Treated wood (with coal tar creosote or copper salts) fences are by far the most popular form of fencing. They are practical, cheap to install, long-lasting, maintenance free, visually appealing and ideal for horses.
Timber that has been pressure-treated both internally and externally has a lifespan of around 20 years, and can be found in various finishes and presentations. Where the horses are mostly free (fields, paddocks), brown creosoted wood is the best choice. Creosote is a petrol-based chemical whose off-putting smell and taste prevents the animals from chewing or nibbling it. Tanalized timber has been treated with greenish mineral salts and is more suitable for hunting estates, urban green zones, riding arenas, tracks, plant stakes and so on. Tanalized posts and rails can be painted, though if they are used to fence paddocks or fields, an electric fencing should be installed for protection.
Wood fences are fast and easy to install. They are the ideal support for other fencing systems such as wire mesh or electric fencing. They usually require no foundations and are maintenance-free and resistant to the elements, parasites, fresh or salt water, manure, etc. Moreover, if an accident should occur, the fence will absorb part of the impact and can break without injuring the horse, being easy and cheap to repair.
The wood of pine and fir trees is of widespread use because its structure is especially liable to being treated. It should be noted that in areas of extreme humidity changes (such as the centre of Spain), both these timbers tend to split and crack to a greater or lesser degree. This natural process does not affect durability, but can be unattractive. Such phenomena will also occur in machine-rounded posts.
LUPA supplies all kinds of posts and railings for equestrian facilities. Posts and rails may be ordered with any of the two mentioned treatments and different measures and cross sections, depending on the customer’s needs. For horse fences, the most common models are the following: