Barbless wire fence for horses?

HorseLover121203 · 11-19-2008, 02:35 PM

I am looking at replacing the fence for my horses. The actual size of the pasture is one large 12 acre pasture-- about half of trees and the other half open pasture. I am only wanting to replace the whole front section where the horses are most of the day (near the water, where they are fed, hay bail is, gate is, etc...)

I am looking at a barbless wire fence for this. Does anyone recommend this type of fence? Pros and cons?

Also, can someone send me to a website on how to put up a barbless wire fence?

Thanks!

95Harley · 11-19-2008, 02:43 PM

We strung up our barbless exactly the same as you would barbed 5 rows with crosses every so often for the stress. Let me say easier on the mane and tail no chunks hanging on the fence like with barbed but a fence is a fence and is as likely to do as much damage when hit hard enough. I always backed mine up with hotwire. As much to keep them from eating through it as to keep them from forgetting it is there. Definately add flags to it the 1st week or so it is harder to see.

roberts617 · 11-19-2008, 02:47 PM

We had it and it works well. The key is getting it tight, loose wire is dangerous. We put our posts 10 feet apart with stays in between.

HorseLover121203 · 11-19-2008, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 95Harley

We strung up our barbless exactly the same as you would barbed 5 rows with crosses every so often for the stress. Let me say easier on the mane and tail no chunks hanging on the fence like with barbed but a fence is a fence and is as likely to do as much damage when hit hard enough. I always backed mine up with hotwire. As much to keep them from eating through it as to keep them from forgetting it is there. Definately add flags to it the 1st week or so it is harder to see.

If you don't me asking, what are crosses?

I've never put up a fence before, always paid someone to do it but now finances are forcing me to have to do the heavy labor myself

95Harley · 11-19-2008, 02:55 PM

ok probably not the correct terminology but to me they look like an H with the wire going from top left to bottom right and vice-versa. You make the cross on the H with the same posts as you are stringing wire on. We got a lovely little howto book from TSC (free) when we purchased the fencing.

HorseLover121203 · 11-19-2008, 02:59 PM

Maybe I should purchase one to help me out

I will need all the help I can get.

95Harley · 11-19-2008, 03:06 PM

I don't think they charged us for it and it was invaluable-I'd never done my own fence before just fixed everyone else's

. But it gives you spacing and all the little odds and ends and most importantly how to string it tight.Good luck(rent a gas powered posthole digger if digging more than 1 hole)

seerfarm · 11-19-2008, 03:07 PM

I think this is what you are looking for.....has all the info you will need.

http://www.kencove.com/fence/2_Plann...e_resource.php

HorseLover121203 · 11-19-2008, 03:15 PM

Perfect!!! Ripping down the old fence will be the fun part

mlh619 · 11-19-2008, 03:36 PM

I would say if you are going to use barbless wire that you should electrify at least the top and middle strands depending on how many strands you use. Because there will be no barbs, horses will not have much respect for the fence and it will get leaned over and pushed up against and become loose. Barbless wire also cuts as bad or worse than barbed wire. Instead getting scratched by the wire and moving away horse will push or kick through it and end up with the wire just peeling off slabs of tissue. I wouldn't not feel safe using the barbless wire unless at least one stand was electrified to deter the horses from touching it in the first place.

HorseLover121203 · 11-19-2008, 03:39 PM

Both of my horses are very respectable when it comes to fencing, should they still have it electric? They do not push on it, lean on it, step on it, etc...

I only have the 2 horses-- one being 20 and the other 13.

The fence that is up now is like a chicken wire type fence for larger animals and they are good with that one.

Just curious

mlh619 · 11-19-2008, 03:49 PM

Depends on the horses. I personally would still electrify it if it was me but that is up to you!! If you feel comfortable with out it then don't put it on! The square mesh type fencing I think you are talking about will stay up better even if they lean on it or push against it. You could always try it and if they seem like they are stretching it out really bad just put a fencer on it!

I would also spend the extra on the fencer to get a solar one. It won't go out in a power outage and is virtually maintenance free!

