Re-fencing, opinions of types of fence to use

We are slowly re-fencing our farm. It has alot of barbed wire and high tensile electric. I know lots of people who like the high tensile electric, but I hate it. Wade's big roan gelding has figured out how to get it out of commision. Then it's worse than having no fence.
What I am thinking of is diamond weave fence for the stud pens (small diamonds that feet can't get stuck in). It's made specifically for horses, and will keep my fence climber in.
I am actually considering electric tape in some areas, but what I'd really like, if I could afford it is the stuff that looks like board from a distance, but is actually some sort of PVC or something.
Some of our fence is post and rail, so I'm just gonna repair that for now, but I to replace all the rest. that's where I'm considering putting the electric tape, so it keeps the horses from rubbing on the fence.
Any suggestions people can give me? Our pastures are in the 10-20 acres each range.

I would personally not go with the PVC fencing. It is not the most durable product on the market, especially for the price. On top of the original puchase price, you are looking at high maintenance in the future. I'm familiar with the diamond fencing you're talking about too, it's good stuff. I personally like welding it to panels, that really toughens it up. I have absolutely no experience with electrical tape

I was thinking of the flexible PVC stuff that comes in rolls.

Over here we like electric rope not tape as the electric strands are on the outside which gives them more of a shock than the tape which has the wire strands entwined within the tape.Other than that i would say post and rail.
In my experience i dont think there is such a good thing as safe fencing they all have there bad points and ive seen damage done by some of the so called safe fencing.

Ain't that the truth. It seems that with horses, no matter how much you do to try and keep them safe and sound, bad things can happen anyhow. And fencing seems to be the number one biggest problem facing us all. It is expensive to put in, maintain and replace. It's like dishes and laundry, it never ends.
Wade keeps thinking barbed wire, like 5 or 6 strands, with electric to keep them off the fence, but I don't like that option.
My biggest problem around here are Wade's big part draft gelding who wrecks fences, often by putting his feet on them and pulling rails right off. He has this down to a science. My other problem is a fence crawler. He can squeeze between two stands of fence in a split second. Which is one major reason I like the idea of the diamond mesh. I'm a little worried that the gelding will bend it, any thoughts on that?

the barn i board at has the diamond fencing with posts.
to keep the horses from pushing on it we have a hot wire run along the top of the fence.
it works well, is low matience and isnt to expensive to put up.

The more I look into it, the more I like the idea of the diamond mesh, with the electric top wire. And even better, it'll help keep the coyotes out of my pastures.

I agree, when and if we ever get to redo a lot of our fencing, it'll be the horse wire, or mesh, as you guys call it. Now, heads up on this, because I"ve had it before at another place, it's the perfect rubbing butt for the horses....but only for the areas around the barn, and house. As far as my outlying fences, I'll leave them slick and barbed wire, just because at some point, we're going to be getting some cows... no way I could afford fencing this much acreage with diamond mesh... whew!

As far as the electrical tape, that's what I use for the studs, i.e., Kid and Scamp. I totally suggest if you do this, you need to get you a good charger to hook the tape or wire up to... if it says it'll go 10 miles of fence, only put it on 5 miles - that way, if they even come so much as even looking at it closely, it'll zap 'em... that always cracks me up anyway. And you can't hardly get any horse, once they know what it is, to walk over it, whether it's hot or not.

Now, Scamp has figured out on the corner T post with the yellow cap on it, that the electrical tape is hooked to, how to get his teeth on that thing and pull it off - he's bored apparently... he's got a rude awakening coming in about 2 months... HA! Little twit. He thinks it's so funny, mom has to come out there, unplug the charger, walk the fenceline with him helping and jumping around wanting to play... goofy sucker!

One thing you've got to remember is, this wire and pipe fence don't give. I've known of 2 young'uns that hit that thing running and broke their necks, not to mention how many I've heard hitting pipe fence and dying.

Personally, I've always liked the rough cut oak that you can get from saw mills. The board won't break, but it might pop off. Just a pain in the neck because of painting, etc.

The diamond fencing is really good and very expensive around here.. It does keep other critters out as well. We use field fencing with hot wire on the top and 2 feet up from the bottom. The top has the push on insultator that sit on top of the T post. The T post are every 12 feet and rail road ties for the corners.. None of our horses or cows push the fence.

The Norweigen hot wires are deadly and I would not use that for my cows. The wire will not break and will cut a leg right off if an animal gets caught up in it.. We do have areas with hot wire and use double rows.. The hot wire is the aluminum and works out great for us. I guess it comes down to what you can afford and what will keep your animals where they belong and not injure them.

We have the diamond fencing too and it works great ! But you have to have the top electric wire or the horses will be pushing it down. We don't have that right now but will be putting it up this spring. It keeps coyotes out and our goat in LOL! But on a 20-30 acre pasture it would be pretty expensive I would think. Just for stud pens and small pastures it would be good.

My family has basically built elephant pens for the horses... posts are from the phone company, and the rail (pipe from WY) takes 3 people to lift... we lag-screw the rails up with heavy duty braces that my Dad makes...


Can someone put up a photo of this Diamond stuff? I'd love to see it!

See how Kell's fence is - which I love by the way... a good way to keep horses off of that or from yeyawing with each other is to put a hot tape on one side above the first rail, between first and second, another hot tape, but make danged sure, you get the deals that the tape goes in, that stick out there than slap against the fence, or you're wasting your money - a lesson we learned!!!!!

I'll see if I can't find you some of that "horse wire" as we call it down here, Kell, and e-mail it to ya.