Effective Horse Fencing

If you plan to keep your horse at home, it is important that you first install horse safe fencing around your facility. There are many fencing options, but not all of those options will be appropriate for keeping horses. For instance, barbed wire fences may be fine for keeping cattle contained, but they are extremely dangerous as horse fences. Knowing which types of fencing are suitable for horses is the best way to keep your equine companion safely contained.

  1. Wood Fencing

    • Standard wood fencing can be an excellent choice for keeping horses, provided the fencing is properly maintained. If you plan to keep your horse in a wood fence it is important to keep that fencing in good repair. It is also important to walk or ride the entire fence line at least once a week to make sure there are no gaps or cuts in the fence. If any of the wood has splintered it is essential to replace the entire board--a splintered board will present a real hazard to a curious horse.

      When using a wood fence to keep horses it is also important to make sure the boards are close enough to prevent the horses from getting their necks between the boards. Horses will often try to reach through the boards on a wooden fence to eat the grass on the other side--placing the boards close together will prevent them from doing so.

    No-Climb Wire Mesh Fencing

    • No-climb wire mesh fencing can be an excellent choice for horse fencing. This fencing has wire that is fine enough so that the horse cannot get his hooves between or through the holes--avoid any fencing with holes large enough for the horse's hooves. When installing a no-climb wire mesh fence it is also important to make sure the fence is high enough to prevent an attempt to jump free.

      Making the fence six to eight feet high is a good idea. Also be sure that the posts used to hold the wire mesh fencing are large and sturdy--choosing posts with an eight- to 12-inch diameter will ensure that the fence stays put and that ongoing maintenance needs will be modest. Installing a single strand of electric wire at the top of the fence is a good idea as well--this will discourage jumping attempts and prevent the horse from leaning on the fence.

    Electric Fencing

    • Electric fencing can be a good choice for horses who have been kept in such fencing before, and for horses who have been trained to respect the electricity flowing through that fence. While old style electric wire can still be a good choice, a better choice is the new hot tape that is available. This type of fencing embeds strands of electric wire in a white plastic fencing that is both highly visible and easy to work with. The chief advantage of hot tape over standard electric fencing is the fact that it is easy for horses to see--many escapes from electric fencing are the result of horses not seeing the fence barrier. No matter what type of electric fencing you choose, it is important to walk the fence line and introduce your horse to the fence. To teach the horse to respect the fence walk him up to the fence and touch his nose to it. This will deliver a mild electric shock and the message that the fence is a barrier to be respected.