How to Care for the Gates and Fences of Your Charlottesville Horse Farm For Sale

How to care for the gates and fences of your Charlottesville horse farm for sale.

One of the biggest investments you make for your Charlottesville equestrian property is its gates and fences. Your horse farm’s gates experience daily wear and tear from both horses and humans, causing them to age faster than normal and forcing you to spend money to repair or replace them.

Here are some tips on how to care for your equestrian property’s gates and fences to keep them last longer and look fresh and attractive by the time you put up your Charlottesville horse farm for sale.

1. Use quality materials.

   Using cheap materials or cheap construction will eventually cost you more in the long run with repairs or replacements than if you had spent a little more at the start with quality materials and installation.

2. Inspect gates and fences regularly.

   Make sure to have a regular monthly inspection of your horse farm’s gates and fences for wear and tear. If there are any problems with any of the gates and fences, your employees and boarders should let you and your property manager know immediately. Make sure your gates and fences are maintained regularly, especially if you are about to put up your Charlottesville horse farm. Depending on the fence, this might mean replacing boards, stretching wire, hammering nails back in or repainting

   Always ride the fence after storms to check for any damages caused by downed tree limbs or strong winds.

3. Repair sagging gates.

   Sagging gates are one of the most common problems with horse farms. A gate is sagging when it does not swing properly or sit level. Aside from being an eyesore, it could also pose potential problems as the opening between the the post where you latch the gate could widen and offer an escape for smaller horses, foals, or ponies.

   One more cause of sagging gates is when people climb over the gate when entering or leaving a pasture or paddock. Remind all your staff and guests that the few seconds it takes to open and latch the gate will keep the gate from sagging and that climbing on the gate is strictly prohibited.

   You can repair sagging gates by putting a block of wood under the open end where it latches to the gate to support it and take some strain off the hinges.

4. Inspect your gate latches regularly.

   Inspect your latches regularly. Make sure your latches are working properly and the chains are still of sufficient length to latch to the gate securely. Any problems with the gate latch should be reported to you or the farm manager immediately. Make it a requirement for all employees to latch the gate each time they enter or leave a field.

5. Make sure gates are securely fastened and locked.

   Make sure all perimeter fences with gates leading to other roads or properties are properly locked and securely fastened. You can ask your boarders to check the gates when they trail ride to ensure they are closed, latched, and locked.

6. Your fence should suit the type of horse they contain.

   If the horses are pushing on the fences, you might need to add a strand or two of electric fence to prevent them from pushing on or chewing on fences.

7. Prohibit people from climbing over fences.

   Climbing over fences can break the boards on your wooden fences, stretch wires, pull nails or staple wire from your fences and cause many more problems with your fences which are expensive to replace, install, and maintain. Insist that your employees and boarders use the gates rather than climbing over fences to access the fields or paddocks.

8. If your fence is near road curves, put reflectors on posts to warn drivers.

   Talk to your county road department to check if they will install posts, reflectors, signs, guardrails, or any other warning signal to protect your fences. If not, then you may install reflectors on posts yourself. This may cost you a little extra, but it would save you money in the long run from having to repair or replace damaged fences run down by motorists.

Gates and fences are very important parts of your horse farm that will provide protection to your horses and other people on your equestrian property. Keep your gates and fences well-maintained, inspect them regularly, and use them with care so they will last long and add value to your horse farm in Charlottesville.

If you need help in buying or selling Charlottesville horse farms, call me, Pam Dent, at 434 960-0161.

As a native of Charlottesville VA who is both an expert in horses and equestrian properties, I have the knowledge and experience that make me the best agent to market your Charlottesville horse farms for sale.