Gids_mama · 11-19-2008, 03:51 PM

crosses are actually braces....holds up fence from stress and then braces are also extra added before and after where gates will be to support the weight of a gate opening and closing..
im going to HIGHLY RECOMMEND electrifying top and middle strands of a five strand wire fence for horses..they will test it atone point or another...

we have it and we love it..not chunks missing, they cant crib..i have a bad cribber, and they cant stick there heads through to other side and rub off mane b/c its electrified, plus easy to tighten when it loosens in summer and if anything falls on it...

jyates · 11-19-2008, 03:58 PM

I just completed about 500' worth of 12-1/2 gauge barbless wire. I put the top of my T posts at 55" and my top strand at 50" and used 4 strands of wire. I let the wire follow the contour of the pasture I was crossing. Posts were spaced 10' and I used metal pipe with metal pipe braces on the corners and stretched it nice and taunt and it made a very nice fence. I like the barbless wire a lot better since one of my horses in particular likes to put his head through the wire and eat.....no mane loss!

joustinggirl · 11-19-2008, 04:00 PM

I third the electric, in my career I have had 2 horses cut tendons on wire string fence that was put up and maintained appropriately.

pippy · 11-19-2008, 04:29 PM

I used barbless wire this summer on our new pasture, it has 4 strands of barbless wire and two strands hot wire to discourage leaning across.

As you can see- at the time I took this photo, the top string was a bit loose- it needed tightening- I recommend buying tensioners to make this easier incase you do need to tighten it up later.

We sunk our posts first, I think they are 10 ft apart, then we strung the wire- we had the role of wire on a rod placed on the skidloader (w/forks) so we could pull it good and tight by backing the skidloader. I recommend you find yourself a partner for both safety and sanity! LOL Good Luck!~

I have a photo-

ruffian · 11-19-2008, 04:46 PM

I agree with the electric part.
My vet has told me that he sees much more severe injuries with smooth wire fence than barbed. If they get tangled or get a foot over they will continue to fight and will get crush injuries, much more devastating than cuts because the underlying tissue is destroyed, circulation lost and you cannot save the tissue (or the horse)
Murphy's law, if there is a way to hurt themselves, horses will find it!

paintedpastures · 11-19-2008, 08:26 PM

Ditto to what Ruffian & mlh619 said.I would recommend at least a strand electric. Never have used it but I have also seen worse injury from this kind of wire. Most important with this wire to ensure it stays tense not allowed to get loose or saggy. We have a polymere??? wire fence called Bayco horse fence{like thick white plastic fishing line,lol} in our small pasture it is very forgiving the horses bounce off it,it stretches never looses shape goes back to tight orginal. It looks nicer & think safer than the plain wire.I do find the horse have less respect for it leaning over it ,putting heads through strands to eat.I have had horse on more than one occasion catch themself up in it but never any injury or cuts resulted.even with it, if I regularily housed horses in that pasture I would reinforce it up with a hot wire.

Slim Pikkens · 11-20-2008, 08:16 PM

Horses are adept at finding the weak spots in fencing, especially in the late fall when the only grass left is on the other side of the fence. If one or two hot wires aren't added, it won't be long before you'll think a bulldozer went thro your fence. Your horses may be respectful as long as there's green grass on their side but once the growth stops, they'll go scrounging.

readytogo · 11-20-2008, 09:05 PM

check out www.rammfence.com for a few pennies more you can get pvc coated wire, it's much safer for your horse, and you can electrify if you want.
I wish I had it. I have high tensile, and I keep it hot all the time and hope for the best. Someday, I'll take it down and get the coated wire.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
barbless wire	pippy	Boarding / Farm Upkeep & Real Estate	17	07-25-2008 03:08 PM
How to "unweave" a horse from your smooth wire fence.	dixie	Horse Stories	7	02-15-2008 08:37 PM
Horse vs fence: fence 0, horse too numerous to count, update	dixie	General Horse Advice	13	03-16-2006 04:07 PM

11-19-2008, 02:35 PM
HorseLover121203 Yearling Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 875	Barbless wire fence for horses? I am looking at replacing the fence for my horses. The actual size of the pasture is one large 12 acre pasture-- about half of trees and the other half open pasture. I am only wanting to replace the whole front section where the horses are most of the day (near the water, where they are fed, hay bail is, gate is, etc...) I am looking at a barbless wire fence for this. Does anyone recommend this type of fence? Pros and cons? Also, can someone send me to a website on how to put up a barbless wire fence? Thanks! __________________ A horse gallops with his lungs, Perseveres with his heart, And wins with his character.

