Stock & Noble
Which is the best electric fence for horses on my property? – Comparing different electric horse fences.
- BY Tripti Kakkar
The biggest reason for using an electric fence on a horse property is to help horses respect the boundary in a safe and secure way. Horses are large, spirited animals and if they keep gnawing, pushing and putting pressure on any kind of fence, it will finally get damaged and might end up hurting your friends. An electric fence helps your curious horses stay away from the fencing line, aids separation between the paddocks and keeps them protected inside a defined area.
Needless to say, an electric fence is a highly sought-after and useful fencing product for a horse property owner, however, the problem is there are many options in the market. Every manufacturer and supplier claims their electric fence to be the best and the safest. Some of the options are expensive and work well while others might be cost-effective, but they compromise your animals’ safety. If you choose the wrong electric fencing, you might ruin the aesthetics of your property, increase the cost and time spent on maintenance, and worst of all it could be unsafe for your horses.
So, how do you know who, what and which electric fencing to trust?
At Stock & Noble, we don’t manufacture any fencing products and hence have no need to promote a single option. We source the finest electric fencing solutions from across the globe and supply them to high-end horse properties in Australia and New Zealand. Equirope, HotCote and Horserail Hottop Plus are our featured electric fencing products. They are carefully chosen after much research, and we believe they are the best and safest horse fencing solutions available in their respective categories. However, we also know our products come at a premium and might not be the best option for every client. There are many other great options of electric fences available which might be perfect for your need and your property.
Our objective is to help you build a safe and beautiful equine property. In this article, we will share an honest comparison of different types of electric horse fencing solutions available today. They will be judged on the key factors like cost, width, warranty and quality that make any electric fencing great for a horse property. At the end of your read, you will gain enough information to choose the best electric fencing solution for you and your favourite beings.
Top 5 must-have features of a good electric fence for horses
The main purpose of an electric fence is to create a safe boundary for your horses. However, there are other factors which also play an important role in ensuring your electric fence is right for your horse property. Take a look at the features listed below and decide if your chosen electric fence passes these filters or not. It’s also good to have this checklist ready when you speak to your electric fence supplier.
Good visual impact is important
On your drive you might have noticed a broad white tape flowing across horse properties, sometimes tangled up and looking ugly. We are sure you don’t want this look on your property. So, make sure your fencing is no smaller than 6mm in diameter and can be tensioned. A good electric fence should ideally lift up the overall look of your property and not ruin it.
Soft to touch
Typically, the skin of horses is beautiful and soft. As they tend to run into fences, you should make sure the electric fence isn’t too coarse that gets tangled, cuts their skin or leaves marks on their feet or body. An ideal electric fence should be nice and soft to touch. Before making your final purchase, simply run your hand over the different options and check if it feels soft and gentle or coarse and rough.
Stretchable and good to tension
Who doesn’t want beautiful and safe equine property? If you’re using electric braid or electrified flexible plastic rails, they should both be designed to stretch easily. This helps in building well-tensioned fencing lines which do not get tangled and messy but look great and bend safely on a horse’s impact.
High conductivity = high quality
What makes a fence electric is of course electricity. A good electric fence has high conductivity. The better the quality of your electric fence is, the better the conductivity will be. If you’ve got a cheaper product that doesn’t have good conductivity, you need to invest in bigger energisers to push more electricity down the line. Different electric fencing solutions use different conductors. For example, some use stainless steel, while others use galvanised steel which all have different resistance levels. In our experience copper is the best conductor as it has the least resistance, giving the fence a better Zap!
Long-lasting with a good warranty
While installing most electric fences is easy, if the quality isn’t good you need to invest cost, time and effort in maintaining and replacing them. To avoid this stress, pick a fence with at least 5 years of warranty and an even longer life expectancy.
Comparing different electric fences for horses available in Australia and New Zealand.
There are broadly two different types of electric fencing available in the market:
Electric braid
This is an electric rope that is added on top or along with your post and rail fencing. It is also used as a standalone electric wire fence. Some of the most popular electric braids are:
- Gallagher Turbo Braid
- Equirope
- Gallagher Conductive Equine fence wire
- Hotcote
- Shockcoat
- Gallagher 40mm Turbo Tape.
Integrated Electric fence
This fence has an electric system as a part of the fence. These are Flexible Plastic Rails, have post and rail look, with no separate wires to be attached. The fence itself is electric. Some examples are:
To help you choose the right electric fencing for your property, here’s a comparison chart of the most well-known solutions based on roll size, visual impact, quality, conductivity, touch, warranty and life expectancy.
*All prices are inclusive of GST.
Which electric fence for horses is right for my property?
It’s clear that Gallagher Turbo Braid and Gallagher Turbo Tape have a lower warranty and are a better fit for temporary fencing. If you want a hybrid of temporary and permanent electric fence, Equirope, Gallagher Conductive Equine Fence Wire, HotCote and Shockcoat are good options.
Both Horserail Hottop Plus and Stallion Rail Ultra/Extreme are perfect for your property if you are looking for an electric fence with post and rail aesthetics. The only difference is that Horserail has been in Australia and New Zealand for decades and is a proven product and is trusted by horse property owners across the country. Therefore, it’s a highly sought-after electric fencing solution and there are only a couple of suppliers who provide and stock the original Horserail.
All electric fences for horses do their job well, but ultimately the choice is yours, whether you want functionality or aesthetics, temporary wired fencing or post and rail look?
You are now better equipped to compare electric fencing options for horses and finalise the one that fits your vision and your budget. You have your checklist with the top 5 must-have features ready to refer to while speaking to a supplier.
You are also armed with the right information to check and confirm if the electric fence you are buying has all the features of a good fencing system you want on your property.
If you have more questions or need any information on the installation, cost or suitability of an electric fence, reach out to our fencing advisors. We will answer your questions and help you find the right solution to build a property you are proud of.
