Which Horserail is best for me? Comparing different Plastic Horse Fences in Australia and New Zealand.  

The flexible rail fencing system commonly called Horserail is highly durable and safe. This product is designed specifically for the containment of horses and other large animals.

The biggest problem in finding or choosing the right plastic horse fence is there are so many versions of Horserail available today. For example, original Horserail, Legacy Rail, Stallion Rail, Equi Rail, and Bounce Back. All of these products claim to be the best and the safest. The truth is they might have similar features, but they are not all equal in quality, looks, strength, rail width, cost and warranty.  

At Stock & Noble, we provide our clients across Australia and New Zealand with the finest fencing solutions. We have carefully picked globally acclaimed Flexible Plastic Horse Fences, like, the original Horesrail and Legacy Rail in our portfolio. While we might be biased and believe that our products are the best, we know they come at a premium. There are other good Plastic Horse Fences as well, which might be a better fit for your property. 

In this article, we will discuss: 

1.  8 questions to evaluate a Plastic Horse Fence (non-electric) 
2. Different types of Plastic Horse Fences (non-electric) available in Australia and New Zealand 
3. An honest comparison of different types of Horserail or Plastic Horse Fences  

At the end of your read, you will be able to make a much-informed decision about whether the Horserail you’re choosing fits your vision. To avoid the wastage of your time, money, and energy that would go into installing and replacing the wrong flexible horse fencing, keep reading. We are sure this article will help you achieve the look and safety you always wanted to build a gorgeous horse property. 

8 questions to evaluate a Horesrail or Plastic Horse Fence (non-electric) 

It is critical to understand your animals’ behaviour when choosing flexible plastic rails for their fences. What do they do with the fence? Do they jump on it, crib against it, rub against it? Identify the fence that provides them with the greatest chance of staying secure and with the smallest chance of escaping. 

Once this is done, you must analyse different flexible plastic rails through the 8 filters listed below. They will help ensure you get the fencing that’s best for your horses and your property. 

1. Is your horse fencing made from MDPE or Medium Density Polyethylene? 

You must be aware that not all plastics are created equal. The rail of most plastic horse fencing products are made from polymer. In general, plastic is known as a polymer. There is usually no specific polymer specification, but it is usually HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) or PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride).  

The best material for a Plastic Horse Fence is MDPE or Medium Density Polyethylene. It has great impact resistance along with excellent flexibility. It’s also resistant to heat and cracking.   

If your Horserail is made of Low-Density Polyethylene(LDPE) it will be super pliable and will sag easily. While if it’s made of High-Density Polyethylene(HDPE), it will be super stiff and will crack easily.   

2. How strong is your Horserail? 

The flexible fencing should be strong enough to contain large animals like horses. They should be able to take their weight and not break under impact from a galloping horse. To give you a context, Legacy and Horserail have a 1900kg break strength while Equirail has 800kg.

The higher the break strength is, the better a fence would be able to contain the animals. The break strength value isn’t available for other products, we recommend it’s best to check with your chosen supplier and compare before you buy. 

3. What kind of look your flexible horse fencing has? 

The premium Plastic Horse Fences usually have a post and rail appearance. They help in creating a great visual barrier for the horses. Even if you don’t choose a post and rail look for your whole fencing, it’s a good idea to have a wide rail on top at the minimum. This will help build a visual boundary than just using ropes or wires.  Check for a minimum rail width of 105 millimetres to ensure better aesthetics and higher visibility.  

4. Is your horse fencing easy to install? 

High-end flexible plastic horse fencing usually comes with detailed instructions on how to install it. The rails are light in weight, easier to manage and you can install them yourself. However, the posts might need some help from the fencing contractor. Before you decide to install, dig into detailed information about DIY Horse fencing options that will prepare you better for the installation and help eliminate mistakes.  

5. Can your Horserail or plastic rail be attached to any post? 

When you’re putting up flexible plastic horse fences, Timber, Steel and Plastic posts are the typical options for posts available in the market. Your choice of rails should be versatile enough to go with any of these post options. It will give you the freedom to pick whichever post you want and build the property to match your vision. 

6. Is your Horserail easy to maintain? 

Good quality Flexible Plastic Rails require extremely low maintenance. They do not sag, warp, splinter, rot, break or fade. There is no need for fixing or painting. We highly recommend you check that your Plastic Horse Fence is UV Stabilised and has anti-fungal and anti-mould properties.  

7. Is your Flexible Plastic Rail Eco-friendly? 

Protecting the environment is becoming extremely important. So, make sure that the horse fencing you choose is made of recyclable materials and can be easily recycled too.  

8. What’s the warranty of your Horserail or Flexible Rails? 

Plastic Horse Fences are known to have a long life. There’s a wide range that’s offered by different manufacturers. For example, Stallion Rail has a manufacturer’s warranty of 30 years, while Legacy has 65 years or as they say limited lifetime warranty. The warranty on Legacy Rail is also transferable one time.  

However, saying that, the manufacturer’s warranty should be at least 10 years, while the expected life should be more than 30 years.  

What are the different types of non-electric Plastic Horse fences or Horserail available in Australia and New Zealand? 

