Tips For Pets

Those people who keep horses

and need a way of enclosing them on pastures have several options to choose from when it comes to fencing. There is wood, wire and PVC fencing to choose from, each with different advantages. Before going into detail about the benefits of different fencing materials it is important to underline two of the biggest safety issues associated with horse fencing. First of all it is absolutely vital to walk the length of the fencing regularly to inspect it for damage, breakages or weak points. Second, the height of the fence should be such that it deters horses from trying to jump the fence. Roughly speaking, the highest part of the fence should be a similar height to the horse’s nose.

Of the three popular fencing options, wire, wood and PVC fencing, wire costs the least. However it is not generally durable enough. It also increases the risk of injury to horses grazing themselves on it because it is difficult to see. After that, wood is the next cheapest which certainly looks good and creates a very traditional look. However, this type of fencing requires a good amount of maintenance. It requires regular painting and is likely to blister, peel and rot. Furthermore, wooden fences usually require nails for assembly, which can pose a risk to horses. Horse hide is not as strong as other animals and a horse injured on a nail is likely to become distressed, leading to further danger.

  PVC fencing does not pose such problems. It is stronger and longer lasting than wood and does not split or splinter when the weather is wet. Ongoing investment of time and money in investment and repair is not necessary with PVC fencing. With PVC fencing for horses the risk of injury is significantly reduced because simple installation means that there are no nails jutting out from the fence. Although PVC fencing is the most expensive type on the market, the initial investment is offset by the longer term savings such as long life, lack of maintenance and time saved on repair and installation.