Fencing for Horses

[Traveling Woodsman]

Hello everyone, I was looking for some input on your ideas about the best fencing for horses, and what makes it the best. Maybe some lessons from experience, and what you’d do different if you did it again. I am installing some permanent property line fence on the new place we’re buying and am looking at my options. Everyone seems to have an idea about what’s best, let’s hear yours. Thanks!

[bdcasto]

We get good results with electrified rope. Our horses respect it and this type of fence is easy to construct. Corners can be single posts rather than braced even with 5 strands (wood post) or 2 strands for T-post corners. Line posts can be 20-30 feet apart. Hand tension with spings to hold tension at end posts. Easy to repair (just tie a knot) and most blow downs onto fence do not break the rope.

BD Casto
New Carlisle, OH

[vthorselogger]

I have been installing fence for 15 years and every fence has its good points and faults. Really it comes down to either budget or aesthetics. Almost every fence if properly installed will serve its purpose. I have put up a lot of tape or rope and does work well. I would strongly urge strong wooden fence along busy roads as there is less chance of the horses going through it. hopefully this is helpful. If you have any questions you can drop me an e-mail at alicharjas @yahoo.com

[Billy Foster]

I second the electrified rope for all the same reasons.

Billy

[drafthorsey]

Great question… what’s handy? Down here there’s lot of pipe fencing, but no one recommends used pipe from oil drilling as it gets eaten up with corrosive salts and minerals and wears down quickly. Love a good board fence but can’t afford it. Never tried electrified rope, but how long and under what conditions are you training a horse to know it? Do you guys start with a small area and move outward? And is it flagged for easy visability?

[Big Horses]

We’ve used barbed wire for over 3 generations here…NEVER lost a horse from it. The only 2 horses we’ve lost in a fence have been from a rail fence.

[Rivendell Farm]

We’ve had horses for over twenty years on the five wire high tensile fence we use for sheep with no problems. I know it isn’t recommended any more than barb wire, but I feel you need something more substantial for a perimeter fence than hot tapes or rope. These more temporary fences are great for subdividing the farm into paddocks. Woven wire with a hot wire on the top might also make a good fence to keep horses from visiting the neighbors. Bob

[Does’ Leap]

Like Bob, we have 5-6 strand high tensile perimeter fence. My horses have never had a problem, although I am very careful when introducing a new horse. We subdivide with standard polywire and step-in posts.

George

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