When you’re buying (or planning) a farmette, fencing is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make — and it’s often one of the most misunderstood. I know when we bought our farm, we didn't quite know what we were getting into with immediate repairs that were needed and the cost associated with what needed to be done.
Most people start with one question:
“How many acres do I need?”
But the real question is:
“How do I want the land to function?”
Because fencing determines:
And yes — the type of fencing you choose should be based on what you’re keeping in (and sometimes… what you’re keeping out).
Let’s break down a few of the most common options 
1. Board Fencing (Wood)
Best for: Horses, aesthetic appeal, property value
Cost: Higher
Maintenance: Moderate to high
Classic. Beautiful. timeless. It adds charm and immediately makes a property feel like “a farm.” But it will need upkeep: repainting/staining, and boards will need replacing here and there (especially if you have a “cribber” or a horse with opinions 
).
This is the “heart wants what the heart wants” fence.
2. No-Climb Fencing
Best for: Horses, goats, sheep, dogs
Cost: Moderate to high (depending on footage & posts)
Maintenance: Low
This is one of our favorites for multi-animal setups.
Small grid, woven wire — safe for horses (no hooves through!), secure for goats, and great for keeping dogs in (and wildlife out).
Paired with a top board for visibility? Really kind of perfect — safe and beautiful.
3. High Tensile Electric
Best for: Cattle, rotational grazing setups, large acreage
Cost: Moderate
Maintenance: Low to moderate
Affordable, durable, and great for covering large open acreage.
Not always the best choice for horses unless it’s highly visible and done correctly.
This is your practical, budget-smart, large-pasture option.
4. Split Rail
Best for: Decorative fencing, defining property borders
Cost: Low to moderate
Maintenance: Low
Beautiful for aesthetic boundaries — but not enough to contain most animals on its own. You’ll often see it paired with welded wire for smaller animals.
This is your “pretty and polite” fencing, not your workhorse (pun intended).
5. ElectroBraid / Rope-Style Electric
Best for: Horses
Cost: Moderate
Maintenance: Low
Visible, flexible, and much safer than old-school single-strand wire.
Easy to maintain, but requires proper tension and charger setup.
Excellent for flexible pasture layout and rotational grazing.
So… How Do You Choose?
It really comes down to three things: what animals do you have, how much upkeep are you willing to do and what is your realistic budget?
There is no one perfect fence, only the fence that’s right for:
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Your lifestyle
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Your animals
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Your time
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Your wallet
And that’s where having someone who has actually lived this lifestyle matters.
We don’t just sell farmettes — we show horses, feed livestock, drag pastures, repair fence lines in the rain, and live this life right alongside you. As a matter of fact, Eli had to run out and do a fence repair right before our Client Appreciation Event, as the horses decided to play and knock down a board right before the event started! It sometimes feels never ending, but it is always worth it!
So when you’re ready to talk fencing, layout, pasture setup, or finding the property that fits your real life — we’re here.
