"Horse Safe" guidelines for hosts.

Advice for Hosts.

The number one priority when accommodating horses is creating a safe and secure space.

Safe and effective fencing is key to achieving this. There are two main categories of fencing, permanent and temporary.

Permanent fencing is mainly constructed of wood. The traditional style involves “posts” and “rails” or poles that sit between the posts. Posts are generally 2-3meters apart with 2-3 or 4 rails between them. Effective “post and rail” fencing should be 3/4 the height of the horses shoulder. This is to prevent the horse from leaning over the fence to get to grass on the other side, which can damage the fence and cause it to eventually collapse.

Horse friendly wire netting is also great though less strong and so its often used with a rail to provide tension between the posts.

horse freindly wire netting with an electric top strand

horse friendly “stud” fencing. Netting with electric top “band”

permanent electric fencing, 5 strands iof wire and a top band.

“stock” fencing, suitable for sheep/cows etc but poses an entrapment risk to horses.

post, rail and wire fencing. strong but too low for this horse who will eventually damage it by leaning.

two “rail” wooden fence. the gap neds to be too small for a horse or pony to reach through the rails.

DANGEROUS! Needs replacing. Old barbed wire fencing. Wire is loose, low, rusty and sharp. A disaster waiting to happen!

3 rail chestnut wooden fencing (horse friendly)

This style of “horse-friendly netting” has holes too small for a horses hoof to pass through and get stuck.

“Sheep” netting is unsuitable as the holes are too large, and “chicken” wire, although the holes are small, is nowhere near strong enough.

Although not suitable on their own for horses they can still be excellent fencing with the addition of an electric top strand. This will prevent horse from leaning on old, fragile, unsuitable fences and can prolong effectiveness of the fence.

Temporary fencing is usually electric tape, or rope attached to wooden or plastic insulated posts, and then energized with an electric unit that converts current (mains/solar/24v) into a pulse that runs through the tape and discharges a shock when touched. The current travels from the insulated circuit, through the person/horse or anything else that conducts electricity to the ground.

About Mare-B&B Limited

Mare-B&B Limited is a United Kingdom limited registered company (registered number 13508494).

"Horse Safe" guidelines for hosts.

The number one priority when accommodating horses is creating a safe and secure space.

About Mare-B&B Limited

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