Ideal rail spacing for wood fence? Update with photos + scenic background

[BEARCAT]

Moving this where it might get more traffic...

I will be putting up a wooden fence around my property and am wondering if there is a more desired spacing of the rails?
Fence will be 5 feet tall and either 3 or 4 rails (propably 4). Is there a good design so that they don't stick their head through, don't get their head caught in between, etc... I can also run a strand of electric if that helps...
(I am getting the rails for free from a barn deconstruction - just have to go get them... otherwise, I could never afford it!!!)


The fence will be made using round logs (lodgepole pine.) What design do you prefer and why?
1. All the rails on one side but staggered at different heights.
2. Rails on the either side of post at same heights.

As in Images 4 and 5 on here:
http://www.wolfpackoutfitters.com/FencingPainting/tabid/268/Default.aspx

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[greysandbays]

A five-foot fence with four rails makes the rails one foot apart if the bottom one is one foot off the ground. That might be narrow enough that a horse could get his head through, then not be able to get it back out. So you need to decide if your goal is to keep the horses from putting their heads through at all -- or have them able to get their head back out should they put their head through it (in which case you might want only three rails instead).

The narrower space does have the benefit of keeping more stuff OUT. There's a limit to what can either fit through a 12" space or get over a 5' fence or take the whole thing down.

In any event, if you are going to put all that work into a fence, you might as well extend its life by putting a hot wire along with it. A fence can only stand so much horse contact.

As to the fence rail arrangement -- if the property is anything like the background of those pictures, either one would be oohhh-laaahhh-laaahhh! ;)

[BEARCAT]

Fence is done - hope it's scenic enough for you!!

With a few elks in the background:
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL176/4853602/10033983/367658770.jpg

Mountains at dusk:
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL176/4853602/10033983/367658768.jpg

I ran the electric to the inside but not on the very top rail. Will this work? If not, it's easy enough to switch...

[pines4equines]

East coaster checking in! What fabulous scenery! Do you trail ride? It must be glorious!

PS: Fencing looks great!

[FatPalomino]

I'm going to have to run electric on the top rail (I have one horse who is a beaver) and in the middle (two who will stick their head through anything).

Your fence looks awesome. I am so jealous you've gotten the posts for free.

(PS I am home for the summer, so if you're feeling better and want to trail ride... let me know!)