Horse Fencing and Your Farm: Part 1 [The Two Most Common Horse Fence Materials]

It’s incredibly important to have quality horse fencing installed on your farm because of the hazards it can prevent. Horses need to be protected from potential harm outside of the designated grazing area as they can easily injure themselves or people who attempt to catch and return them. But just because horse fencing is used to prevent problems from occurring, it can still look stylish in your yard and add to your farm’s appeal.

Besides the factors of terrain and the circumference area you plan to establish, the biggest decisions you will be making will be with the material type and design.

Most Common Horse Fence Materials

Wood Horse Fencing

This is the classic look for horse fencing. Wood fences are not only visually appealing and supply that “rustic farm” look, but they are also a sturdy option as well. Wood horse fencing is also loved by farmers because it is visually appealing and picturesque and can be used for smaller farms, or multi-million dollar farms.

Because of its strength, wood fencing has a perfect use for horse farms because it makes an excellent barrier for horse grazing and the surrounding areas. This also helps protect the horses themselves since there is a chance for them to push onto the fencing and snap it if it is not sturdy enough. While wood fencing is an excellent option, some argue that the wood grain (if not properly maintained) can actually splinter your horses when they come in contact with the posts.

Polyvinyl Horse Fencing

Polyvinyl fencing for horse fencing is another popular option among horse owners. Polyvinyl fencing essentially resembles wood but actually consists of hollow rails that only appear to look like traditional wooden material. These rails connect with each other by essentially “snapping” into place, making installation extremely simple. Not only does polyvinyl horse fencing look like traditional wood, but it can come in a variety of colors and styles to match the look of your property.

Other benefits of polyvinyl fencing for horse farms is that the material doesn’t require much maintenance at all. This is a huge benefit over traditional wood fencing which requires the most maintenance work out of virtually all fence material options. Polyvinyl fencing is generally a less expensive material option, but may not supply the same support as real wood.

Horse Fence Height Requirements

No matter which material you choose for your fencing, there are some guidelines when building that you should be aware of. All fencing used for horse farms should be at least 4 ½ feet tall. This height is recognized as the minimum your fence should be raised to in order to safely keep your horses contained on the property.

For the bottom of the fence, your posts should be raised between 6 to 8 inches from the ground. This height is generally low enough to prevent young foals from escaping underneath the fencing and out of the field. The other important use for having low posts at ground level is to keep the horses from grazing too far underneath the fence.