A brace assembly (79) for a post (22) in a line of fencing has a base plate (24), a tensile member (26) and a compression member (28). The base plate (24) is laid flat upon the ground, and the tensile member (26) is attached at one end to the base plate (24) and at the other end to near the bottom of the post (22). The compression member (28) is attached at one end to the base plate (24), and rises at an angle from the base plate (24) to be attached at the other end to near the top of the post (22). The tensile member line of force (30) and the compression member line of force (32) intersect at a common point (34) at a central position on the base plate (24) such that no bending moment is created in the base plate (24).
