What kind of fencing do you use?

[Gypzywingz]

I have been pondering this as we are at the stage for fence shopping since we are almost done with getting the pasture cleared. Right now where Breezey (3 yo Arbian) is staying they have stock fencing which works but she has a habit of putting her foot through it.

I was wondering what types of fencing everyone was using and get some information on electric fences and how well they really do keeping a horse in. Also I have seen the kind that looks like tape and wonder how sturdy that really is.

Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.

[colouredcrazy]

Post and rail/electric. The front and back of Foxy's field is post and rail, the sides are electric. It's good cos it means that if I got anothe rpony the field could e made larger, or smaller as needed!

[Big Ears]

on the field I own, which is small, it is all post and rail

on the field i rent it is barbed wire, with the occasional top rail in timber to stop Rosie leaning over to eat grass the other side!

not ideal but they have been on it 10 years without incident.

[Jessey]

I have lost a million (well maybe not but it feels like it:D ) shoes in stock fence, would dread to think what would happen if he got his leg any further through. I love good, old fasioned post and rail fence and if you don't want them rubbing or chewing on it a strip of electirc along the top does the trick. I have also seen some good wire fence, round here they call it 'keep safe' and its stock fence but instead of squares its lots of small triangles so feet can't get through, that looks really good to. I'm not keen on using electric fence alone as my boy tends to jump it, last year he got tangled up (mains electric switched on) and ended up with some bad burns (the tape is very strong) and now has a hansom scarr but to keep them off your expensive wood its perfect.

J

[Peace]

My boarding barn uses all electric wire fencing.

On the plus side, it's inexpensive so you can fence a large area and it's easy to reconfigure if you need to separate pastures into smaller paddocks, etc.

On the minus side, it's easy for it to get grounded out (if debris falls across it, etc) without your knowing it. My younger horse, Quanah, is expert at knowing when the fence isn't hot and ducking through it to go visit his friends in other paddocks. Also, horses can sometimes crash through it even when it's on - if distressed by something, for instance - and can wrap the wire around their legs causing lacerations. (The electric tape isn't supposed to hurt the horse if it breaks.)

If/when I do my own field, I'll probably start with the electric wire and add post and rail with a strand of electric inside as I can afford it.

[galadriel]

In Florida, with the dangers of storms with high winds, post and rail is not recommended. Rails are too easily broken, and when they break off, they become a flying hazard.

Recommended horse fencing is woven wire, either the diamond variety or 2"x4" openings. I have 2"x4" woven wire fencing. Woven wire will rebound if a horse runs into it or if winds are heavy. (That's "woven" as opposed to "welded," which snaps at the welds under too much pressure.)

It's a good idea to top this fence with something, to make it more visible and to discourage horses from leaning across it. Options are usually rail tops or hotwire (often the very visible white stuff). I don't have either but may put it in if it becomes necessary.

[Wally]

If you have to have stock net to keep sheep out put a single strand of electric about a foot inside the fence, it saves a fortune in shoe loss and fences being leaned on.

[Gypzywingz]

We went and talked to Southern States and both the ladies there didn't recommend the barbwire top and the stock fencing. They recommened that eletric polywire tape, the 2 inces. So I think we are going to get that and do three strands all the way around and have it solar charged. So we are in the process of measuring everything else but we actually are having someone come out and take a look at clearing some more land for us. We have 5 acres and feel the more we can clear now the better.

[mayS]

I use extra-wide electric tape all around held up by wooden posts. It's working great and I'm going to do more acres with it when spring comes.

It's not terribly strong as a physical barrier, but as long as power is on the horses shouldn't touch it. My advice is to be sure to do a 3rd line if you go this route since smaller horses, especially a determined one, will try to squeeze under it depending on your spacing.

I like it because if it ever is pushed, it doesn't break. The tape gives a bit and at either end the tensioners also have some give in them... but there is nothing to snap, splinter, or leave dangerous bits for horses to step on.

If you're next to a busy highway, I'd suggest doing some sort of solid barrier (horse mesh or regular wood fencing). Then add electric fence wire to keep the ponies from damaging or loosening it.

