if they are made of metal, or if they are 6-by-6 treated wood posts--the heavier duty, the better. Posts must be able to endure the tremendous pressure put on them when an animal puts its full weight on the line.

    Non-corner posts

    • Fence posts that are not being used as brace posts can be placed in slightly shallower holes. Two feet is usually sufficient for a fence line post. Make sure that if your posts are set in concrete, you allow them to "cure" for 72 hours before attaching fence line to them.