Horse Fencing Ideas

Before planning any enclosure for your horses think about the type of horses you will be enclosing and how much room they will have. This will help you determine the best type of fencing to optimize its longevity and safety. The initial cost of some types of fencing may be offset by the lack of repair and vet bills in the future.

  1. Goals

    • A good horse fence keeps the animal enclosed in a designated area safely. This means your horse will be uninjured if it hits, leans on or runs into the fence. It should be high enough that he can't jump out easily and close enough to the ground that he won't roll under it. A minimum height should be above the horses chest. The fencing should also be free of sharp ends or areas where the horse could get a foot caught.

      Horses in pasture tend to be easier on the fencing, as they have more room and spend less time near it. Pastured horses are capable of building up more speed when they run around. Fencing for pastured horses should be designed to have some give or to break away if a horse hits it at full speed. Corralled horses have less space typically and will spend more time near the fencing surrounding them. This means they will be harder on the fencing, rubbing or leaning on it, and have a greater potential to get a foot caught. These factors should be taken into consideration before building.

    Materials

    • Traditional pasture fencing is the post and rail system. Posts are set at intervals, usually around 12 feet, with 3 rails at varying heights connecting them. Wood is traditionally used. Wood will break if a horse hits it at high speed lessening the potential for injury. However, it can be expensive and will deteriorate in the elements making it less sturdy. Metal piping can also be used but has less give.

      A popular corral fencing is the premade pipe fencing, which are metal pipes welded into panels of 10 to 12 feet wide and around 5 or 6 feet high. They can be fastened together to make various sizes of corral that will fit different spaces. It is possible for a horse to get a foot caught in this type of fencing so it should be checked for integrity regularly.

      Another popular fencing style is a wood post and top rail with wire mesh strung along the length. This fencing works well for older or docile horses. Younger horses tend to pull this fencing apart, catch a foot in it, or chew at any areas that are unraveling leaving sharp edges.