Whether you are one of the lucky people who can keep horses at home or whether you actually run a commercial horse ranch, you will know that horse fencing is one of the most important things you need to consider. A strong horse fence is needed to make sure the animals do not roam, and ensure they are kept safe at all times. This article will look at some of the considerations that need to be borne in mind when choosing horse fencing for your home or for a commercial use.
Natural materials
The usual type of force fencing is the split rail fence, often made of wood. A wooden horse fence has the advantage that it is a natural material that fits in with the environment, and it is also extremely flexible and can be built to varying heights. To keep most horses under control a fence of about 48 inches high is usually a good size, though it may be a good idea to have one of the largest size, possibly to about 5 feet in height. You also need to think of the number of bars that the horse fence will have, since this will add to the security of the property and also effect it has in keeping the horses under control.
Depending on the size of your corral, you will need to cost the job very effectively and carefully, so that you know how much you will end up spending. The cost of a secure horse fence can be quite high and so you need to budget accordingly.
Control fence costs
One way of keeping control of costs is to not use wood as the material for your fence, but to take a look at what is available in a vinyl horse fence, since this can be a very decent option, and is also much safer than using a barbed wire fence [or barb wire fence, as it is also known], and also has the benefit of being much safer for the environment. As with a wood fence, there are usually different sizes, with the rails being 1″ x 5″ or 2″ x 6″, with the fence using a locking tab system in order to fit it together. This makes it very easy to install, and therefore means the fence can be erected very quickly.
For excellent security fence, the Keystone horse fence can be a good choice, a 2” x 4” fence using filler wire suitable for hilly terrain. It has closely woven 2” x 4” vertical mesh to prevent horses or other hoofed animals from wandering, and is available in a 100′ roll which creates a 48” high fence. For a vinyl horse fence, check out a 3 Rail horse fence, available from various suppliers. It usually has a 5″x 5″ x post with 11-inch spacing between the rails, which are16ft in length. For a heavy-duty horse fence, use reinforced 2″ x 6″ fence rails in black vinyl.
Vinyl fencing advantages
A wood fence, especially one with two or three bars, will need to be painted regularly, and this can add quite a lot of maintenance time to the job. It is here that the vinyl fence has the advantage, since it will not need to be painted at all, since vinyl is extremely weatherproof and is a low maintenance fence option. The good thing about vinyl is that you can also buy it in a fake wood effect, which means it will look like a wood fence even though it is actually a synthetic material. It is only when you get closer you will be able to see the difference.
The wood and vinyl fence is one of the best choices you can make, and although some may choose to put barbed wire on the top, most people realize this can be an unsafe option and can actually injure the horses.
With a range of natural wood fences and vinyl horse fences now available it is possible to find a highly secure horse fence that will give you security and safety and, in the case of vinyl, will also be a low maintenance option.
