Horse fencing is a major investment, and one that you want to get right the first time. After all, the safety of your horses is at stake. Here’s a list of horse fencing options, listed in order from least expensive to most expensive based on the materials needed for installation. If you will not be installing the fence yourself, you’ll need to factor in the cost of labor expense as well for your total horse fencing cost.
$ ELECTROBRAID
- $1.54 installed price per foot
- Average life expectancy: 25+ years
Physical and psychological barrier: With a 25-year warranty, ElectroBraid is a long-lasting, economical fencing alternative that serves as both a safe physical barrier and an effective psychological deterrent. Why is ElectroBraid less expensive?
Fewer posts: ElectroBraid requires posts only every 20 to 40 feet depending on terrain, while traditional horse fencing requires fence posts every 8 to 10 feet.
Simpler to install: ElectroBraid can be self-installed with hand tools by almost anyone—like stringing a clothesline. Installing traditional fencing is a labor-intensive process that typically requires several people and multiple days.
$$ ELECTRIC WIRE FENCING
- High Tensile $1.93 installed price per foot
- Average life expectancy: 10 to 15 years
- Coated High Tensile $1.94 installed price per foot
- Average life expectancy: 15 to 20 years
Psychological deterrent only: High tensile electric wire fencing is the least expensive fencing alternative, but conventional high tensile wire (HTW) alone is not recommended for horses due to potential cutting and puncture wounds caused when broken through by an excited or “spooked” horse.
$$ ELECTRIC TAPE/RIBBON
- 1-1/2” Wide Equitape $2.02 installed price per foot
- Average life expectancy: 3 to 5 years
Psychological deterrent only: Electric tape fencing is in the middle range of cost alternatives. While visible to horses, alone it serves as a psychological deterrent only and will not contain a running horse. The small conducting wires take much of the strain and tension, which leads to breaking under windy conditions. Sunlight and temperature changes can also lead to wire breakage which leads to the need for replacement.
$$ NO-CLIMB FENCE:
- $3 to $5 installed price per foot
- Average life expectancy: 10 to 15 years
Physical barrier only: No Climb Horse fence is a medium-expense physical barrier fence alternative. Keep in mind it will require routine tightening. Also, it is not highly visible to horses and collisions can cause cutting injuries.
$$$ WOOD HORSE FENCING:
- $5 to $10 installed price per foot
- Average life expectancy: 10 to 15 years
Physical barrier only: Wood 3- or 4-rail horse fencing is a traditional horse fencing choice that is attractive and sturdy. Boards can splinter and injure horses that lean or run through the fence. Also, some horses insist on chewing or “cribbing” the boards and causing damage.
*NOTE: The additional future costs of wood fencing
Wood fences require more maintenance than other fencing options, which increases the overall, long-term cost. In addition to the cost and labor of painting or staining, wood shrinks, warps, and cracks and will require additional repair and upkeep.
$$$$ VINYL AND PVC HORSE FENCING
- $7 to $12 installed price per foot
- Average life expectancy: 10 to 15 years
Physical barrier only: PVC fencing provides the traditional look of wood horse fencing and has the added benefit of little to no maintenance. It is a sturdy fencing alternative that provides a physical boundary only. Horses may lean on the fence and damage it, and can be injured during any attempt to get through or over it.
$$$$$ PIPE FENCING
- $10 to $15 installed price per foot
- Average life expectancy: 20 to 30 years