Board fence installation — white oak, ash, and pressure-treated on 6″ cedar posts
The strength and presence that serious horse properties demand.
Board fencing has been the choice for high-pressure equine containment for good reason — it is strong, highly visible to horses, and built to withstand the most demanding paddock and corral environments. System Equine installs white oak, ash, and pressure-treated 2×6 board fencing on 6″ cedar posts set at 8’ on centre, with boards staggered at every post for maximum rail strength. Every post pounded plumb.
What We Install
Three board options. One installation standard.
We install board fencing using three different board materials depending on your budget, application, and aesthetic preference. In all cases, posts are 6″ cedar set at 8’ on centre, pounded plumb, with boards staggered at every post for maximum strength.
White Oak Boards
- White oak is one of the strongest and most durable fence board species available
- Naturally rot-resistant — excellent longevity without chemical treatment
- High visibility to horses — wide, solid boards are hard to miss
- Can be painted or stained to match property aesthetic
- Traditional appearance associated with premium horse farms and show facilities
Best for: Show properties, breeding farms, premium estate paddocks, stallion facilities
Ash Boards
- Ash is a dense, strong hardwood with excellent impact resistance
- Well-suited to high-pressure containment areas — corrals, stallion paddocks
- Comparable strength to white oak with slightly different grain appearance
- Can be painted or stained
- Excellent choice for working farm applications where strength is the priority
Best for: Corrals, working paddocks, stallion paddocks, high-pressure containment areas
Pressure-Treated 2x6 Boards
- Pressure-treated 2×6 lumber provides outstanding structural strength
- Chemical treatment provides excellent rot and insect resistance
- Softer than hardwood options if your horse chew.
- Excellent longevity in Ontario’s climate conditions
- Left to be natural
Best for: General horse paddocks, farm perimeters, budget-conscious builds
Post and installation specification
Post species
6″ cedar — naturally rot-resistant, no treatment required
Post diameter
6 inches
Post spacing
8 feet on centre — every post
Post installation
Pounded plumb using professional post-pounding equipment
Board stagger
Boards staggered at every post for maximum rail strength — our standard practice
Rail configurations
2-rail riding rings 3-rail and 4-rail standard; 5-rail available for special applications
Finish options
Paint or stain compatible — surface prep guidance provided at handoff
Materials supply
All boards, posts, and hardware from System Equine’s own inventory
Best Applications
Where board fencing is the right choice.
General horse paddocks
Board fencing is entirely appropriate for general horse paddocks — not just high-pressure or specialty areas. Horses respect board fence due to its high visibility and solid physical presence. It is a proven, time-tested containment choice for any equine facility.
Stallion paddocks
Stallions put extraordinary pressure on fencing. Board fence on 6″ cedar posts at 8’ centres delivers the structural strength needed to contain an agitated or highly active stallion safely. It is our recommended fence type for any stallion-specific enclosure.
Corrals and working yards
Corrals and handling yards need a fence that can absorb significant animal pressure during loading, sorting, and working. Board fence provides the strength and the physical barrier that solid containment operations require.
Show rings and sale rings
Show rings and sale rings demand a fence that looks professional, presents well to spectators, and holds up to years of use. White oak board fencing is the standard material for these applications on premium Ontario equestrian properties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Board fence installation — common questions
Staggering boards at every post means no two adjacent boards share the same break point on a post. This distributes force along the fence line rather than concentrating it at a single weak point. The result is a significantly stronger rail than a fence where all boards terminate at the same post on the same side.
Cedar is naturally rot-resistant and requires no chemical treatment to achieve excellent longevity in Ontario’s climate. A 6-inch diameter post provides the mass and embedment strength needed to resist the lateral forces that board fencing generates — especially in high-pressure applications like stallion paddocks and corrals. Larger surface area to attach boards too.
Board fencing is entirely appropriate for general horse paddocks. It is highly visible to horses, which is an important safety factor, and its solid physical presence tends to produce better fence respect than some lighter fence types. Many premium horse properties use board fencing throughout.
Yes. All board materials — white oak, ash, and pressure-treated 2x6 — are compatible with paint or stain. For pressure-treated lumber, allow adequate dry time before applying paint; your System Equine installation team will provide guidance at handoff.
Board fence is stronger in a fixed sense — it does not flex. Flex Fence is safer in an impact scenario because it absorbs the blow and returns to position rather than presenting a rigid surface. Many properties use both: Flex Fence for open pasture perimeters and board fence for corrals, stallion paddocks, and high-pressure working areas, or either side of a gate.
Ready to get started
Request a board fence installation quote.
Tell us about your property and we’ll help you choose the right board material and configuration. We draw your project on screen with you and give you a clear cost estimate on the first call.