Fences and machinery are some of the higher-ticket items on a farm, and in this iffy economic climate, it might be overwhelming to even consider replacing these everyday necessities with new products. Having an organized, planned maintenance program can keep these items serviceable, and it can be much cheaper than replacing them with something new.

Fences

To extend the life and reduce maintenance or replacement cost, you can help many fences by keeping horses from chewing, rubbing, or leaning on them. A hot wire inside the fence can serve this purpose. Bob Coleman, PhD, PAS, associate director for Undergraduate Education in Equine Science and Management and equine extension professor at the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, says, "I’ve been to some farms that have gone to PVC fencing, and the owners put hot wires along them to keep the horses off the fence."

Sometimes it’s not feasible to protect all of your fencing with hot wire, especially in large pastures or in pastures far from a power source. Solar-powered or battery-operated electric fence is an option, but that’s still a lot of hot wire to check. Bill Tracy, manager of Oak Tree Ranch near Bandera, Texas, says that servicing this much fence can be frustrating