11-19-2008, 02:43 PM
95Harley Started Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Corner of IA, SD, NE Posts: 2,095	We strung up our barbless exactly the same as you would barbed 5 rows with crosses every so often for the stress. Let me say easier on the mane and tail no chunks hanging on the fence like with barbed but a fence is a fence and is as likely to do as much damage when hit hard enough. I always backed mine up with hotwire. As much to keep them from eating through it as to keep them from forgetting it is there. Definately add flags to it the 1st week or so it is harder to see.

11-19-2008, 02:47 PM
roberts617 Kid Safe Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Central Oklahoma Posts: 6,059	We had it and it works well. The key is getting it tight, loose wire is dangerous. We put our posts 10 feet apart with stays in between. __________________ "The only way to have a friend is to be one."

11-19-2008, 02:55 PM
95Harley Started Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Corner of IA, SD, NE Posts: 2,095	ok probably not the correct terminology but to me they look like an H with the wire going from top left to bottom right and vice-versa. You make the cross on the H with the same posts as you are stringing wire on. We got a lovely little howto book from TSC (free) when we purchased the fencing.

11-19-2008, 02:59 PM
HorseLover121203 Yearling Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 875	Maybe I should purchase one to help me out I will need all the help I can get. __________________ A horse gallops with his lungs, Perseveres with his heart, And wins with his character.

11-19-2008, 03:06 PM
95Harley Started Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Corner of IA, SD, NE Posts: 2,095	I don't think they charged us for it and it was invaluable-I'd never done my own fence before just fixed everyone else's . But it gives you spacing and all the little odds and ends and most importantly how to string it tight.Good luck(rent a gas powered posthole digger if digging more than 1 hole)

11-19-2008, 03:07 PM
seerfarm Bombproof Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Out with the Herd! Posts: 9,633	I think this is what you are looking for.....has all the info you will need. http://www.kencove.com/fence/2_Plann...e_resource.php __________________ "One must be a god to be able to tell successes from failures without making a mistake".

11-19-2008, 03:15 PM
HorseLover121203 Yearling Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 875	Perfect!!! Ripping down the old fence will be the fun part __________________ A horse gallops with his lungs, Perseveres with his heart, And wins with his character.

11-19-2008, 03:36 PM
mlh619 Yearling Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sask, Canada Posts: 819	I would say if you are going to use barbless wire that you should electrify at least the top and middle strands depending on how many strands you use. Because there will be no barbs, horses will not have much respect for the fence and it will get leaned over and pushed up against and become loose. Barbless wire also cuts as bad or worse than barbed wire. Instead getting scratched by the wire and moving away horse will push or kick through it and end up with the wire just peeling off slabs of tissue. I wouldn't not feel safe using the barbless wire unless at least one stand was electrified to deter the horses from touching it in the first place.

11-19-2008, 03:39 PM
HorseLover121203 Yearling Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 875	Both of my horses are very respectable when it comes to fencing, should they still have it electric? They do not push on it, lean on it, step on it, etc... I only have the 2 horses-- one being 20 and the other 13. The fence that is up now is like a chicken wire type fence for larger animals and they are good with that one. Just curious __________________ A horse gallops with his lungs, Perseveres with his heart, And wins with his character.

11-19-2008, 03:49 PM
mlh619 Yearling Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sask, Canada Posts: 819	Depends on the horses. I personally would still electrify it if it was me but that is up to you!! If you feel comfortable with out it then don't put it on! The square mesh type fencing I think you are talking about will stay up better even if they lean on it or push against it. You could always try it and if they seem like they are stretching it out really bad just put a fencer on it! I would also spend the extra on the fencer to get a solar one. It won't go out in a power outage and is virtually maintenance free! Last edited by mlh619 : 11-19-2008 at 03:53 PM.

