Horse Mesh Fencing – 4 biggest problems and their solutions. 

Horse mesh is a material used in fencing horses. This product is designed to keep your horses safe by using small aperture holes and tight spacing, which will prevent them from getting injured. 

As a result of the closely spaced woven design, horses cannot “step through” or walk down the fence. Horse Mesh fencing is especially useful if you have small pets and are worried about them getting into or out of pastures.  

Steel Mesh is one of the most popular fencing solutions for horses and has its share of advantages. However, there are also problems attached to it. If you ignore the issues, this fencing might end up being unsafe for horses, resulting in injuries to foals and is likely to bring down the visual appeal of your property.  

At Stock & Noble, we provide high-end fencing solutions to customers across Australia and New Zealand. Horse safety is our number one priority. We are committed to ensuring that the fencing we offer is successful globally and extremely safe. 

With our years of experience and expertise in selling and installing the finest horse mesh, we are well aware of the problems with this product and also have the solutions to counter them.  

If you are interested in Horse mesh fencing for your property, this article will help you prepare for four potential challenges and the best solutions. 

Problem #1: Horse mesh fencing isn’t highly visible to horses. 

Solution: Add a top rail to your horse mesh. 

Problem #2: Horses might get injured by Steel Mesh. 

Solution: Get high-quality horse mesh and have the smooth side face the foals. 

Problem #3: Horse mesh could be tough to tension. 

Solution: Hire a professional for installation. 

Problem #4: Horse mesh can become unsafe if not maintained well. 

Solution: Get a contractor to do regular checks. 

Problem #1: Horse mesh fencing isn’t highly visible to horses. 

Horses, especially foals are highly energetic and spirited animals. Any fencing for horses needs to be visible enough to command respect from them. So that they don’t try to run into it or break past the fence.

Horse mesh is comparatively less visible than post and rail fencing. When you only use horse mesh on your property and if the horses aren’t well-trained, they might just try to break or go through the fence. 

Solution: To increase the visibility, add a top rail 

You can add a top rail or even two to make the mesh more visible and also beautiful. The rail could be Timber, Steel or Horse Rail. This additional barrier is also likely to help prevent the mesh from sagging as the horse leans on the fencing line.  

Problem #2: Horses might get injured on Steel Mesh Fencing 

If the steel mesh is an ordinary farm fence, horses can poke their hooves through it and get hurt. This is especially true for foals. 

There is also a probability of sharp edges and loose wires tearing their skin or worse still entangling their legs. A bigger problem might arise if the fence isn’t galvanised or the wires get exposed. Any rust that develops on the mesh can seriously impact the horses’ health if they get a tear or lacerations.  

Solution: Get labelled equine mesh and install the smooth side-to-face horses 

The most crucial part of selecting a safe horse mesh is making sure it’s not a simple farm fence with overly large openings, but specifically designed and labelled for equine properties. In horse mesh, the vertical pattern prevents horses from stepping through.  

A few things to keep in mind for the safety of horses regarding Steel Mesh fences are: 

• It is safer for horses to have mesh fences that are woven, not welded, and galvanised, which is what most mesh fences are. Welded wire is cheaper but the weld can come loose, weakening the fence. Woven wire is more durable.

• Look for openings no larger than 5cm x 10cm and try to get wire that is woven, not welded.  

• It’s best to have the smooth side facing the horses to prevent them from tearing their hides on poky wires.  

• The safest option is Diamond Mesh because it consists of a continuous weave of wire in a v-shaped pattern, so there are no sharp edges. (Great for horses who like to charge the fence) but it’s less likely to break than other fencing options.  

• Also, No Climb Equine Mesh uses a very tight mesh weave which prevents hooves from getting stuck in the wire and has a unique smooth knot design that helps prevent injury to the animals. 

Problem#3: Horse Mesh could be tough to tension 

Wire fencing has a significant amount of ‘give’ which means it can accommodate forces like strong winds or even an animal running in it. This give, however, is only effective if your fence is fully tensioned. 

A well-tensioned mesh is important for the safety of your horses as well as the aesthetics of your property. 

Solution: Hire a professional for installation. 

Installation of any horse fencing requires expertise, time and effort. If you wish you can learn more about DIY Horse Fencing.

However, if you don’t have adequate time, it’s best to engage a Fencing Contractor for the installation. The good news is almost all installers are likely to be familiar with the installation of Horse Mesh.

Getting a professional to do the job will help ensure that the fencing is done right, stays tensioned for a long time and needs less maintenance over time.  

Another way to stop the mesh from sagging is to prevent horses from leaning on it. This could be achieved by electrifying the fence. Our fencing experts can offer guidance on how to add electrics to your Horse Mesh. 

Problem #4: Horse mesh can become unsafe if not maintained well. 

Maintenance of every horse fence is important to ensure the safety of your animals. Any broken nails, loose wires, brittle shards, rust or sharp edges are likely to lead to horse injuries and vet bills.  

As far as Steel Mesh is concerned, the material it is made of increases the likelihood of injury if it’s not a specially designed equine mesh or if the wires loosen up or break. 

Solution: Get a contractor to do regular checks. 

As the saying goes, good fences make safe horses. It’s best to keep an eye out for any sharp edges or development of rust on exposed wires.

You can also have a regular maintenance plan or get a contractor to come and check over your fencing. Also, it will help to stretch the fencing if it becomes too loose or starts to sag.   

Do you feel better prepared for Steel Horse Mesh Fencing and making your fencing project a success? 

 It was important to you to learn more about the problems that could happen when using Steel Horse Mesh fencing. By now, you have a better understanding of the four biggest problems that could arise with this fencing and how you can alleviate them.  

You now are knowledgeable about the concerns around visibility, safety and maintenance of Horse Mesh Fencing. And have learnt that buying a labelled equine mesh, hiring a professional for installation and regular maintenance can help take care of these issues to a large extent. 

If you are still concerned and want to know if Steel Horse Mesh Fencing is right for your property, then we advise you to dig deeper and learn all about the advantages and disadvantages of Steel Mesh Fencing. It will help you make a decision that’s best suited for you, your budget and your animals. 

If you have any more questions on the safety, cost, suitability or installation of Horse Mesh Fencing, book a free consultation. One of our fencing experts will be there to guide you and help you with all the answers you need to create a safe equine property.