Three Horse Fencing Options for Your Farm

If you are fortunate enough to own horses—some of the most intelligent and graceful animals you’ll ever meet—you need horse fencing options to safely keep them on your property and protect them from unwanted visitors.  However, not all fencing for horses are suited for these animals, so choose wisely when it comes to taking care of these truly magnificent creatures! 

Considerations for Horse Fencing Options

First and foremost, you need a well-constructed fencing for horses that’s meant to protect your horses and keep them safe from harm and inside your property.  Treat your fence as an investment and an essential element to help you maintain your horses for life.

Fencing for horses are meant to keep your animals safe and sound so use materials that won’t harm them.  Many horse owners think having barbed wire fences are great horse fencing options, but the reality is that these fences can do more harm to your horse than simply keeping strangers off your property.  If you want to avoid significant veterinary bills, make sure you use fence materials that offer protection without ever harming the animal.  This includes using nails and other fasteners without jagged edges as even the smallest of parts can harm your horses if they are prone to rubbing up or brushing against the fence.

Split Rail Fence

For traditional horse farmers, popular horse fencing options are to use a split rail fence comprised of long pieces of wood, usually split lengthwise to form two to four or more rails inserted into holes within the fence posts and are often held in place by their own weight.  Rails are usually 8 or 11 feet long and can be round, half-round or even square or diamond-shaped. Some horse owners will also add wire mesh on the inside of the fence for extra stability and security for keeping the animals on the property.  Mesh is also helpful for keeping other animals and little ones away from the horses.

split-rail-horse-fence

Paddock Fence

Paddock fences rank as a popular favorite among fencing for horses. Paddock fences are those composed of three to five flat boards secured to posts.  What’s great about a paddock fence is that you can easily build them between 54 to 60 inches above ground level, which means the fence is at wither height to ensure that your horses will not flip over the fence.  If you happen to be the proud owner of larger horses—particularly stallions—you may need to build a slightly higher paddock fence to keep the horses safe inside your property. No matter what height (or style) of ranch fencing you choose, always make sure you have an 8 to 12 inch opening at the bottom of the fence to avoid trapping the hooves.

black-paddock-horse fence

Estate Fence

If you love your horses and want to add a bit more visual flair to your property, consider an estate fence.  Estate fences are highly similar to a paddock fence, except two of the fence boards create a crisscross design.  When building an estate fence for a horse farm, you may want to use 6 flat boards to create the height you need to keep your animals safe inside the perimeter.

estate-fence

Ready to Build a Fence For Your Horses?

If you plan to buy horses or have an existing fence that needs replacing, contact us today and we’ll send one of our horse-loving consultants out to your property to design a fence that meets your needs and your budget!

Photo Credit: all images in this article are used under license from Thinkstock.