I’m buying 118 acre of fields and it has a 4 row wire fence used for cows would it work for horses?
We have had two strands of barbless wire (strands twisted together) for 30 years fencing our 10+ acre pastures. The only injury was from a mare deciding to roll right next to the fence and cutting her leg on the metal clip that held the fence to the t-post. However, we had a small herd of steers one year and we found that barbless wire did not confine them. We only have three rows rather than four but the top one is “hot” (insulated and connected to fence charger).
Depends on the horses, imo. Some horses can be turned out in a junk yard and live to old age, some can kill themselves in a padded stall.
For me, I’d say no and at at best run hot wire. But how feasible is that for 118 acres, if it’s all one big field? Well, that’s on you. Plus I hope they are easy to catch.
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What is on the other side of the fence? Are their neighbouring horses that might encourage scrapping through the fence? What do you have for wildlife? How hilly?
We are thinking of fencing our back fields and not sure what to fence with either. Currently thinking barbless wire and a strand of white plastic coated wire for visibility. barbless wire is two strands of wire twisted together, so a little thicker and visible than straight wire. Most of our fence line is also tree lined for natural visibility. VERY hilly. None of our neighbours have horses, but we do have a lot of moose and deer…who have zero respect for fencing unless it is 8 feet tall!
I am curious what others recommend.
I boarded a horse at a place with 3 strands of smooth wire. I knew better but I didn’t have any other options for her at the time.
She pawed at the fence and cut her heel bulb OFF as she pulled her leg back through the wire.
So, if you have a huge field, lots of grass and all horses in one spot, you might be ok. If you have bored, hungry, horses or horses sharing a common fence line, you better have your vet on speed dial.
