So, What is the best fencing to have?

[Fools Motto]

Currently each paddock is electric fenced, 2 strands with wooden posts. (apart from the 'jumpers' paddocks, where an extra high strand has been put up, and it looks awful!)
The electric current isn't great, and come later on in the summer, many horses simply break through looking for better grass. The wooden posts are mainly rotten and unlikely to hold up to anymore thuggish behaviour!
We don't graze over winter, well we haven't this winter - it's just too wet. Some owners have hand grazed, you know, those sensible horses who are happy to graze, and owners who are happy to hold! We have an all weather turnout too.
(I am yard manager, not YO btw).

Long story short, need new fencing. Going to prioritise a few dire paddocks to start with.
I like the idea of the horse stock fencing, and I've seen adverts for HorseRail.
Would love further ideas please.
Many thanks.

 

[ihatework]

Have a look at hippo safety fence.
It’s what I’m planning to install on my new land, primarily for young horses.

 

[Jellymoon]

My fave is wooden posts with horse netting, plus a single strand of wire at the top which can be electrified if needed, and attach to mains for a proper shock. I have this set up but haven’t yet had to electrify it…

 

[Abacus]

I have fieldguard tape with wooden posts, many of which I’ve recently replaced. The main difference was adding a solar energiser - no batteries to charge and even on rainy and cloudy days has a good current. They aren’t going through it at all (and we have two horses that were reliably breaking out most nights).

 

[blitznbobs]

I find most effective is post and rail with an electric rope stepped in off the top with extended insulators... and a big mains generator

 

[Jambarissa]

Post and rail is definitely not what it used to be. We have 30 year old sections still going strong then 5 year old stuff starting to rot at ground level and aroud the nails.

Neighbour put up a horse specific chain fence with metal posts about 5' high probably 15 years ago. It cost an eye watering amount but is as good as the day it went in, stops people feeding the horses and keeps dogs out. Sure there are cheaper suppliers now so I'd do that if budget allows.

 

[Marigold4]

Post and rail is definitely not what it used to be. We have 30 year old sections still going strong then 5 year old stuff starting to rot at ground level and aroud the nails.

Neighbour put up a horse specific chain fence with metal posts about 5' high probably 15 years ago. It cost an eye watering amount but is as good as the day it went in, stops people feeding the horses and keeps dogs out. Sure there are cheaper suppliers now so I'd do that if budget allows.

I put up horse-netting 6 years ago and it's still doing pretty well. The wire is good but I have had to replace the odd post. I have a single line of mains electric above. I then divide the field into paddocks with wooden posts and fieldguard 40 mm tape with batteries for the electric bit. Trouble is when I bred a foal - and her little friend companion arrived - the horse netting squares were big enough for a foal to get a hoof stuck in so I had to put in an internal fence to stop them getting near it. If you are going to use horse-netting, definitely have a think about the size of the squares you want.

I agree about post and rail not being what it was. The way the posts are treated now means they don't last nearly as long and you might end up spending £££ and then having to replace it all 5 years later.

 

[FestiveG]

We have horse netting on posts that were soaked in creosote. We have nine inch offsets on both sides, with poly rope on the inside and thin wire on the outside. This is to deter horse feeders. The electric fencing is powered by solar energisers and works pretty well. We do have a spare that we can charge in the house if the weather is very poor.

 

[rabatsa]

Pay extra and get pressure creosoted posts, well worth the extra £'s as they will last, unlike the tanalised ones which rot within 4/5 years.

 

[dorsetladette]

My post and rail with electric along the inside top rail is by far my favourite fencing. But I have post and electric in my dividing fencing which works well. Posts are 12 feet apart and the tape is the thick brown tape which I think looks smarts too.

I've got a new energizer from mole Valley which is 2.4 (or 5) joules so gives a good zap when touched.

 

[Snow Falcon]

My friend has recently had the horse netting with a single wire at top. Seems to be doing well. I agree about the posts. The wet weather is just rotting them in super quick time.

 

[hock]

We had a proper look at hippo fencing yesterday thinking we’d get it installed. I honestly can’t see the benefit of it. But my horses only respect electric.

 

[HollyWoozle]

We also have post and rail with a single strand of electric along the top and it works great.

 

[Fransurrey]

Post and rail is definitely not what it used to be. We have 30 year old sections still going strong then 5 year old stuff starting to rot at ground level and aroud the nails.

I agree. YO insists she buys treated posts, but many of them have lichen and mushrooms growing out of them, which I'm sure wouldn't happen if they were treated properly. They rot at the bottom, too. We still have posts and electric rope, though.

 

[FitzyFitz]

I've got horse netting (with the small rectangular holes) on wooden posts with a wooden top rail. Not had any issues with rubbing or chewing yet so havent put electric on. I also have Voss mustang wire for 2 paddocks, it's a high tensile wire that needs proper straining, but it's coated so it's 8mm thick, no chance of cutting or getting stuck in shoes, and can be electrified, although I didn't bother past the first week as it's sturdy enough to be a physical barrier. It's on wooden posts where the fencing contractors could get the tractor in, and metal t-posts where it was too awkward. Works well and both fencing options have kept my horrible little houdini pony in!

 

[PurBee]

It’s worth checking price comparisons in your country between pressure treated wooden posts and recycled plastic posts. I recently bought some large pressure treated posts and later saw paddock sized posts for not a lot of difference in cost. Helps cost to source direct from manufacturer, some have online websites.
I’d consider plastic posts if i wanted to invest in a longevity fence.