What’s the Best Type of Horse Fencing?

I’ve spent a lot of time in various barns over the years – both higher-end facilities and budget backyard setups – leasing, taking lessons, and working for ride time before I eventually purchased my first horse. I am grateful for those experiences, not only for the opportunity to ride many different types and temperaments of horses, but also to learn how best to set up my own small horse facility.

One of the biggest decisions to make when planning your new barn setup is what type of fencing to use for your horse pastures. Based on my previous experiences in other barns and now with my own farm, here are my insights into how to choose the best horse fencing.

I’ll come right out and say that polytape electric fencing is the best type of horse fence for the price, in my opinion. Below, I’ll explain why I feel so strongly about that, as well as explain the pros and cons of other options.

Polytape Electric Fencing

Polytape fencing is a woven, ribbon-like fencing option that’s made of polyethylene strands, mixed with thin strands of metal to carry an electric current. It comes in a variety of colors and widths, ranging from half-inch to two-inch. It attaches to wooden or metal posts using non-conductive clips, and can continue through corners with special corner insulators.

Polytape pros

• Visibility. Because of its width, polytape is highly visible from long distances and in most weather conditions, including snow and fog.

• Safety. Also because of its thickness and ribbon-like shape, polytape is a safer option than thinner wire fencing because it won’t slice through flesh like high-tensile wire can. Additionally, the plastic insulators are designed to break free in the event that an animal becomes caught in the fence.

• Durability. Its polyethylene strands give polytape high durability and longevity, even after years of exposure to the sun and elements.

• Value. Polytape is relatively cost-effective and gives you the best mix of safety, durability, and quality for the price.

Polytape cons

• Can catch wind more than other fencing types. However, I live in a high-wind area and have few problems with my two-inch polytape during wind storms.

• More expensive than polyrope. Polytape is generally slightly more expensive than its close cousin, polyrope, and is bulkier, so fewer feet can fit on the same-sized reel.

Polyrope and Polywire Electric Fencing

Polyrope and polywire are similar to polytape electric fencing in that they are made of a combination of non-conductive polyethylene strands and conductive metal strands. However, the main difference is that polyrope is tightly bound into a rope-like structure, and polywire is even thinner than polyrope and more closely resembles metal wire fencing. Polyrope and polywire are fastened to posts using non-conductive plastic clips.

Polyrope pros

• Price. Polyrope and polywire are generally slightly cheaper than polytape, making them one of the more cost-effective fencing options.

• Durability. Because they lack the wider width of polytape, polyrope and polywire are even more durable than polytape.

• Better visibility than uncoated wire fencing. Polyrope comes in a variety of colors and is thicker than polywire or metal wire, making it more visible than these options.

Polyrope cons

• Can be dangerous. Polyrope and polywire can cause more serious injuries, as they can cause “ropeburn” or even slice through flesh much like a metal wire.

• Lower visibility than polytape. Polyrope and polywire are less visible than polytape, especially in inclement weather conditions.

High-Tensile Wire

High-tensile wire is made of high-carbon steel, making it very durable and able to withstand high tension. It comes both uncoated and coated in a polymer shell, which slightly increases visibility, as well as a range of gauges. There are a number of different types of fasteners that can be used to attach the wire to wooden or metal posts.

High-tensile wire pros

• Cost-effective. High-tensile wire is one of the most cost-effective fencing options available, making it very popular.

• Long-lasting. Steel wire is highly durable, especially when coated in several layers of polymer, and can therefore last for years without needing to be replaced.

• Can span larger distances. When using high-tensile wire you can place your posts farther apart than with other types of fencing, making this fence type ideal for very large areas.

High-tensile wire cons

• Can be dangerous. Steel wire, especially uncoated, can inflict serious wounds if an animal runs into it or becomes tangled in it.

• Low visibility. While coated wire provides more visibility than uncoated wire, neither offer the visibility levels of polytape or even polyrope, due to how thin they are.

• Prone to bending and kinking. Wire can easily bend and kink, which can make it susceptible to failure in those weak spots.

Wooden Rails

Wooden rail fencing is a traditional fencing option that consists of vertical wooden posts and horizontal wooden rails. The number of rails that you use is customizable and can be tailored to your specific needs. Wooden fencing used to contain horses should be made out of pine or another horse-safe material.

Wood fencing pros

• Aesthetically pleasing. Wooden fences are perhaps the most attractive to look at and can add curb appeal to your horse farm.

• Safety. There’s nothing to get tangled up in with wooden fences if something goes awry, unlike poly or wire fencing.

• High visibility. Your horse isn’t going to miss a big wooden fence in front of him.

Wood fencing cons

• Expensive. Wooden fencing is one of the most expensive options, making it ideal for smaller paddocks and less ideal for larger pastures.

• Requires regular maintenance. Even treated wood will eventually rot and fall apart if not regularly painted or stained and occasionally replaced.

• Cribbing can become an issue. Wooden fencing isn’t the best option to contain horses who crib or chew.

• Prone to splintering. While a wood fence won’t entangle a horse, it could cause other injuries if it splinters or breaks and isn’t immediately repaired.

PVC Fencing

PVC or vinyl fencing is similar to wooden fencing but is made of plastic instead of wood. It comes in a wide range of colors and, like wooden fencing, the number of rails can be customized to suit your needs.

PVC fencing pros

• Aesthetically pleasing. Like wooden fencing, PVC horse fencing can be very attractive, and custom colors can complement barns or other outbuildings.

