Owning horses is a big investment and a big responsibility. Protecting that investment is one of the most important things you can do. Using the right horse fence will not only help to protect the horses from outsiders, but can also protect them from themselves and each other if you own more than one. Depending on the size of your property or the amount of horses you have to corral, there are a few choices when it comes to horse fencing.

One of the nicer looking fence options is the vinyl horse fence. This is a very clean and neat looking fencing that is actually quite easy to put up. The posts are sunk into the ground as any other fencing and the pre cut fence rails are inserted in between. The main feature of this type of fence is that if a horse should get a little out of hand or accidentally fall into the fence, the rails will give way and the horse will not get seriously injured. This can help cut down on vet bills as especially if you have a few high spirited horses in your herd.

Vinyl horse fencing normally comes in eight foot lengths for the rails and a standard height for the posts. A three rail set up is normally what is preferred by most ranchers and horse people. This helps keep the horses neatly corralled and add a very clean look to the perimeter of your property. Additionally, this comes in a variety of colors but white seems to be the one everyone tends to go for. This horse fence is made from the same material as home siding and is very weather resistant.

Electric horse fencing can serve two purposes: it can keep the horses in and trespassers out. There is more than one type available of this, ranging from a hard wired version to a solar powered style that is preferred for areas with no immediate power source. Very few people use a completely electrified fence for their horses.  Usually a single strand of heavy gauge wire is run around the top of the fence at chest height for the horse and a low voltage charge run through it. This is more than sufficient to keep the horses from knocking in to the fence or trying to get out of the corral area.

There is also an electric horse fence that is battery powered with a solar panel for recharging. This is particularly useful in areas where there is no immediate electrical source and is relatively inexpensive. This consists of a strip of nylon webbing about two inches wide that goes around the top edge of the existing fence on the inside. This webbing is woven with very fine wires inside to carry the electrical charge and is very simple to install. This is a very low maintenance system with the worst thing being keeping the solar panel clean so the batteries are always fully charged.

Horse fences are not all electric either. There are many portable styles available as well. These are made in sections that can be put together in varying shapes and sizes. The horse fence panels are generally made from steel that is saddle cut and welded together to form an eight foot piece that can be hooked end to end with other sections to form any size corral that is needed. These are particularly handy if you attend horse or livestock shows with some of your stock.

When looking for horse pasture fencing, cost is the driving factor in the type of fence you choose. Horse pasture fence needs to be inexpensive as you normally have a large area to cover. This is where the post and wire style fence is most appropriate. This is cheap horse fencing and easy to install yourself or with minimal help. Simply mark out your area, drive the steel channel posts in to the ground at eight foot intervals and string the wire fence between them.

There is another option available and that is no climb horse fence. This is a woven style fence laid out in squares that measure about eight inches by eight inches. This type of fence is fairly standard and easy to install but does need to be checked and tightened on a regular basis as the horses may lean against it and stretch it or simple sagging over time. Horse fence like this can be seen just about everywhere as it is the standard choice for many.

With a few different types and styles of fencing for horses available to you, finding one that suits your needs should not be too difficult. Keep in mind the area you wish to enclose when choosing the right horse fence. The larger the area that you are trying to cover, the larger the costs will be.