What Is The Best Type Of Horse Fencing?

Horse enthusiasts and those in the equine industry depend on their pastures and fences to keep their horses happy and safe. Superior Fence & Rail offers many fence styles and options to serve these needs. These include fences for ranches, stables, and equestrian properties. Although local building codes might ultimately determine the type of horse fencing that can be installed on your property, we will discuss all types of horse fencing in this article. This includes those regarded as the best choice among horse professionals.

History Of Horse Fencing

The history of horse fencing goes all the way back to Colonial times. This is when jack fencing (portable wooden horse fences made from local timber), barbed wire, and other types of wooden fencing were used. Many of the early adaptations of wood horse fences were revered by homesteaders and ranchers because they were easy to move and assemble. Modern horse fencing has come a long way over the years, including stronger wooden versions, vinyl, and even steel.

wooden horse fences

Which Horse Fencing Is Deemed The Safest?

After consulting with prominent horse enthusiasts and veterinarians and installing thousands of linear feet of horse fencing over the past 20+ years, superior Fence & Rail has this to share…

According to an article from the respected forum at Horse Illustrated, “Wood rail has traditionally been considered the ultimate horse fence, as evidenced by miles of it showcasing Kentucky’s bluegrass horse country. Wood is sturdy and highly visible to horses. It’s a traditional, attractive look for equestrian property. However, regular maintenance is required, including repainting and repairing broken boards and protruding nails. Wood breaks and splinters upon significant impact, potentially causing injury to a horse.”

The article goes on to mention vinyl (rigid PVC), horse fencing as well. The post states“Rigid PVC (polyvinyl chloride) rail fence is an increasingly popular alternative to wood because it looks similar, but requires less maintenance. Installed correctly, high-quality rigid PVC is up to five times stronger than wood.” The experts here at Superior Fence & Rail couldn’t agree more. Both wood and vinyl boards make great candidates for safe horse fencing. These are referred to as ranch rail fences on our website. As is the case with any fence project, we urge clients to consider their needs. This includes the amount of maintenance they are willing to invest in the fence over time, along with the budget, before deciding.

Safe Horse Fence Specifications

Remember that building codes in some municipalities may dictate the specifications at your horse property. However, these general rules of thumb mentioned by Horse & Rider apply nearly everywhere:

Field fences should be 54 to 60 inches above ground level. Err on the side of caution and go with a 5-foot minimum height. Especially where fences abut highways, or anywhere an escaped horse can flee your premises. Six feet is the safe minimum height for stall runs and paddocks.

At the bottom, an opening of 8 to 12 inches will keep feet and legs from getting trapped. This size will prevent foals from rolling under the fence. Fence openings should be either large enough that a hoof, leg, or even the head can’t become trapped or very small (no more than 3 inches by 3 inches) to prevent a hoof penetration.

Which Horse Fence Is Considered The Ultimate Horse Fence?

Superior’s steel ranch rail fence is touted as the ultimate horse fence. The Buckley Fence is the ultimate ranch rail fence and the next generation of post and rail fences. This fence is made of 100% powder-coated steel. It’s the market’s most durable, longest-lasting, lowest-maintenance, horse-friendly ranch rail fence. Dare we say it’s beautiful, too?

buckley steel horse fencing

The lifetime expectancy of a Buckley Fence is decades. In addition, the lifetime maintenance costs are virtually zero. The protective powder coating will not chip, peel, or crack and has superior long-term resistance to rusting, fading, or chalking. These attributes make it the most durable farm fencing on the planet. Buckley Fence can be used for equestrian, livestock, agricultural, residential, or commercial projects, lasting up to 50 years.

Looking For A Superior Horse Fence For Your Property?

Much to the knickers and neighs of its inhabitants, we offer the best horse fences for your property! Whether you prefer wood, vinyl, or steel, our horse fences are some of the safest, strongest, and most durable on the market. Contact Superior Fence & Rail to schedule a consultation today. And remember, we also carry and install horse fence gates- we do it all, and all you will need to supply is the horse!