• Safety. PVC fencing comes with the safety benefits of wooden fencing without the risk of splintering or rotting.

• Less maintenance than wood. PVC fencing requires fairly little upkeep, unlike wooden fencing.

PVC fencing cons

• Expensive. PVC fencing is generally more expensive than wood fencing.

• Weaker than wood. PVC fencing can be brittle and generally doesn’t hold up as well as wood or other materials.

• Prone to cracking and breaking. Sun exposure, wind, and other elements can take a toll on PVC fencing.

No-Climb Wire

No-climb wire fences typically consist of wire mesh with wooden or metal vertical posts and often wooden rails along the top. Wire mesh comes in a wide variety of gauges, sizes, and styles, with no-climb squares and diamond mesh being the two main styles to choose from. While diamond mesh offers greater strength, it is more expensive than no-climb square mesh. In either case, you need to make sure the openings in the mesh are small enough that a hoof couldn’t fit through and become stuck.

No-climb pros

• Aesthetically pleasing. No-climb mesh and rails can be very attractive.

• Safety. No-climb fence is generally a very safe horse fencing option, with the exception of the possibility of a horseshoe becoming stuck within the mesh.

• High visibility. Like wooden fencing, no-climb fence can be more visible than polyrope or wire fencing.

• Provides a more robust barrier. Instead of having gaps in between rails or polytape or wire, no-climb fence provides a solid barrier. This not only helps to keep a variety of horses inside, but can also keep animals like dogs, foxes, and rodents out.

No-climb cons

• Expensive. Like wooden fencing, no-climb fencing can be pricey, especially if you are placing wooden rails along the top.

• Can be difficult to install. It can be difficult to stretch the mesh fence tightly, and it can be wonky on ground that isn’t 100% flat.

• Difficult to maintain. Weed whacking around this fence is difficult, because the string trimmer can damage the mesh fence. One way around this is to raise the mesh off of the ground, though this allows for other animals to potentially get in.

• Horseshoes can get stuck. No-climb fence is not the safest option for shod horses, especially ones known to paw at the gate or fencing, as shoes can easily become stuck within the mesh.

Flexible Rail Fencing

Ramm and Centaur are the two most popular brands that manufacture flexible rail fencing that has been designed specifically for containing horses. This fencing option is made of flexible, yet strong polymer material that comes with or without integrated wire to add an electric charge if wanted. If price were not a factor, I would personally choose flexible rail fencing over polytape fencing.

Flexible rail pros

• Aesthetically pleasing. Flexible rail fencing is very attractive and comes in a range of colors to easily match your barn’s aesthetic.

• Safety. Because it is both flexible and strong, this type of horse fencing is one of the safest options available.

• High visibility. Flexible rail fencing comes in a range of widths and is highly visible.

• Durable. This fencing is also very durable, with some brands offering up to a 25-year warranty on their product.

• Low maintenance. Flexible rails do not require much maintenance to keep them looking nicely and functioning properly.

Flexible rail cons

• Expensive. Flexible rail is one of the more expensive fencing options.

• Can harden in cold weather. If you live in a very cold climate, expect to lose some of the flexibility of this type of fencing in freezing temperatures.

What Types of Horse Fencing Are Unsafe?

Some types of fencing are simply unsafe for containing horses and therefore shouldn’t be used. These include:

• Barbed wire, which can severely injure horses and people.
• Metal pipe fencing, which is unforgiving and can cause serious injuries to horses.
• Roundpen panels, which are not only unforgiving but can easily trap horses legs between the pipes. These shouldn’t be relied on for permanent unsupervised turnout.

What to Consider When Choosing Horse Fencing

As you can see, there are lots of options for horse pasture fencing. To help you choose the best fit for you and your horses, consider these factors when making your decision:

• Your budget. Price will be one of the biggest factors in your decision. Choose the best fencing option that will meet your needs while staying within your budget.
• How permanent the fence will be. If you are putting up a fence that you will likely end up moving in the future, consider using a more movable type of fencing, such as metal T-posts with polytape, rather than splurging on wooden or flexible rail fencing if there’s a chance you may want to move it in the future.

• Will the fence be used to separate two pastures? Fencing that will separate two pastures with horses on either side will need to be safe and strong. Consider using wooden posts instead of metal T-posts, for example, between pastures.

• Do your horses respect fencing? If you know your horses are very respectful of fencing, you may be able to choose a less-rigid option like polytape. On the other hand, if you know your horses test fencing, you might consider choosing a more solid barrier or combining a solid barrier with a strand or two of electric fencing.

• How much yearly maintenance do you want to put into your fencing? If you would prefer to set your fence and forget it, so to speak, choose a fencing option that comes with little to no yearly maintenance.

Bottom Line: Why I Like Polytape Fencing the Best

While there are pros and cons to each type of horse fencing outlined here, polytape electric fencing offers the best mix of safety, effectiveness, and value, in my opinion. It is highly visible, fairly cost-effective, and is easy to install.

That said, if price is not a concern, flexible rail fencing offers more strength and curb appeal than polytape, making it an excellent option as well. To put the price difference in perspective, one 500-ft spool of two-inch polytape is around $70, compared to $300 for 330 feet of the least expensive flexible rail option.

Thus, my final verdict on the best type of horse fencing is polytape electric fence as the overall winner, with flexible rail fencing as the runner-up option if you’re looking to splurge.