Start with the animals
Before material, think about what has to stay inside the fence.
- Cattle: barbed wire is the traditional fence for pastures, and it does the job. Pipe fence works well around pens and along the road.
- Horses: horses run into fences and get tangled, so most horse owners avoid barbed wire. Pipe fence, wood rail and no-climb wire are the usual picks.
- Goats and sheep: goats test every fence. They need tight woven wire or panels, without big openings for heads and horns to get through or stuck.
- Dogs: a no-climb wire or welded wire on a pipe or wood frame keeps most dogs home.
Pipe fence
Pipe fence is welded steel pipe: posts, top rail and usually one or more lower rails or wire. It's very strong, it doesn't rot and it lasts for decades with paint now and then. It's a common sight along roads around Corsicana and Ennis, and for good reason.
Pipe fence costs more per foot than wire, so many people put it where it matters most: road frontage, around the house, pens and alleys. You can add no-climb wire or panels to the lower part so smaller animals stay in.
Wood ranch rail
A three-rail or four-rail wood fence has the classic ranch look. It's a nice choice for horse pastures and frontage. It needs more upkeep than pipe, since wood rails can crack, and horses like to chew them. Adding hog panel or wire to a rail fence keeps dogs and smaller animals in while keeping the ranch look.
Wire fences
For long runs across pasture, wire is the practical answer.
- Barbed wire: usually four or five strands on T-posts with wood or pipe corners. Good for cattle, not for horses.
- Field fence (woven wire): a woven grid that's tighter at the bottom. Good for goats, sheep and mixed livestock.
- No-climb wire: a small woven mesh that hooves and paws can't get through. Popular for horses and dogs, often on a pipe or wood frame.
- Hog and cattle panels: rigid welded panels, handy for pens and short runs.
Corners and braces make or break it
On any wire fence, the corners and gate posts take the strain of the whole line. If they're weak, the wire goes slack and the fence fails no matter how good the wire is. We build solid H-braces at corners, ends and gates, and we set those posts deep in concrete. In our clay, that matters even more. See why posts lean in Blackland clay.
Gates for land
Plan gates where tractors, trailers and hay deliveries need to go, and make them wide enough. Pipe gates and steel-frame gates hold up well. A slide gate can be a good fit at a road entrance with no room to swing. Our swing vs. slide gate guide covers the trade-offs, and we can add an automatic opener, including solar where there's no power at the gate.
Putting it together
A lot of properties end up with a mix: pipe or ranch rail along the road and around the house, and wire across the back pastures. That keeps the look where people see it and the cost down where they don't. We'll walk the land with you and help you decide where each type makes sense. More about our fence work, including the areas we serve around Corsicana and Ennis.
Common questions
What is the best fence for horses?
Most horse owners use pipe fence, wood rail or no-climb wire. Barbed wire is generally avoided for horses because they can run into it and get cut or tangled.
What fence keeps goats in?
Tight woven wire (field fence) or welded panels, built without large openings and kept tight. Goats test every fence, so strong corners matter.
Why do wire fences go slack?
Usually because the corner or end braces moved. Corners and gate posts carry the strain of the whole line, so they need solid H-braces and deep posts.