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  Discussion on Safe fence for sheep and horses
Author Message
New Member:
lisabel

Posted on Thursday, Jun 4, 2009 - 9:24 am:

Help! I need suggestions for safe fence for sheep and horses. We don't have no-climb fencing here in Denmark (or at least I can't find any), and I won't sleep well at night with my horses behind traditional sheep netwire.


-Lisa
Member:
hollyw

Posted on Thursday, Jun 4, 2009 - 10:39 am:

Hi, Lisa,
When I had sheep and horses together, I used woven sheep fence on the bottom and anchored it into the ground with wooden stakes . . . and put insulators and electric wire on the inside of the top of the posts to keep the horses from leaning over the fence. With the electric wire on the inside, it keeps the horses from getting their bodies too close to the woven fence, too.

You can check out Horse Guard fencing, or any of the electrified web or rope fencing . . . or just use aluminum wire which I used for many years.
Member:
paardex

Posted on Thursday, Jun 4, 2009 - 12:38 pm:

I had the woven electric sheep fence in Holland and due to all the grass it was very hard to keep electricity on it.
The plastified green fencing with a few strands of electric wires inside does VERY well but is expensive. You could also consider[I did this especially with horses that chased the sheep like young stallions] about 1,5 meter inside the sheepfence an electric fence 1 or two trands high enough to let the sheep under and graze out of harms way but secure enough to keep your horses even when rolling away from the sheep fence.
Hope this helps
Jos
Member:
zilpha

Posted on Thursday, Jun 4, 2009 - 2:00 pm:

Lisa,

I have sheep and horses both! Think I can help. I use the small spaced horse fence with the 2"x4" opening. I put the fence up myself with a LITTLE help from my husband (my fiance at the time) in 96. Last year, I bought my first sheep and this spring I have 2 lambs. It works good for them and keeping out predators. I don't let my sheep out with my horses as my one horse thinks they are to chase. Don't want to take a chance and tried it. Others have no problems I hear.

Just don't use this fence next to an area that floods as it's not good for allowing the water and logs to flow past. I also live on a small creek. Can tell you all about that too. Next time, it's high and dry when I go to buy.

I used wood posts every 10 ft (8' would be better) and then ran the smooth side of the wire fencing (where the horses will be on the inside of the posts) for safety and strength. I raise reg. shetland sheep also and the small spacing works good for them and my horses. Anything larger as far as wire spacing with a hole larger than a hoof of a horse is inviting disaster as a horse could get his leg in and get a very serious injury. Horses are quite different from cattle in many ways and seem to have a predisposition in getting hurt at times.

It's about time to replace my fence now and I have to do about 300' in front of my barns. You can dress the top up with a wide board and makes a nice visual barrier. I think I will use the red-brand fencing at tractor supply( www.tractorsupply.com)} They have a website where you can get an idea for what works with sheep and horses. It's labeled with icons which is best. I might go with the v-mesh this time. Little more money but this type of fence has provided me protection for my animals without any injury to my horses since it was installed. I used the square 2x4 mesh by Northwestern from Farm and Fleet back in 96. It makes a great perimeter fence then you can use portable electric to rotate pastures. I use an electric
netting for my sheep inside the perimeter fence.

This is just a suggestion and I hope this helps.
After I priced out pvc and a custom wood 4 rail, I think I will being doing it myself again but maybe with some hired labor hands. This 40 year old woman is feeling older some days.

Lots of good info on fences on this site. Some people have different opinions. Just use the search engine here.

Take care,

Sheryl
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