What is the best type of horse fencing?

Are you planning to build a fence for your horses? Identifying the right fencing materials is crucial to ensure their safety and comfort. The following are reviews of the types of horse fencing methods to consider.

Wood fencing

Wooden fences are made of either logs or planks. This is one of the traditional fencing methods used due to the various wooden materials available. Use Cider logs or planks of about two by ten-inch planks with posts of four inches in diameter.

Disadvantages

Broken logs or planks can easily injure the horses.

The horses can damage the fence by chewing the wood.

It requires frequent maintenance due to termite attacks and rain damages.

Plastic and vinyl fences

Vinyl and plastic are typical in building horse fences. It is essential to know that there are specific plastics and vinyl recommended for the barriers. You can fix the lines of the plastic in the form of the wooden rails, or opt for a combination of synthetic materials fastened using wires.

Disadvantages

Although this kind of fencing looks unique, the horse can easily get entangled or scratched by the wires.

Electric fencing

One thing to note about the electric fence is that it cannot harm the animal. It only provides a psychological barrier by installing fear to prevent the animals from going near the wall. They are perfect for fencing large areas, or if you require temporary fencing for the horses.

The electric fences to choose include;

• Polyester braid
• Nylon webbing plastic
• Metal poles

They are powered by either solar, battery, or electricity.

Some municipals do not allow the installation of electrical fences near residences or near animals, so get a permit from the right authorities before proceeding with the installation.

Disadvantages

The horses may get harmed if entangled in the wires.

They are not ideal for windy or snowy areas as the wires tend to sag in these conditions.

They are not ideal in areas with trees as the branches reduce the charging power.

The fence has to be checked all the time for charging purposes.

Wire fence

This is a rare fencing option used for horses. Unless the wires are designed specifically for fencing for the horse, you should avoid them. The cables tend to allow in lots of disease-carrying pests.

The cables are also designed with small spaces which limit the horses' movements. In some cases, the horse may force its head through the wires and end up getting stuck.

Things to know about wire fences.

Any wire fencing with 8 to 10-inch opening is super deadly for fencing for horses.

These wires can only be used in areas where the horse cannot reach easily. For example, in small paddocks or a page.

Pipe fencing

These are common as they are inexpensive. Pipe fences have low maintenance needs as compared to other fencing materials, plus they are quite strong.

However, the pipes are not the safest material to fence your horses. This is because the sharp edges can significantly harm the animals. They become too slippery during the wet climate.

The above are the top most used materials for horse fencing. When choosing the fencing option, consider the terrain in your home and your budget as the materials and installation costs vary.

If you are considering agricultural fence building for your property within the Suffolk area, get in touch to ask about our fencing services. Find out more about our farm fencing.