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Building a proper equine fence requires
planning, quality fencing materials, professional construction and a
good bit of "horse sense"
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Choose a fencing solution that provides good
visibility to your horses because if your horse can’t see the fence
it can’t respect it (also remember that you get to pay the vet
bills).
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Young horses especially need to learn to
respect fence boundaries and the pain and trouble that a “run in”
can cause, so select a more forgiving fencing option for the
rambunctious young ones.
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Barbed wire generally should be avoided for
horses since the barbs can tear their hide.
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High-tensile wire horse fences also pose a potential
risk of the horses getting tangled up in the strands.
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Ranch Rail fencing is an ideal horse friendly
fence due to the easy to see fence line and horse friendly
construction materials.
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Horses and livestock are quite curious by nature and
alike like to travel the boundaries of their fence lines. Sharp
pointed ends of steel posts, gates, and fence bracing should be
smoothed over or covered with caps.
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Choose a horse fence that is at least 4 and
half feet tall preferably 5 feet or taller. Stallions should have
fences about 6 feet tall
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Electric fencing should be multi stranded
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Periodic pasture checks should be made to
locate any loose or broken fencing wires, boards, posts or top
rails. All fencing problems should be attended to immediately.
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Fences should be placed around irrigation
ditches, ponds, drainage ditches, waterways, etc. Gates should be
secured to prevent unauthorized access.
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Gates should be at least 4 feet wide and placed
in logical places that will allow your horses to easily pass from horse barn to pasture.
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Entry gates should be set back far enough to allow vehicles to be fully off any highway or ranch access road.
Having traffic swerve around your car or truck as you hurriedly attempt to
unlock the pasture gate is generally not recommended.
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Steel pipe fencing, cable and pipe fence or
pipe fence with equine safe panels provides a very durable, safe,
and long-lasting fence.
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Proper equine management will often require the
use of several combinations of fencing materials.
