Keeping your horses corralled in the correct pasture safely is a big job for your fence to tackle. You need a durable yet stylish fence to tough it out. But how do you choose the right one for your needs?
When choosing a farm fence, make sure it’s durable enough to withstand everyday use. Horses like to lean, nibble, and try to fit as much of their bodies over or through the fence as possible. Your fence needs to be sturdy enough to stand firm during these conditions.
The fence also needs to be easily visible to both the horse and any humans who may come across it.
First, let’s talk about the fences you shouldn’t use with horses. Horses love to jump and installing a barbed wire fence that they will inevitable try to leap over could cause a lot of damage to your animal. Stay away from barbed wire for horses.
If you choose to go with a chain link fence or wire mesh fence, make sure the openings are not more than 3 inches wide. A hoof or muzzle could easily get caught in something larger and that could really harm your horse.
To keep your horse the safest he or she can be, make sure the fence is at least between 4 and 5 feet tall, to be able to contain them effectively. The lowest part of the fence should be about 8 inches off of the ground to ensure that foals don’t scoot under there or larger horses don’t try to graze on the other side of the fence.
Wooden fences are a great classic choice ideal for horses and are very strong but may require more maintenance, because of potential damage from weather, horse teeth, and other factors that may affect wood.
Vinyl fencing is another stylish choice that many farms choose. Electricity may be used in tandem with this option to reduce leaning on and damaging the fence.
The horses’ safety should be the main factor for choosing the fence, but price, durability, maintenance, and style should also be considered.
If you have any questions about which farm fence would be right for your pasture, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’ve been putting in farm fences for 50 years, so we are a great resource for you as you make your final decision.
