Horse Fence Ideas for a Corral

No matter what type of horse you own or what style of riding you prefer, it is important to provide your equine companion with a safe corral. Having a good corral in place gives your horse much-needed exercise and helps to relieve the boredom and bad habits that often result when horses are kept in their stalls 24 hours a day. But before turning your horse out in the corral, it is important to make sure that the fencing is safe. Certain types of fencing, especially barbed wire, should never be used around horses, since they could severely injure themselves on that type of fence. Fortunately, there are several horse friendly alternatives that can provide safe exercise for your horse.

  1. Non-Climb Wire Fencing

    • Wire fencing can be a good choice for horses, but it is important to make sure it is so-called non-climb fencing. This type of fencing uses a pattern that is small enough that the horse cannot get its feet through the holes. This design helps to prevent injuries while still providing a safe and secure fence. This type of corral fencing is particularly secure for horses that like to jump, since the fences can easily be made 7 or 8 feet high without a significant increase in cost.

    Traditional Wood Fence

    • Traditional wood fencing is a good choice for both corrals and pastures. This type of fencing has a number of important benefits, including low cost and easy installation. Unlike non-climb wire, which often requires special equipment and materials to install, traditional wood fencing can be a do-it-yourself project. If you have access to a tractor-mounted or gas-powered post hole digger and a supply of lumber, you can install this type of fence on your own. One potential downside of wood fence, however, is the fact that it requires regular painting and other maintenance.

    Plastic Fencing

    • Install a quality fence in your corral.

      Plastic PVC fencing is an excellent alternative to traditional wood corral fencing, but it is also quite a bit more costly. One big advantage of PVC fencing is that it is nearly maintenance free. Unlike wood fencing, plastic PVC fencing will not need to be repainted, and it will not splinter and rot like wood fencing sometimes can. Each horse owner will need to decide whether the advantages of plastic PVC corral fencing are worth the extra cost.

    Hot Tape

    • If you need a quick and inexpensive corral fence that is a snap to install, consider using hot tape. This unique form of fencing uses electrical wires that are embedded inside a highly visible strand of white plastic. Hot tape is easy to install, using either existing fence posts or metal fence posts that can be pounded into the ground with a sledgehammer or post hole digger.