How to Build a Horse Fence with T-posts

Many of you may think, is it possible to build horse fence with t-posts? Yes, T-posts can be used to install variety of horse fence like wire fences, board fence, high tensile fences & electric fence. They are completely safe for containing horses unless there are sharp edges in the fence.

However, vets have experienced incidents where horses were injured or found dead due to falling on T-posts & metal posts. That’s why it’s crucial to take safety measures like mounting T-post caps and trimming sharp excessive wires to prevent horses from injuries.

Horse fences should be at least 5 feet (60 inches) high to prevent horses from jumping/escaping. A few feet get buried under the ground, so you should buy T-posts 2-3 feet longer than the fence height. So you’ll need 8 feet T-posts for building a horse fence.

General Tips for horse fences:

1. The fence should be designed to minimize the risk of injury to horses. For this purpose, thick gauge wire should be used.
2. Horses tend to do better with fences they can easily see.
3. Opt for galvanized wire fences to prevent rust & long-lasting results.

Read the complete guide below:

How to build a horse fence with t posts?

• Take 8ft T-posts & drive them upto 2-3 feet & at a maximum of 8 feet apart from each other.
• For large area, heavy/tensioned fences integrate wood posts between T-posts, and at the corners.
• To install wood board fence with T-posts, you can use T-Post wood to steel adapter. Adapter get’s fastened at the deired height on T-post. Then screws are drilled though the hole on the adapter into the wood boards. Choose heavy duty T-posts, as they have to withstand the weight of wood boards.
• If installing wire fence, start from corner post, vertically align it while keep it touching the the ground. Use 4-5 T-post clips, heavy duty zip ties, or pieces of metal wire to tie wire fences to T-posts at regular interval. Then stretch the fence horizontally & similarly attach it to other posts.
• To install electric fence on T-posts for horses, install 3-5 strands of electric fence wires at regular intervals using T-post insulators on each post.
• For large grazing fields fence for horses you can also install high tensile horse fence.
• To install gate with T-posts, use gate post hinges.

Safety tips for horse fences with T-posts:

1. After installing any type of fence make sure that there must not be any sharp edges or spikes that can injure horses while running.
2. Make sure to mount T-posts caps for safety.

Below we’ll discussed how to install diffent types of wire fences with T-posts in details:

Best T-post fences for horses:

For horses you can install these fences with T-posts:

1. Small to large area wire fences such as No-climb or V-Mesh horse fences (To prevent horses from stucking their legs in the fence).
2. Temporary, smaller area board fence with T-posts are useful especially for short breeds like pony horses.
3. Medium area electric fence(polyrope is ideal for visibility).
4. High tensile fence (for paddock or parameter fence)

Wire Gauge:

• 12-14 gauge wire fence are fine for horses.
• For high tensile electric & non electric fences opt for 12 gauge or thick metal wire (5mm colorful polywire or rope is ideal for fences).

Step 1: Decide the fence parameter

By determining the parameter, it’ll be easy to know how much fencing material (T-posts & fence) is required. Start by marking the corner points or driving stakes for remembrance. You should offer 1/10th of an acre of space per horse for more effortless movement & exercise.

Step 2: Decide the height of the fence & T-posts

Remember that horses can jump 4-5 feet. So the minimum height for the horse fence should be 5 feet. For this, what sizes of T-posts you’ll need? For better strength(stability) in the fence, 2-3 feet of T-posts(1/3rd of the post) should be driven into the ground. So you’ll need T-posts 2-3 feet larger than your fence. Hence for a 5 feet horse fence, you’ll need 8 feet T-posts.

T-post spacing for horse fence:

Post spacing depends on the size of area to be covered, type of fence & it’s weight, and the pressure exerted by the animals. By nature, horses rubs against fences which put alot of pressure on posts.

For installing horse fences in a smaller area & if using only T-posts, space them a maximum of 8 feet. For longer runs & permanent fencing, you can increase spacing upto 10-12 feet by incorporating wood posts.

Wire fences are heavy so posts spacing should be kept lower, while for large area high tensile fences posts can be spaced wider by installing wood posts at the corner & with a ratio of 5:1.

Calculate the number of T-posts needed:

Simply measure the perimeter(length of fence), covert it in feet & divide it with the desired spacing. Forexample the area is 100 feet & spacing is 8 feet you’ll need 13 fence posts.

Tip: By driving fence T-posts adequately upto 3 feet, you can increase post spacing.

Step 3: Install(Drive) T-posts

Depending on the ground hardness & the number of t-posts we can use several tools to install T-posts.

Required Things:

• 8 feet T-posts
• A post driving tool
• Level tool to check posts balance

Tools for driving T-posts:

1. A manual post driver is widely used for installing t-posts & other metal post but you must be physically strong especially for installing large nnumber of posts. It’s ideal for driving small to medium number of posts. You can also drive a large number of T-posts if gound is soft, but it requires alot of efforts. However for driving a large number of long T-posts in hard ground, a manual post driver is not recommended.
2. Besides a manual post driver, you can use a similar heavy metal pipe with a closed from as a DIY alternative for installing a few posts.
3. Automatic post drivers (elecric/gass powered or hydraulic) are powerful tools ideal for driving a large number of T-posts with the least effort.
4. A tractor or loader equipped with bucket can also be used to drive(by hitting from top) a large number of T-posts.

