One of the most important things that a horse farm needs are fences. A high-quality fence is essential and plays an imperative role in satisfying the needs of your horses and containing them. It provides a safe area for them to walk around and graze and keeps them organized.
There are many types of fencing for farms available in the market, so you will need to choose wisely the best fencing for your horses so they can walk and graze without any danger.
Remember that a fence increases the security of a farm it is installed on, or any other place for that matter, and improves the location’s aesthetic. So if you are planning to choose a suitable fencing type, keep both of these things in your mind.
It also adds a lot to the property’s value in both aspects, so take your time while you choose the best option for you. Let’s explore some of the best fencing types for horses we can have.
Classic wooden fencing
One of the most widely used options, the wooden rails are a go-to for many horse farm owners. They can either be logs or planks, and they work almost the same. Although it is one of the most frequently used types of fencing, it may cause a few problems for your horse farm. For example, if the wooden rails form splinters somehow, they may cause physical injuries to your horses.
Moreover, some horses tend to chew wooden fences, which can damage them pretty easily. Otherwise, it is a great option, but you’ll need regular maintenance to keep them checked for splinters, as well as any damage caused by your horses chewing the wood. Maintenance can sometimes become essential after just a little time, so that will be a problem.
Horse fence wire
If you want an inexpensive but effective solution, you should go for wire fencing. Wire fencing is relatively cheaper than the other options to install and pretty much does the job. You can choose either steel wires, aluminum wires, or high tensile wires. All of these types work in the same way, providing an effective solution for your fencing problems.
Some of the difficulties that can be caused by wire fencing are very frequent injuries. As it is difficult for horses to see the thin wires, they can sometimes collide with them, which can cause really bad injuries and even prove to be fatal at times.
In addition, your horses can get themselves cut by colliding with the thin wires. An alternative for this is called the V-mesh diamond fence wire, but that option will cost you a lot more than a simple wire fence.
Moreover, wire fencing acts just like a physical barrier but does nothing to deter the horses from colliding into them, and that happens quite often. So if you have the budget for it, opt for V-mesh diamond fences, which do not allow horses and other animals to put their heads through them. You can add an electric strand on the top of the fence to make it more visible to the horses, so they don’t get themselves tangled.
Post and rail fencing
Post and rail fencing is quite a practical option as it is sturdy and highly visible hence a deterrent to horses. They cannot run into the fences, which happens a lot with wire fences, because of the high visibility of the post and rail fences. Moreover, it is pretty attractive and improves the aesthetic of your horse farm. Usually, post and rail fencing lasts a long time, and also it does not require much maintenance. It can come in vinyl, metal, or wood material.
As explained earlier, the post and rail fencing is relatively rigid, which is mostly a good thing but can sometimes pose problems such as injuries. Your horses might not directly run into them, but they can still damage themselves because of the high rigidity. Most vets know that many of the injuries they see on horses are because of rigid fences, either wood or post, and rail fences.
Besides that, post and rail fences are quite expensive and difficult to install. You might need to call labor to install the post and rail fence on your horse farm. In most cases, horses chew on the rigid fences, which makes them need maintenance after a short while. You can add a strand of electric fencing to make it a deterrent to horses. It would help the horses avoid chewing and would add an additional layer of security.
Electric fencing
Electric fencing is the most suitable option for large pastures. Electric fencing does not provide a strong enough physical barrier, but it is still the most deterrent type of fence, and that is because it acts as a psychological barrier. The fear of the shock contains the horses in their pastures. The shock is painful but harmless, so you won’t need to worry about injuring your horses.
Electric fencing is relatively easy to install and does not cost a lot. Your horses will learn not to chew or touch the fence by just one instance and will be contained in their areas. Hence, it increases the security of your horse farm. However, it is not allowed in some areas, so make sure to check with the authorities before you install electric fencing on your horse farm.
Electric fencing is suitable for dry weather conditions, but it does not do well in places where the weather becomes windy or snowy. These conditions can make the wire sag.
Additionally, if you have many trees around your horse farm, you should switch to another fencing type because the electrical charge can short out the branches, which can become a problem. Electric fencing works effectively when used with other kinds of fencing such as wood or post and rail fencing.
Conclusion
Fences are not only helpful in securing the parameters, but they also prevent access to wild animals and as well as intruders. Besides that, fences simplify facility management experience; you can easily divide horses into specified groups if you want, or you can easily control and manage even if you have several horses at a time.
Having the best fencing type is crucial, and it is going to be a valuable investment that you will make. Before you spend bucks on it, this article is all you need to check out the best fencing types for horses. By reading the above mentioned details, you will be able to select the best fences for your horse’s needs and requirements.