If you have ever raised any animals, even pets, then you know the panic that comes when they get out. A recent experience reiterated the importance of knowing how to build an h-brace fencing system for animals that is pretty indestructible. Until this past year, we had never dealt with any major escapes from our homestead. But, this year, our fences were due to be upgraded. And, we had a group of young steers in the barnyard (definitely a recipe for disaster).
Some howling Coyotes spooked them around 2am one morning, and they ended up going right through the fence and down the road to the neighbors farm. We did not realize they were gone until about 4am. It took us over 2 hours to get them back, only to realize that we were still missing 2 of them. Dad found one of the steers meandering along the river bank the next day. And, the second one ran free for about 2 weeks before we enticed it back. Needless to say, the fencing project became our top priority after that. This time, we tried a new design for our Corner Post and H-Brace Assemblies. We have been very pleased with the design. So, we would like to show you how to build an h-brace fencing system for animals. This design is very strong and simple to make.
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The Steps to How to Build an H-Brace Fencing System
Set the Corner Post and Brace Post
These posts should be 8 feet in length, and buried 4 feet into the ground. Since we are fencing in cattle along a road, we used 6 inch brace posts and a 10 inch corner post. But, if you do not have access to the telephone polls, you could use either a 6 or 8 inch corner post instead. And, if you are fencing in smaller animals, then you could probably get away with 4 inch brace posts.
For optimum strength, the horizontal brace should be twice as long the above-ground portion of the vertical posts. So, for our example, we set the brace posts 8 feet from the corner post. So, we could accommodate an 8 foot horizontal brace.
You can set the posts with either a fence post pounder on a tractor, or you can dig the holes by hand.
Installing the Horizontal Brace
We still used a 6 inch post for this, but it is not necessary for it to be that big. We have used 4 inch posts at other areas of the homestead with no issues. As discussed above, this post should be 8 feet in length.
The Pins
You can purchase Pin Kits if you would like. But, Rebar is much cheaper and works just as well (especially if you have some scrap laying around like we did). We used 1/2 inch rebar cut with a hacksaw.
On the corner post side, cut the rebar to the appropriate size for your corner post. It should go about 6 inches into the horizontal brace, and about half way through the corner post. Since we had a 10 inch corner post, we cut our rebar at 11 inches.
On the brace post side, you still want 6 inches of rebar in the horizontal brace, but you want the rebar to stick all the way through the brace post and have an extra inch on the outside. Since we were using a 6 inch brace post, we cut these pieces of rebar at 13 inches.
Drilling and Mounting
We used a homemade drill bit using a 1/2 inch drill bit welded onto a 3/8 piece of steel rod. But, you can purchase these drill bits pre-made. You will need a 1/2 inch Auger Bit that will do at least 6 inches at a time.
Pre-drill all of your holes, then:
- Pound the 11 inch rebar into the corner post.
- Pound the horizontal brace onto the other end of that piece of rebar.
- Then, have an assistant hold the other end of the horizontal brace up until the hole in the other end matches with the hole in the brace post.
- Pound the 13 inch piece of rebar through the brace post and into the horizontal brace (leaving about an inch sticking out on the outside.
How to Build an H-Brace Fencing System Strengthened by a Bracing Wire
You will need enough high tensile fencing wire to make 2 loops all the way around the corner post and the brace post.
On the corner post side, you will need 4 fencing staples. Pound one staple partway oriented horizontally. Then use it to hold 2 fencing staples hanging upside down. These will act as a backing for the wire and prevent it from biting into the wood of your post. Use a fourth staple to hold the looped wire in place. See photo below.
On the brace post side, the wire will loop on top of the rebar that is sticking out. And, the rebar will act like a shelf to hold it in place.
Halfway between the two posts, join the 2 ends of your looped wire together using a fencing strainer or tensioner.
Take your time with this. Progressively stretch and then tension the wire until the H-Brace stiffens up and the wire is completely taunt.
Now that you know how to build an H-Brace system for your animals, repeat these steps on the other side. Then you will have completed a full H-Brace Assembly System.