Direction(face) of T-posts:

For installing a fence to keep your horses enclosed, all the T-posts studs should be facing inwards(toward the enclosure). Because to keep animals inside the property fence has to be installed inside the posts. The logic behind it is if animals push against the fence, it doesn’t untie off the posts. Hence the studs should be facing inwards as they helps attach & hold fence in place.

Steps to install T-posts:

1. As per the desired spacing, mark spots on the ground where you’ll install fence posts. Make sure all the posts will be installed in straight line.
2. As discussed above for heavy weight fencing, T-posts should be driven upto 2-3 feet. Mark the length of T-posts that has to go underground. It’ll help you know how much of the post has to be driven into the ground.
3. Now take the post & place it as the marked spot facing the right direction.
4. Get the post driver & place it over the T-posts. Make sure the posts are erect.
5. After driving a few inches, use a level tool to check if the posts are straight. If inclining push it in the right direction.
6. Drive the T-posts upto the marked length.

Fence Type 1: Install Wire Fence with T-posts

Required tools:

Appropriate length of wire fence.

• T-post clips, heavy duty zip ties or pieces of metal wires to attach wire fence to T-posts(3-5 per T-post).
• A fence stretcher
• Wire cutter & plier
• High tensile metal wire to install tension wire to keep the top & fence from sagging. (If desired)

Steps to attach wire fence with T-posts:

1. Start from a corner post. Unroll the fence along the studed side of the T-posts. Align the fence vertically straight. Keep it touching the ground.
2. First tie the top of fence using T-post clips & continue toward bottom while keeping the fence stretched. At regulat interval of 1-1.5 feet tie the fence 3-5 times on each T-post.

3. The most crucial step is to keep the fence straight & stretched. An easier way to keep the fence straight is by maintaining the same pattern(boxes) from top to bottom on each T-post.
4. For long area fencing use a fence stretcher, such as a come-along tool, to stretch the fence horizontally. Then continue attaching the fence to the remaining T-posts.
5. In addition, you can also install tension wires to keep the fence prevent sagging from top & bottom. Tie a metal wire tightly between the corner posts at the bottom & top of the fence. Then tie the wire fence to the tension wire at a regular interval i.e. 1 foot using zip ties or pieces of metal wire.
6. To install a gate with T-posts, measure the gate’s length, add a few inches for hinges, and set up gate posts accordingly. Ensure the gate has female hinges. Slide T-post hinges onto the T-posts, with lower one facing up and the upper one down. Screw the T-post hinges tight & hook them to the gate hinges.

Fence Type 2: Install wood board horse fence with T-posts

Wood panel fence are quite sturdy, visible & safe, that’s why they are widely used for installing horse fences & paddock. Usually wood panels are installed with wood posts due to heavy weight. However remember that installing board fence with T-posts is only helpful in a smaller area i.e. 50 squre feet.

Note: You should install a maximum of 2 wood boards. As horse fences should be 5 feet high, so keep one wood board at 4-5 feet height & the other at 2 feet height from ground.

Tool required:

• Wood boards
• T-Post wood to steel adapter
• Secrew & screwdrill

Steps:

1. After installing T-posts, unnscrew the bolt on the T-post adapter.
2. Then slide the adapters over the T-post depending on the number of boards you install your fnece.
3. Take the adapters to the desired height & screw the bolt again to fix them in place.
4. Now take your wood boards & align them along the flat side the of the T-post adapters.
5. At corners you can use L saped corner adapters to attach two wood boards.
6. Ask someone to hold the boards horizontally straight & you drill screws from the adpater into the wood boards.
7. To hang gate between the fence using T-posts, measure the length of gate you want to install. Then install T-posts leaving the exact distance(a couple of inches additional for hinges). Then mount 2 T-post hinges on the T-posts, lower one facing upward, & upper one facing downward. Hook the gate hinges with T-post hinges & fasten the gate post hinges.

Fence Type 3: Install Electric Horse Fence with T-posts

T-posts are also quite useful to install electric fences to effecively contain horses by making horse paddocks enclosure. Electric fence zap make them understand the boundry very well.

Tools Required:

• Appropriate length of high tensile wire or polyrope(more recommended).
• T-post insulators & corner post insulators.
• Atleast 3 ground rods (3 feet per joule output).
• Highly conductive & insulated wire to connect ground rods & energizer terminals.

Step 1: Number of electric fence strands for horse fence:

3-5 stradns of electric fence wire spaced 1-2 feet apart are optimum for horse fences. Euqal to the number of strands, mount insulators on each T-posts at the same height.