[Laetitia]

I have post and rail, with stock fencing to keep the North Ronaldsay sheep IN. I have planted a stock hedge of hawthorn to compliment the fencing and when the fencing eventually rots the stock hedge will be big enough to do the job with the stock fencing incorporated in it. Looks nicer too as you get all that beautiful blossom and wind shelter. L

[LinzCos]

I don't know how many horses you are grazing but with 5 acres you might want to make sure you have enough fencing to divide the land into two fields.

I have three fields, 2x2 acres and one 3 acres for my horse and two ponies. They are all post and rail, with stock fencing at the bottom and with some hedging at the sides of our land. We have electric tape on the top rail too although we have never needed this. The last land owner did, she kept heavy horses and they kept walking through the fences!

Having three fields means it is easy to rotate the grazing and we can also exercise the ponies in one of the resting fields. However two acres is still too big for my little ponies and we do need to use electric tape fencing to strip graze in the spring.

[nutkin]

I have stock fencing with post and rail on top. It seems to work well. We haven't been there long but so far we haven't lost any shoes in the fence although I'm sure it will happen sometime.

[pengapenga]

I have post/rail and am about to electrify it as well. All the horse properties around me has the same fencing. Have a look at what other horse owners in your area have used, usually a good indicator of the best type of fencing for a particular area:)

[Pink's lady]

By stock fencing, I guessing your meaing what I'd call sheep fencing - steel wire square holes.

I wouldn't put up stock fencing if you payed me - my friend had a lovely young coloured sports horse who had to be put down due to the sheep-fencing. She put her foot through the hole, then tore all her tendons off when she paniced and pulled back. The vet shot her on site. Soooo sad.

In terms of cheapness and ease - I'd put up wooden fence posts with good quality electic tape.


do three strands all the way around

How big is the horse? If he can't get under the top strand - I wouldn't bother with 2nd and third strands. I really don't like the idea that they might put their leg through the strands, get stuck and burn themselves on it. Of course, if your going to have a pony in the fencing...............

[galadriel]

We have different kinds of wire fencing here, but the stuff that's good for horses is wire with little square holes; they're just very small square (actually rectangular) holes, only 2"x4". It's a very effective fence, doesn't fail if there's no sun (solar charger, overcast for days) or power goes out.

Safe; they can't stick their legs through it. Safe; if they run into it, it will give a little then rebound. It won't break or shatter, as will wood or PVC, and won't tip and drive into the horse, like T-posts used for hotwire in some places.

It's a lot more expensive than the typical stock fencing with larger holes, but then, it has a LOT more metal to it. It's also insanely heavy. We use it for the dogs as well as the horses, as the smaller dog can squirm through stock fencing.

The absolute best stuff for horses has holes about the same size, but in a diamond shape instead of a square. There's a huge farm down the street from me, with diamond mesh fencing and rail topper. It's goooooorgeous fencing. And they grow HAY in there! Such a waste ;) (We always visualize our horses in there as we drive by.)

[4_white_socks]

The 9 fields we rent out are all post and rail (or double-rail sometimes) I would not recommend post and rail because they're very easily broken, and we are always trying to fix them. Some of our fields have bushes and trees surrounding for extra security etc, and one has electric fencing attached to the post and rail. There was on problem with that though - we had it as any other electric fencing would be, but somehow, my aunts foal managed to jump over it, and Harley managed to go under it! This was with the electricity on, and the post and rail!! So something wasn't right... we have yet to figure it out. :D We're leaving that field to grow for a while. I have found that the "tape-like" electric fencing is very sturdy and works well. It taught me to stay away! (Well, most of the time ;) It's fun!) My work experience yard used it, and it all worked fantastically. Easy to use, providing you don't shock yourself, teaches the horse to stay away. They used "tape-like" fencing and had two strands going around the field (looks a bit like this: |=|=|=|=|) and this worked for both 12hh and 18.2hh horses.

I hope you find the perfect fencing, whatever you decide to use!