[Shay's Sunshine]

O.K. read a few threads about injured horses from fences. I am about to change my fencing so need opinions on what is the best. I was leaning towards smooth wire electric fence (5 strands, top and middle electric)
Of course I have not priced anything and I do have a limited budget.

[Chester]

When we purchased our property we went all electric. It was the cheapest for us both short and long term. Because no animals lean on it there is less maintenance as well.

We only have 3 strands, top and bottom live middle earth. The big thing with electric is to ensure you have a good earth.

In 14 years of it being there we have had no injuries due to fences.

[CrazyHorse]

I have 4 strands of electric wire and so far, no injuries. It's been up over a year. First 3 strands are hot and Ben respects it well so far.

[JBandRio]

I have Horseguard - www.horseguardfence.com

I've had 1 horse bounce off it twice, unscathed, and only had to re-tighten it.

I've had 1 horse roll a little too close and roll over into it - first time he just stretched it and broke a couple of insulators; second time he scrambled a bit and ended up with some wrapped around a leg, which broke a few insulators but when the tape hit the tensioner, the tape broke, not my horse's leg.

Smooth wire scares the h-e-youknowwhat out of me, unless it's low tensile, as no matter how much a horse respects the juice, there can be a time where he meets up with it and it isn't always pretty. Most degloving injuries I hear about are from high tensile wire that "the horse respected".

[Finallyownhorse]

We had to put up fencing at our place. Also on a limited budget. We went with barbless wire. We didn't want electric because there is a good chance we would touch the fence more than the horses do.

The weanling we had did stretch it out in a couple places, but the older horses don't lean on it. We cut through our pasture at different spots, so I am glad we didn't go electric. I rarely use a gate when its just me.

[Mare]

I have wood posts, field fence, wood top rail and one strand electric.
Mare and baby pasture I have wood posts 2x3in fence, wood rail top and one strand electric.

[JBandRio]

finallyownhorse, is your wire high or low tensile?

If it is high tensile, you WILL end up regretting not having it hot, especially since you already have a young horse who is stretching it - only takes one excited test for him to deglove his leg or neck.

If it's low-tensile, you WILL end up regretting not having it hot as a horse who tests it will soon find out how easily it can break.

[Finallyownhorse]

finallyownhorse, is your wire high or low tensile?

I don't know. The guy at the farm store called it barbless wire. According to what I researched there is no fencing that is completely safe. Every one of them has a drawback.

[Chester]

We can only use low tensile here. If you use high tensile the roos have a ball snapping it for you. I am sure they make a game of it.

[JBandRio]

Originally Posted by finallyownhorse

I don't know. The guy at the farm store called it barbless wire.

Do you need a tensioner to tighten it? Can you "bounce" off it or is it a smidge saggy?

According to what I researched there is no fencing that is completely safe. Every one of them has a drawback.

That is true - a horse can find a way to get hurt on anything - fences don't even have to be in the picture However, some are MUCH safer than others (ie barb wire and horses do not mix at all), and for any given type of fencing, there are ways to make it more, or less safe. Wire NEEDS to be electrified, or you are just inviting an injury. Wood SHOULD have a hotwire on top to keep horses from chewing and leaning. Same with vinyl.

Originally Posted by chester

We can only use low tensile here. If you use high tensile the roos have a ball snapping it for you. I am sure they make a game of it.

*snort* that is too funny (not to you, I'm sure . I guess with their thick coats they never even feel a shock?