Our pastures are fenced in Barbed. Three sides
are 5 strand Barbed, another side in very old square wire, with 2 strands
barbed along the top. If the fence is kept tight and in shape, no loose wires,
and fix broken wires, most horses will have no problems in it. Ours reach across
the wire and scratch the neighbors mares on the withers, but never get caught up
in the fence. Now, I will add, we have all geldings, and they have no reason to
want to get to the other side, and do not lean on the fence etc. The neighbors
mares back up to it, push on it, and are more destructive to the fence.
Also, if the pasture is plenty big enough to not get over grazed,the horses
won't feel the need to get to the other side for food. I've never worried about
the "spooking" and running through it, as out field is plenty big (25 acres in
this field) as the horses know the parameters, and are constantly running around
and know where to turn and stay out of the fence. Horse more often get
tangled when fence becomes in poor repair, or the horse is just an idiot who has
no respect for any fencing.
Just my opinion. And there is nothing wrong with
adding another type of fence to keep them off the barbed wire if one feels
the need.
