Moving To The Big South Fork, Tennessee: Step Five Is Fencing

If you're thinking of moving to the Big South Fork, here in Jamestown, Tennessee, and you've already bought a piece of land, had it cleared and have built a house and a barn, step five is fencing.  Most homeowners in equestrian communities surrounding the Big South Fork have at least two horses, and often more, so you can imagine that pasture and fencing is a big issue.

Four board fencing is very popular and you'll see a lot of it. The trails here are so wonderful and there are so many opportunities for outdoor activities that people do not want to be saddled with (no pun intended!) a lot of maintenance and upkeep.  Cabins tend to have a rustic look and don't, generally, have yards with lawns that need mowing. Driveways are usually gravel so no one is spending time sealing asphalt! Likewise, fencing is generally utilitarian. Board fencing does the job and completes the look. To prevent horses from chewing the wood, or "cribbing," it is common practice to run a strand of electrified material along the inside of the top rail. Because winters are mild in Tennessee, fence posts aren't subjected to the seasonal heaving that freezing and thawing causes.

Many people will use board fencing along the most visible parts of their property and a less expensive and almost maintenance-free material for the rest. Plastic "hot tape" is commonly seen as is something like Electrobraid, which looks like bungee, although some people favor high-tensile wire coated with vinyl which is more rigid and tends not to sag.

The other extreme is vinyl fencing which has a much more formal look. It is very expensive and must be periodically pressure-washed as it becomes discolored with algae growth.

Terrain here is rolling, with pasture at a premium. Many horses live in wooded turnout and are fed hay year round. It is difficult to maintain grazing in the area's poor soil so pastures must be frequently limed and fertilized. They must also be rotated or allowed to rest, to prevent overgrazing. This should be a consideration when laying out fencelines; it is best to have at least two pastures so one can regenerate while the horses are using the other.

For more information about horse properties and Big South Fork real estate, go to www.trailridersrealestate.com