Stock & Noble
Horse fencing - 3 free tools to create an accurate fencing plan.
- BY Tripti Kakkar
Designing and planning for your new horse fence is an exciting project. Its success depends on several factors, a few misinformed decisions and your dream of a beautiful property can become a lot more difficult to achieve. If you’ve recently started your research, a comprehensive guide can help you find all the answers in one place and become your anchor.Â
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Before embarking on a fencing project, while you should definitely invest your time in finding the right horse fencing solution, it is equally crucial to have an accurate fencing plan.Â
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A well-laid-out fencing plan not only ensures clarity in your project but also helps to avoid potential issues that may arise during installation. It is integral to achieve the goal of a beautiful and safe equine property that matches your vision.Â
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The question is how to create this fencing plan. Â
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At Stock & Noble, we provide the finest fencing solutions to high-end property owners across Australia and New Zealand. We have helped several clients from the time they visualise their horse property to when they actually install their fencing and build their dream equine property.Â
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We truly believe that planning lays the foundation for the success of your entire fencing project. Based on our years of knowledge, customer insights and experiences we will discuss the importance of an accurate fencing plan and the ways to achieve it.Â
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Once you’ve read through it, you will have enough reasons to feel motivated to create an accurate fencing plan and will be well-equipped to choose the tools based on your fencing project.Â
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4 reasons why you need an accurate horse fencing plan Â
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1. Forces you to think clearly
Getting an accurate plan done or doing it yourself forces clarity in your mind. In our experience, many times, customers have an idea of what they want. However, when they get a CAD (Computer-Aided Design) done, they are forced to think of areas on the property they haven’t thought of yet. This helps to avoid issues that may arise during installation due to a lack of clarity in the customer’s mind.Â
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2. Leads to the accurate cost of materials and installation
An accurate fencing plan helps the fencing supplier to give an accurate cost of all the materials required and provides the fencing installer with clarity and confidence to put a quote in.Â
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When the fencing plan isn’t clear, the installer’s quote will be higher, as they tend to keep some room to protect themselves from any additional costs. If the plan is crystal clear, the cost is accurate too because they know there will be no surprises.Â
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3. Identifies flaws early in the process
Sharing the plan with industry specialists like suppliers or installers helps identify flaws earlier in the process. Issues known at this stage can be corrected before installation, which saves time, money, and effort for everyone involved.Â
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When there is no plan, mid-installation problems can occur, which in some cases might lead to frustration and even extra products being shipped on-site to deal with last-minute changes. Thus, costing money and time along with the added stress.Â
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4. Allows for changes to the planÂ
It is important to note that having a plan doesn’t mean it’s completely locked in, and property owners are still allowed to change their minds and make changes.Â
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However, with an accurate fencing plan, there is clarity, and any changes made are clear amendments made to the original plan. Thus, everyone involved in the project is likely to agree to the edits, avoiding potential arguments and disputes.Â
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3 Tools to achieve an accurate horse fencing planÂ
There are various ways to create a fencing plan for your horse property, depending on the nature of the project. Some ways that have been successful in our experience include:Â
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First method: Get a CAD Sketch done for your fencing planÂ
A CAD (Computer-Aided Design) sketch is a digital drawing that depicts the proposed design of a fence. The CAD software allows designers to create accurate and detailed plans, including measurements, materials, and other important specifications.Â
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The sketch may include various features, such as the height and length of the fence, the location of gates and entryways, the type of fence material, and any decorative elements or embellishments. The plan can also incorporate the surrounding landscape and property features, such as trees or other obstacles.Â
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CAD sketch enables you to visualise the design and make any necessary adjustments before construction begins. This can help to ensure that the fence is both functional and aesthetically pleasing and that it meets any regulatory requirements or guidelines.Â
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Examples of how a CAD sketch helps in planning your horse fenceÂ
One example of a CAD sketch that we have done for a client is when we worked with an owner who wanted to have all of his paddocks surveyed and designed. We conducted a site visit and took physical measurements and worked closely with the client to determine the location of the gates and ensure that they were functional and aesthetically pleasing.Â
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Another example is when one of our clients had their entire property mapped out with a GPS. We helped them create a CAD drawing that was compatible with their GPS, which made it easier for the fencing contractor to mark out the fence posts accurately.Â
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Our CAD services help ensure that fencing projects are precise, functional, and aesthetically pleasing.Â
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Helpful tip: We recommended that owners get their property surveyed to ensure that boundary fences are in the right place, which can help avoid disputes with neighbours in the future.Â
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Second method: Use a mapping tool to plan your fenceÂ
If you’ve just started to visualise your dream equine property, our fence mapping tool is a great first step. It is also a helpful resource for basic fencing plans.Â
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It allows you to easily map out the location of your fence and estimate the cost of materials, making it a valuable tool for early planning stages.Â
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While it is not a substitute for a final plan created with CAD software and professional expertise, it can provide a useful starting point for those looking to undertake a fencing project.Â
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By using the mapping tool, you can get a better idea of the layout and dimensions of your fence, as well as the materials you will need. This can help to avoid costly mistakes and ensure that the project stays within budget.Â
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Our mapping tool is user-friendly and accessible, making it a great option for anyone in the early planning stages or sometimes as a final plan for more simple fencing layouts. Â
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Mapping Tool: For the early stages of planning fencing projects, a mapping tool can be used to map and cost the project earlier on in the project rather than a final plan.Â
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Third method: Send a hand-drawn fencing planÂ
At our company, we understand that not all property owners have enough details to request a CAD sketch or have the skills to create digital plans.Â
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That’s why we also accept hand-drawn fencing plans from clients. These can be provided in a variety of formats, such as sketches on paper or digitally marked-up Google maps.Â
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Here’s some information that can help you get started and create your fencing layout in 7 simple steps.Â
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While hand-drawn plans may not be as precise as CAD plans, they can still provide valuable information about the location, dimensions, and materials needed for a fencing project. By using these plans, we can provide quotes and ensure that the client gets the materials they need for their project.Â
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We work closely with clients to understand their vision and provide them with the best possible solution, whether that means creating a CAD plan or working with their hand-drawn plan. Our goal is to provide our clients with high-quality fencing solutions that meet their unique needs and budget.Â
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Which tool are you going to choose for your horse fencing plan?Â
You want to build a beautiful equine property and needed to know how to start planning for the horse fence. Now you know an accurate fencing plan is crucial to the success of your project. It ensures clarity, and accuracy of cost, and identifies flaws early on. It also allows for changes to the plan while avoiding potential arguments and disputes.Â
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There are various ways to achieve an accurate fencing plan, depending on the nature of the project. You can start with a hand-drawn fencing plan or use a free interactive mapping tool to know the dimensions and materials required for fencing your horse property.Â
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Once you’re clearer on the budget and the choice of fencing, you can connect with us to do a site visit and get a CAD sketch done based on your need and vision. This will further bring clarity to the entire project and move you closer to your dream.Â
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Whether you choose to use a CAD sketch, a mapping tool or provide a hand-drawn plan, ensuring accuracy and clarity in your fencing project is essential. Knowing the latest design ideas in horse fencing can surely help lead the way for you.Â
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If you have more questions on how to get started, where to find the fencing installers or simply want to discuss your ideas with a fencing specialist, then feel free to book a personalised consultation with us. We will help you gain clarity and guide you to create a beautiful and safe equine property just the way you imagined. Â