Choosing the right style of fence and arena for your horse property can be overwhelming, because you need to consider a number of factors – such as your objectives, budget and the ongoing maintenance required.
At the end of the day, your decision will come down to balancing how it looks, with how it works and how much it costs.
For example, you may be content with a fence that keeps your horses in safely. But there’s also nothing wrong with factoring in the way it looks – after all, you have to look at it every day!
Here are the main things to weigh up when choosing your fence:
1. Containment
A good horse fence will act as both a physical and a psychological barrier – in other words it will withstand a horse applying pressure to it by leaning or trying to push past it, while also acting as a visible deterrent so that the horse isn’t constantly trying to test it. But it can’t be so strong that it causes serious injury. The physical strength of your fence will depend on a number of factors:
- Older horses may not need a strong fence as they are less active and the psychological barrier has been engrained for a long time.
- Younger horses might need something stronger as they’re more likely to test the fence.
- Foals may be able to get through small openings, in which case woven wire may be needed. The wire spacings also need to be small enough to prevent trapped hooves or heads.
- Other livestock may be in with your horses, such as cattle, sheep, alpacas or goats, in which case you will need a wire barrier and possibly even an electric fence.
- The size of your paddocks – smaller paddocks tend to need stronger and more visible fences, while horses in larger paddocks are less likely to breach boundaries.
- Pasture quality – do your horses have plenty of quality feed in your paddocks? If so, they are less likely to test fences in search of food.
2. Exclusion
Do you also want to restrict access to your property and your horses from other animals? Perhaps you are concerned about disease or predators that might attack or chase your horses. If this is the case, you will need to consider different materials, which may be less visually appealing. We can discuss these options with you.
3. Aesthetics
How important is the ‘look’ of your fence to you? Perhaps you want to add value to your property or, if you are a horse business, attract a certain clientele. The added expense of a better-looking fence may actually be a smart investment.
Generally the timber post and rail option is the most popular for aesthetic reasons as it provides a ‘ranch-style’ look. However post and wire can also look great – some of our clients choose this over post and rail because they like the combination of looks and practicality that it offers.
5. Longevity and maintenance
Do you want your fence to last for many years, or are you looking for a short-term solution?
Timber fences tend to require more maintenance than metal/wire fences. For example, you will need to check for protruding nails, boards splitting and so on. Painted or stained fences will also need to be repainted or restained every few years.
6. Budget
The fence you choose will also depend upon the size of your property and your budget. If you have hundreds of acres to cover, your choices are likely to come down to what you can realistically afford.
You might choose a more expensive option for the perimeter of your property for aesthetic reasons, and then opt for a cheaper, purely practical solution for your internal fences.
Horse mesh fencing
Horse mesh fencing, commonly called equimesh, is a very strong and relatively safe material for horses. Fastened to timber posts, the small diamond mesh spacings stop hooves and legs from becoming caught in the fence.
This type of fence is relatively inexpensive to install, however it is less visible than post and rail so it is recommended that you combine it with a solid board, rail or pipe along the top.
Generally horse mesh requires less maintenance than post and rail, however it does require tightening routinely.
Post and rail horse fencing
Post and rail fencing is a highly visible and attractive form of horse fencing, however it is more expensive to install, and it will not contain or exclude other animals.
While it acts as a good psychological barrier, unlike horse mesh, post and rail is very rigid so can cause serious injury if a horse gets spooked and runs at it.
These fences can also be higher maintenance due to the need for repainting, staining or treating and repair or replacement due to weathering, splintering or damage from horse chewing.
An electric wire can be added to post and rail fences to prevent horses from chewing the timber. Alternatively, you could opt for a lower maintenance plastic or PVC material instead of timber.
Horse arenas
In addition to constructing your fences, Reynolds Rural Contracting can prepare and lay the surface for your outdoor horse-riding arena.
Using our Bobcat, we can prepare your sub-base by excavating a layer of soil, then lay your base/subsurface material and your top dressing or footing material (usually sand). We can organise all materials for you and engage any sub-contractors if required.
Get in touch
There are many options available to you when choosing your horse fence and designing your horse arena. Please get in touch with us so we can design the ideal solution for you, your horses and your property.