What are my chances...?

[Jessey]

Staying positive and trying to plan ahead for the new place I now have my paddocks allocated, all 4 are together but 2 on each side of the driveway. 0.8 acre and 0.75 acre on the left, 0.75 acre and 0.25 acre on the right. I am going to connect the left 2 into a track with 2x 0.25 acre paddocks in the middle, the right will be the winter paddocks (I'm currently on 3.5 acres but the horses can only use just shy of 2 acres so it will be fractionally more than now).

Anyway the far left boundary is a stream, its maybe 6 or 8ft across and a couple of feet deep with a reasonable 2ft bank, do I dare risk not fencing it? Jess won't try to cross it, Hank might investigate but is unlikely to go anywhere, Dan I am not so sure about the other side is a big 20 acre fallow field. Would you give it a go without?

I can fence it, but will either have to loose a strip down the side or hack my way through the band of trees along there, which would be an awesome bit to include on their track for shade, shelter and entertainment purposes

 

[Trewsers]

I would fence it, ours are curious and daft. Once they are in it (if they did go noseying) couldn't they end up downstream wandering? I am used to playing safe, so for me, I'd fence. I know it sounds nice having the shade and as you say something for entertainment purposes - but I am cautious. Just my two penneth.

 

[Jessey]

They could go downstream, but there is a little hump back bridge where the road crosses it so I could put some wire across the opening just in case.

 

[Kite_Rider]

I would fence it, the old summer paddocks we have here have a stream through the middle about 15 ft wide and a good two/three foot deep in the middle depending on how much rain we’ve had, steep banks down to it too, but, yup she does, she loved wading through it to get to the rough grazing the other side! Me well I wasn’t so keen and had to buy waders to go fetch her!
But if you could fence it the far side it would be an awesome addition to your track.

 

[chunky monkey]

I'd need pics before I decide the best course of action. But I'd be inclined to fence it.

 

[Jessey]

I'd need pics before I decide the best course of action. But I'd be inclined to fence it.

I'm heading up there tomorrow so will get pics when I have a proper look at it

 

[joellie]

I'm another one who would fence it off. I know my Marley would be in the middle of it.

 

[mystiquemalaika]

There is a big burn runs through the big field at my old yard, wider and deeper in parts than yours and varying bank heights along the way. Horses very quickly make crossing places. Granted there are more than you have and varying heights but if it was me i'd fence it to be safe. The little Welsh A took himself down the burn and under the bridge more than once, was always the pony

 

[Huggy]

There is a big burn runs through the big field at my old yard, wider and deeper in parts than yours and varying bank heights along the way. Horses very quickly make crossing places. Granted there are more than you have and varying heights but if it was me i'd fence it to be safe. The little Welsh A took himself down the burn and under the bridge more than once, was always the pony

Haven't heard the term "burn" for years! I've got too southernised!

 

[OwnedbyChanter]

Another that would fence it but in the far side

 

[Jessey]

I'm not sure I can get away with fencing the far side, the creek is the property boundary so that would put the fence on the neighbours land.
Thinking about it, I've got a drainage ditch at the bottom of my current field, dry in summer, between the horses field and the boggy acre by the river. I've always just had a single strand of non powered electric fence in front of it, like really badly done, propped up on a few sticks and they've never fussed it, maybe I'll get away with stringing a 'fence' through the brush/trees without clearing it enough to power it up

 

[Jessey]

Well I'm glad I was over there and had a closer look, found the remnants of an old barbed wire fence along the creek side so that will have to come out regardless.
A few pics of the creek in question.



Last one taken along the creek from the bridge on the lane

 

[chunky monkey]

I would definitely have to fence that. Chunky would be through that. I would run a temporary fence round the back best I could and let the horses do the munching to clear it out, then clear the rest and properly fence.

 

[Jessey]

I would definitely have to fence that. Chunky would be through that. I would run a temporary fence round the back best I could and let the horses do the munching to clear it out, then clear the rest and properly fence.

Yep I think that's the best idea, might have to borrow a boat to do the temp fence

 

[Kite_Rider]

Yep I think that's the best idea, might have to borrow a boat to do the temp fence

I’ve got some waders you can borrow!

 

[horseandgoatmom]

I would fence it.

 

[Trewsers]

It looks a very pretty spot @Jessey

 

[Jessey]

It looks a very pretty spot @Jessey

I'm thinking a little patio/deck down by the river and ponies will be in order

 

[Huggy]

We have similar between our field and neighbouring one. YO has fenced as although it was incredibly overgrown, good old Ramsey got through - twice! Also, like you, there were bits of old barbed wire littered around.