The Best Type of Fencing for Horses in Australia
With so many options, it can be challenging to choose the best horse fencing that suits your needs.
Horses are notorious for damaging, or getting damaged, in fences!
That means ensuring your fences are suitable for horses is one of the most important aspects of owning one.
However, if you’re new to owning a horse you’ll no doubt be asking ‘What type is the best horse fencing for horses in Australia?’
The Best Types Of Horse Fencing For Your Horse
The best type of fencing for horses, and which type you choose, depends on several factors, including…
Safety
Durability
Area to be fenced
Soil type
Topography
Cost
In the end, the best horse fencing for your horse will come down to the one that works best for your particular situation once you’ve factored in all these things.
If you want to fence 100 acres in horse mesh, for example, you’ll need VERY deep pockets!
If some of your paddock spends part of the year under water, you may want to look for alternatives to wooden fence posts in those areas. And so on…
Wire Strand Fencing
Ordinary wire strand fencing is an old staple when it comes to horse fencing.
It’s cost effective, easy to install yourself, ideal for fencing large areas, low maintenance, and does the job effectively.
However, for added security, consider either electrifying one of the wires in the fence or running an electric wire along the inside.
Without this deterrent, horses will push on the fence and put their heads through it.
Wooden And Split Rail Fencing
Wooden fencing, such as post and rails (or split rail) fencing, is a popular choice for horse properties because it’s durable and looks good.
In Australia, it’s often made from treated pine posts and rails but can also be jarrah or some other durable type of timber.
The advantage of wooden fencing is that it provides a sturdy barrier, is highly visible to horses, and can be aesthetically pleasing.
On the downside, wooden fencing requires regular maintenance to stay looking good, may have a higher upfront cost, and don’t suit some conditions.
Wooden posts will eventually rot in waterlogged soils, for example.
Then there are termites…
Horses can also develop a fondness for chewing on wooden fencing so you may end up having to protect it with electric fencing.
Electric Fencing
Electric fencing is another good option for horses. It can be added to existing fencing to protect it (i.e. wooden fencing as above) or to stop horses climbing or running through it. Alternatively, you can install an electric fence from scratch.
Electric fencing is also good for temporary fencing if you want to strip graze, or have an area you want eaten out but don’t particularly want to install permanent fencing there.
When putting in an electric fence, you can use electric horse tape or rope made specifically for horses.
The advantage with these products is that they are highly visible, convenient, and usually cost effective.
However, the tiny wires running through them do break and corrode so require regular monitoring and maintenance.
For this reason, they’re not best suited for permanent fencing on their own.
If you want to install permanent electric fencing, your best option is to put in an ordinary wire fence using standard fencing wire and electrify one or more of the strands in that. You can buy both wooden and steel post insulators for this purpose.
Earthing the Electric Horse Fence
The key to any good electric fence is a good earth system so that when the horse touches the live wire in the fence, it completes the circuit. And receives an electric shock.
However, in many parts of Australia, good earths can be difficult to achieve in summer. In this case you may need to consider an earth return system instead.
In an earth return electric fence, the earth on the fencing unit is hooked up to an insulated wire in the fence rather than an earth rod.
This creates a complete circuit that doesn’t rely on the horse touching it to complete the circuit. This is the case with a normal live wire set up.
Instead, when the animal touches both the live and earth wires in the fence (place them close enough to each other to ensure this happens), it receives a shock even if it’s standing on dry sand in the middle of a hot Australian summer!
Important note – never electrify a barbed wire fence in a horse paddock!
If you do have barbed wire, aim to replace it as soon as you can.
Run a standoff electric wire along the inside of the fence to keep horses well away from the fence!
Wire Mesh Fencing
Special woven or welded wire mesh fencing, also called horse mesh or “no-climb” fencing, is a good option for horse enclosures and small paddocks.
It prevents horses sticking their heads through or getting their hooves caught. It’s also a good choice for foaling paddocks as it stops the foal from falling through it.
However, it is important to use a mesh with small openings to avoid getting hooves caught.
Also avoid mesh fencing products like ring lock around horses because they can so easily get their hooves caught in the large openings. This sometimes has disastrous consequences.
One of the biggest disadvantages with mesh fencing is price. It’s expensive, and needs to be installed properly to avoid sagging. That may mean hiring a fencing contractor to do it for you!
Pipe or PVC Rail Fencing
Pipe or PVC rail fencing is durable and low maintenance. It also gives the aesthetic appearance of wooden post and rails fencing but is far more long lasting.
It’s also safer for horses as there are no sharp edges or splinters.
However, it is expensive. It will last much longer than other types of fencing so can be well worth the investment.
Key Takeaways For The Best Horse Fencing For Horses
The best type of fencing for horses is fencing they can’t hurt themselves on, or destroy. Unlike other livestock, horses love running around and kicking up their heels. That means they must be able to see the fences clearly (especially at night).
Your other considerations about the best type of fencing for your horse will be its size (miniatures in particular need special consideration!), age, how much fencing you need to install, soil type, topography, and budget.
