Electric Fence Options for Horses

Electricity is a safe alternative to plain wire, pipe or wooden fencing for horses. It effectively contains horses because it prevents the animals from leaning through or challenging the fence, which can cause other types of fencing material to fail. The type of material used may depend on budget, terrain and appearance.

  1. Posts and Insulators

    • Either doweled wooden posts or metal T-posts are often used to build electric fencing. Wood posts can be driven into the ground using a post pounder. T-posts are often used in rocky areas or where access with a vehicle is limited. The style of insulator required to hang electric wire will differ depending on the type of post used as well as on the wire material used to string the electric portion of the fence. Check with the wire manufacturer for recommended insulator styles. If using T-posts, install proper caps to help protect animals from severe injuries.

    High-Tensile Wire

    • While high-tensile wire may be one of the most economical and strongest materials that can be used to run electric fence, it is not considered to be the safest type of electric-fencing material for horses because of the risk of injury should a horse get caught in it. High-tensile wire is durable and simple to install, but because it is thin, it can be less visible to an animal and lead to a horse accidentally running through it.

    Horse Tape

    • Horse tape generally ranges between 1 and 2 inches wide and comes in a variety of colors. This polymer tape is interlaced with fine wire that conducts electricity. It is highly visible to a horse, and its breaking strength is usually between 500 and 1,000 pounds. Multiple strands of horse tape can be used to construct a fence or it can be used as the top strand along with other wire to enhance the fence's visibility.

    Braided Wire

    • Another plastic and wire product, braided wire is narrower than horse tape and resembles a thin piece of rope. It typically consists of multiple strands of plastic with two or three strands of wire running through it. The color, breaking strength, visibility and diameter varies by manufacturer. It can often be used with non-manufacturer-specific insulators and accessories.