11-19-2008, 03:51 PM
Gids_mama Long Yearling Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ramsey, Indiana Posts: 1,365	crosses are actually braces....holds up fence from stress and then braces are also extra added before and after where gates will be to support the weight of a gate opening and closing.. im going to HIGHLY RECOMMEND electrifying top and middle strands of a five strand wire fence for horses..they will test it atone point or another... we have it and we love it..not chunks missing, they cant crib..i have a bad cribber, and they cant stick there heads through to other side and rub off mane b/c its electrified, plus easy to tighten when it loosens in summer and if anything falls on it...

11-19-2008, 03:58 PM
jyates Coming two Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: SouthWest Arkansas Posts: 1,582	I just completed about 500' worth of 12-1/2 gauge barbless wire. I put the top of my T posts at 55" and my top strand at 50" and used 4 strands of wire. I let the wire follow the contour of the pasture I was crossing. Posts were spaced 10' and I used metal pipe with metal pipe braces on the corners and stretched it nice and taunt and it made a very nice fence. I like the barbless wire a lot better since one of my horses in particular likes to put his head through the wire and eat.....no mane loss! __________________

11-19-2008, 04:00 PM
joustinggirl Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Boones Mill, Virgina Posts: 3,799	I third the electric, in my career I have had 2 horses cut tendons on wire string fence that was put up and maintained appropriately. __________________ Pink Tiger says \'Grrrrrr\'

11-19-2008, 04:29 PM
pippy Started Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: minnesota Posts: 2,298	I used barbless wire this summer on our new pasture, it has 4 strands of barbless wire and two strands hot wire to discourage leaning across. As you can see- at the time I took this photo, the top string was a bit loose- it needed tightening- I recommend buying tensioners to make this easier incase you do need to tighten it up later. We sunk our posts first, I think they are 10 ft apart, then we strung the wire- we had the role of wire on a rod placed on the skidloader (w/forks) so we could pull it good and tight by backing the skidloader. I recommend you find yourself a partner for both safety and sanity! LOL Good Luck!~ I have a photo- __________________ "It's never to late to live happily ever after." Last edited by pippy : 11-19-2008 at 04:37 PM.

11-19-2008, 04:46 PM
ruffian Long Yearling Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Alberta Posts: 1,156	I agree with the electric part. My vet has told me that he sees much more severe injuries with smooth wire fence than barbed. If they get tangled or get a foot over they will continue to fight and will get crush injuries, much more devastating than cuts because the underlying tissue is destroyed, circulation lost and you cannot save the tissue (or the horse) Murphy's law, if there is a way to hurt themselves, horses will find it! __________________ There is something about the outside of a Horse that\'s good for the inside of a man (Will Rogers)

11-19-2008, 08:26 PM
paintedpastures Yearling Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Sherwood park,AB Posts: 565	Ditto to what Ruffian & mlh619 said.I would recommend at least a strand electric. Never have used it but I have also seen worse injury from this kind of wire. Most important with this wire to ensure it stays tense not allowed to get loose or saggy. We have a polymere??? wire fence called Bayco horse fence{like thick white plastic fishing line,lol} in our small pasture it is very forgiving the horses bounce off it,it stretches never looses shape goes back to tight orginal. It looks nicer & think safer than the plain wire.I do find the horse have less respect for it leaning over it ,putting heads through strands to eat.I have had horse on more than one occasion catch themself up in it but never any injury or cuts resulted.even with it, if I regularily housed horses in that pasture I would reinforce it up with a hot wire.

11-20-2008, 08:16 PM
Slim Pikkens Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,047	Horses are adept at finding the weak spots in fencing, especially in the late fall when the only grass left is on the other side of the fence. If one or two hot wires aren't added, it won't be long before you'll think a bulldozer went thro your fence. Your horses may be respectful as long as there's green grass on their side but once the growth stops, they'll go scrounging.

11-20-2008, 09:05 PM
readytogo Yearling Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pa. Posts: 686	check out www.rammfence.com for a few pennies more you can get pvc coated wire, it's much safer for your horse, and you can electrify if you want. I wish I had it. I have high tensile, and I keep it hot all the time and hope for the best. Someday, I'll take it down and get the coated wire.