Fountain Timber Products

A traditional Pony Fence is constructed using a three rail post and rail fence, comprising of round posts and half round rails. A Pony Fence has a more "rustic" appearance, which blends, into the countryside avoiding the "motorway fence" look of a sawn timber fence.
 
What materials will you need ?
Before starting to construct your Pony Fence it's sensible to ensure you have selected all the materials you will need.

Posts : 1.65m long by 100mm diameter, machined to uniform size, pointed one end.
Rails : 3.66m long, half round, size across the sawn face ranges from 80mm to 120mm.
Nails : We would recommend 100mm long galvanised nails.
End Seal : Sold in 1 litre and 5 litre drums.
Notes : All of the timber must be pressure impregnated with preservative. Fencing materials supplied by Fountain Timber are always pre-treated.

Quantities & Measurements : Materials To calculate quantities allow for : Posts every 1.8m, 3 rails every 3.6m, remember you will have two ends to the fence.(i.e. you will require one extra post) Allow 6 nails per rail.

Before you start : Safety : Safety hat when using drive-all. Safety glasses, stout gloves, safety boots. Tools Hammer, spirit level, drive-all, long crowbar, (drive-all, crowbar, spirit level - all available for hire)

Planning : Check the line of the fence, the majority of neighbour disputes are over boundaries also check for underground services (drains, water, electricity, gas) You will be going down 500mm, mark the line with string or if on curve sand 
 
Construction
Driving in the Posts : You are looking to drive the posts 400mm into the ground, put a chalk mark at 1.25m down from the top of the post. Make a pilot hole with the crowbar 400mm deep. Stand the stake in the hole, place the drive-all over the top, stop and check regularly that the post is upright, wear a hard hat, take great care when using the drive-all that it does not catch the top of the post.

Spacing the Posts : Cut a rail to precisely 3.6m long and mark the centre 1.8m, use this rail as the template for all spacing. Put the next post in at 1.8m distance from the first.

Spacing the Rails : The top rail wants to be just below the top of the post approximately 1.2m high. Other rails spaced 400mm centre to centre, this will leave the bottom rail approximately 300mm off the ground, you can of course alter the spacing to your own requirements. 
 
Fixing the Rails : To avoid having all the joints on the same posts, cut the first rail to span two posts, fix this to the top, then put in a third post and fix the middle rail, always work one post in front of yourself. Fix the rails where possible on the pony side of the post so the rail is pushed onto the post. Because the rails taper it will look better if you fix butt to butt. The fence has to look right, sometimes your eye will be better than a tape, this is why you will want to fix the top rail first.

Nailing the Rails : Use two 100mm galvanised nails on each fixing (i.e. six per rail) drive them in at a slight angle to each other.

Cutting the Rails : Cutting the Rails You will probably have to cut every rail to length, you will need to brush on End Seal to preserve the integrity of the treatment.