Step 2: Get T-posts Insulators, corner post insulators & Install Them

T-post insulators are used to support the electric wire fences & keep them from shortcrcuiting with the metal T-posts.They are available in various lengths (up to 5 inces). You will need T-post insulators equal to the number of strands for each post.

Besides T-post insulators, corner post insulators are also required for all corner posts equal to the number of strands. Corner post inculators support & terminate(tie off) wires at the corner posts. They have two wiring channels(holes), one to tie them to corner posts & the other to pass electric fence wires.

Firs of all wrap T-posts insulators on the T-posts, over the studs to keep them from sliding. Then install corner insulators on each corner post at the same hegith of the fence strands.

Step 3: Install fence wires (in series or parallel):

You can install fence wires in series or parallel. In series wiring, a single wire pattern is followed to wire all the strands. This wiring pattern is helpful in small area fence, because the current can easily flow in the whole fence though the single wire.

While in parallel wiring all the fence strands are installed seperately (terminated after completing the strand). Then all the strands are interconnected at multiple points to maintain steady flow in the entire fence. Such wiring pattern is helpful for large area electric fences, where a single wire path is insufficient to deliver charge in the whole fence.

Now start fence wiring either from the top or bottom strand. First terminate the fence wire to the corner post insulator. Then hook the wire to each insulator in the row. After completing the wiring terminate the end of fence wire to the ending corner post insulator.

Step 4: Installing gate between the electric fence:

You can either install an electrified or non electrified gate between your electric fence. Start by terminating the strands at the gate posts. Then if you want electrified gate, you’ll need electric fence gate handles equal to the number of strands. Either buy them from store or you can make on your own. Hook one end of the gate handle to the terminated electric fence wire at one gate post & the other hook to the terminated fence wire at the other gate post. Similarly install all gate handles.

If you want to install non electrified gate, terminate the electric fence strands at the gate posts. Then take the gate with female hinges atached i.e. pipe gate r wood gate. If you’ve used T-posts for gates, mount T-post hinges and hook them to the gate post hinges. If you’ve installed wood post for gates, use Lag Screw Hinge & drive them into the wood posts. Then hook the gate post hinges(female) to the male lag hinges.

Step 5: Install ground rods:

At the start of the fence wires, near the energizer install 3 ground rods at regular intervals of 10 feet & interconnect them using a highly conductive insulated wire.

Step 6: Setup fence charger and test the voltage in fence:

Atlast using higly conductive & insulated wires connect the energizers ground terminal to the ground rods & the live terminal to the start of the fence wires.

Now electric fence circuit is complete. Make sure that the fence wires, or other components of the circuits are not touching anything.

Finaly turn on the energizer & mesure the voltage in fence wires using a voltage tester. Comparethe voltage reading with the energizer’s optimum output voltage range. Usually fence energizers output 5KV (5000V).

Fence Type 4: Installing high tensile horse fence wire with T-posts

High tensile metal wire are widely used to cover large areas i.e. pastures(grazing fields) & agricultural fences. However it’s recommended to install wood posts at the corners & incorporate then between the T-posts if your fence has to bear alot of pressure. As per researches a minimum of 12.5 gauge high tensile wire should be used for horse fencing.

Steps to install high tensile horse fence:

1. Start by tying off a fence strand at the corner post by making a simple termination knot or using heavy duty crimp sleeves.
2. Now head toward the other corner post. Adequaltely tension the wire using a fence wire stretcher such a come along or chain stretcher. Then terminate it at the corner post.
3. If the spool ends in the way, tie the end of wire to the start of other spool.
4. This way install all fence strands with the corner posts. Lastly attach them to the centered T-posts using fence clips or metal wires.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What size t-post for horse fence?

As the horse fence should be at least 5 feet high. The T-posts should be 3 feet higher than the fence as a few feet(1/3rd of the T-posts) get buried under the ground. Hence for a 5 feet horse fence, you’ll need 8 feet Tposts.

3. How far apart should t-posts be for the horse fence?

T-post spacing depends on the moisture(softness) in the ground, the weight of fence & the expected load of the animals. T-posts for horse fences can be spaced 8 feet apart. You can also increase T-post spacing by incorporating wood posts with a ratio of (5 T-posts : 1 wood post) & at the corner posts.

2. How many t posts are needed for the horse fence?

The required number of T-posts depends on the post spacing. For horse fencing, T-posts can be spaced a maximum of 8 feet. Hence for a 150 feet enclosure, you’ll need at least 19 T-posts.

Conclusion

As discussed in the guide, it’s not so difficult to install a horse fence on your own, if you have right tools needed for the type of fencing. Heavy duty T-posts and ensure long lasting results & high quality fence provides safety to horses.

• For horses, T-post wire fences are ideal for installing small to large sized enclosures(perimeter fence).
• T-post electric fences are also useful for small to medium sized horse runs.
• High tensile wire with T-posts is highly useful for permanent field fences or paddocks.
• T-posts also supports small area board fences ideal especially for small horse breeds.

If you still need guidance, ask us in the comments.