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Installation Guide

Fence Planning

Everything you need to know before building your fence—from site preparation and terrain challenges to electrification and professional installation tips.

Getting Started

Site Preparation

Proper planning and preparation are essential for a successful fence installation. Take time to prepare your site before breaking ground.

Clear the Fence Line

Mow or clear the fence row to create a clean canvas. This helps obtain a smooth, flowing fence line and makes installation easier.

Mark & Measure

Get stakes and mark out where you want ends, corners, and gateways. Walk around for a few days using the gate openings to see if the plan works for everyday usage.

Handle Undulating Terrain

For elevation changes, use closer post spacing, adjust post depth (deeper on rises, shallower in hollows), or consider bulldozing the fence line to minimize dips.

⚠️ Important: Before You Start

• It is a Federal Law to notify all utilities (OneCall) prior to any construction

• Check with local authorities for code regulations or necessary permits

• Plan underground cables and pipelines before erecting fences

Overcome Challenges

Handling Terrain Obstacles

Not everyone has flat, stable ground. Here’s how to work around common terrain challenges to build an effective fence.

Steep Slopes

Rail fencing has minimal vertical movement and isn’t well suited to very uneven terrain.

Solutions

  • Use Horsecote® or Hotcote® coated wire over difficult, undulating terrain
  • Cut the rail and use two flat ‘Attachment’ Buckles to change angle at major dips or rises
  • Experienced installers recommend no more than 2 degrees of elevation change per post

Gullies & Ravines

Deep gullies and ravines can interrupt your fence line and create security gaps.

Solutions

  • Extend the fence over a small gully and later build a fill-in section underneath
  • Stop and start on either side of a large ravine
  • Use Horsecote® or Hotcote® to fill in the section between rail fence runs

Unstable Ground

Wet, stony, or unstable land can compromise post integrity and fence longevity.

Solutions

  • Fence off unsuitable areas for possible tree planting or other use
  • Avoid very steep areas that may end up close to the fence or gateway
  • Consider alternative post foundation methods in challenging soil conditions

Cost-Effective Solutions

Working with Existing Fencing

Horserail® products fit into your budget easily, especially when you already have existing fencing or posts installed. Transform less secure fences into safer enclosures while realizing the lowest total cost of fence ownership.

Add Visibility Rail

Place a Horserail®, Hottop® or Hottop Plus® rail at the top of your existing fence for improved visibility and safety.

Electric Standoff Wires

Add Hotcote® electric coated wire standing off from each side of the fence to keep horses away from unprotected wires.

Complete Wire Replacement

Remove all unprotected wire and replace with Horserail® coated rail and wire. Horserail products can be placed over existing line posts.

Important Note

You can reuse line posts, but you must replace all end and corner assemblies for a properly tensioned and effective fence installation.

A properly installed Horserail® fence allows you to spend more time with your horse and less time repairing fences or tending to animals injured by less secure fencing.

Recommended

Why Electrify Your Fence?

We always recommend building your fence to be electrifiable. It’s more cost-effective to include electricity from the beginning rather than retrofitting later.

To Have the Option

Turn it on or off as required to help educate your horses at different stages.

Electric Safety

Hottop®, Hottop Plus®, and Hotcote® products allow electricity without degrading safety.

Behavior Correction

Quickly rectifies bad habits like cribbing, pawing, and leaning on fences.

Reduce Double Fencing

Electric fencing can reduce the need for double fencing when separating horses.

How Horserail® Products Make Electrification Easy

A

End Post Buckles

Metal conducts electricity while patented grommets stop leakage to posts

B

Electric Leadout Wire

Use screws provided on buckles to attach wire as needed

C

Line Posts

Patented Insulator Brackets and Hotcote Insulators prevent electrical leakage

D

Joining Buckles

Metal joining buckles allow electricity to flow without crimping or knotting

E

Tensioning Spoolers

2-piece metal spoolers allow the electric current to flow through

⚡️ Safety First

  • Always use an adequate number of electric fence warning signs
  • Keep fence line clear of all debris (do not burn!)
  • Use safety glasses and gloves during installation
  • Follow your energizer supplier’s guidelines for proper sizing and grounding

Pro Knowledge

Tips & Techniques

Proven methods for safer, stronger, low-maintenance fencing from experienced installers.

Installing Posts

Post drivers are recommended for most installations. They’re easier, quicker, and provide better results than hand setting. If hand setting, measure the hole depth carefully and use dry concrete mix in unstable soil.
Drive longer posts, set posts in concrete, or attach angle iron to sides of the post before driving to prevent rotation under tension.
There should be one inch of lean against the pull of the wires from the top of a 4.5′ post to the ground line prior to tensioning. Use a level or plumb-bob to verify.
Ends and corners are the foundation of a well-built fence. Remember: Bigger • Deeper • Longer • Stronger posts mean a safer, longer-lasting fence.
Keep posts 1/2″ back from a guide line. When looking down the fence line, posts should resemble a straight line of soldiers—none out of line.

Working with Spoolers

Square the spooler (with a speed square) to the rail before tensioning for proper alignment.
Make sure rail is hand tight before final tensioning with the spooler. Always allow enough rail for one full rotation before becoming taut.
Pull handles toward you, don’t push away. Don’t over-tension or tension a spooler on an already taut fence. One person can push with their side while placing locking pins.
Place spoolers near both ends of the fence where end assemblies move. For short sections, one spooler in the middle is acceptable. Position about 18″ from a line post.
Use one spooler for each 90 degrees of cumulative elevation or directional change, or one spooler for every 330′ (100m) of fence.

Fence Sight Line

Never have a single post rise or dip. For a smooth, rolling sight line, the bottom coated wire height may have a variance of ±6″.
Place brackets on the tangent of post and rail. Off-center brackets will pinch or bind the rail during tensioning.

General Tips

If you don’t have a Rail Payout Box, use a spinning jenny with a 48″ plywood disc. This keeps the product off the ground to prevent abrasion.
When using 2″ OD galvanized pipe, use inverted pipe clamps to attach to posts. This prevents the pipe from compressing into the posts when tensioned.
Continuous, plastic-coated fence rail has the lowest reported number of injuries to animals and riders compared to other fencing options.
No broken boards, no splintering, no painting or mold treatment required. Rails won’t go moldy or grey like wood. Easy to clean with soap and water!

Ready to Start Your Fence Project?

Now that you understand the planning process, create your fence layout and request a personalized quote from our team.

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