Stallion Rail 

This Flexible Plastic Horse Fencing is from Duncan Equine, an Australian fencing company. The rails are manufactured in China. Stallion Rail utilises premium-grade UV stabilised Medium Density Polyethylene, bonded to the high tensile wire using the most current molecular bonding technology. 

Equirail 

Think fencing has created Equirail as a semi-permanent horse fencing system. It’s made in Australia with advanced polymers, is UV stabilised, cost-effective and can be customised as per your need.  

Legacy Rail 

This Flexible Plastic Horse Fence is designed and manufactured in America. Stock & Noble is the exclusive supplier of Legacy Rail in Australia and New Zealand. These rails are a blend of impact modifiers, UV stabilisers and anti-fungicides. The plastic and high tensile wire used are molecularly bonded, so this horse fence is designed to stay straight as a board, no matter the weather.  It’s always high in demand so it’s a good idea to check the availability with our fencing advisor. 

Horserail 

This is one of the world’s most popular Flexible Plastic Horse Fences. The name Horserail has become generic to the entire category and if you are looking for the original Horserail, be careful where you buy it from.

This horse fencing is manufactured in America and uses a large plastic supplier that blends in a UV stabilisation package in the premium grade Medium Density Polyethylene (MDPE). These fully UV-stable flexible rail and fittings are known to last with 30+ years of success across Australia’s toughest climates. 

Bounce Back  

This Plastic Horse Fencing comes from an Australian fencing company and is manufactured in Australia. The rails of Bounce Back Fencing are made from polyethylene blended polymer with an additive to protect against UV rays and excessive heat. 

Comparison of different Horserail or Plastic Horse Fences or available in Australia and New Zealand 

 Now when you buy Plastic Horse Fencing for your property you know the 8 factors it should be judged on.  

Let’s see how the 5 different types of non-electric Flexible Plastic Horse Fences stand against each other on the scale of longevity, quality, ease of installation and looks. Here’s a detailed comparison chart between Stallion Rail, original Horserail, Legacy Rail, Equirail and Bounce Back choose the one that’s perfect for you, your animals and your dream property. 

Cost is inclusive of GST 

*Cost of Horserail, Stallion rail and Bounce Back is based on the electric version(top and bottom wire electrified) to give a comprehensive overview.

For Equirail and Legacy Rail the comparison includes only non-electric versions of Plastic horse fences.

Comparison based on Installation 

All the Plastic Horse Fences are easy to install, and you can easily do it yourself with the right equipment, right instructions and time at your disposal. However, we recommend the posts be installed by your fencing contractor. The engineering behind Legacy Rail’s revolutionary hardware provides the easiest flexible horse fence installation on the market today, allowing for a one-person installation. 

Comparison based on looks  

The wider they are, the closer they are to traditional post and rail appearance. So the wider, the better. Also, a stronger visual barrier is created if the rails are wide enough for the horses to see and stay safer inside. With 135 mm wide rail, Legacy Rail is the widest in its category. However, Stallion Rail also has an option of a 135 mm rail, created specially on order.  Equirail is the thinnest at 45mm. 

Comparison based on horse safety 

All Flexible Plastic Horse Fences can bend and are considered safe for horses. They take the impact of a spirited horse and come back in shape with ease. Legacy seems to have an edge here, if your horse comes into contact with the Legacy fence it can flex up to 150mm – 200mm on impact.

Comparison based on the cost 

Any kind of Plastic Horse Fence is a great investment, with a high return on horse safety, great aesthetics and less stress over the years. Legacy Rail is the most expensive fencing solution in its category. But it also comes with the widest rails and a warranty of 65 years. The cheapest option is EquiRail which is also the thinnest fencing in this category with no wires and is made of HDPE.  

Comparison based on maintenance 

The good news is that all Plastic Horse Fences are easy to maintain. They are all UV Stabilised, so perfect for the conditions in Australia and New Zealand. Legacy also has anti-fungal and anti-mould properties in the rail which gives it an added layer of protection.  

Comparison based on longevity 

Flexible plastic Rails are known for their long life. Stallion Rail has a 30 years manufacturer’s warranty, and so does Horserail. The maximum warranty is offered by Equirail which is for life, and Legacy Rail, which is 65 years(or limited lifetime).  

Which Horserail is best for me? 

A plastic horse fence is a really good fencing solution for equine properties. No matter which plastic fence you pick, they all are strong, safe and long-lasting. If you are building a high-end forever property, Legacy Rail would last the longest and elevate the looks of your property with its wide premium quality rails. Made from MDPE with anti-fungal and anti-mould properties added to the rails, Legacy is also the easiest to maintain. 

Both Stallion Rail and original Horserail® are great choices depending on the kind of look and safety you need on your horse property. They are made from MDPE and are high-quality Plastic Horse Fences with more than 30 years of life. They also have an option of electrification which Legacy does not. Another point to note is that Horserail is a globally successful and proven product for 30 years, while Stallion Rail has been around for 3 years.  However, you must check the availability of the original Horserail. Be cautious of where you’re buying it from, not every rail is Horserail.

Bounce Back is also a good solution if you are looking to invest in your property temporarily. It is made from blended polymer and has only two wires against 3 in each fencing option.  Two wires mean the rail is more inclined to wobble or sag between posts which can bring down the aesthetics and premium look of your property.

Before you say yes to one Plastic Horse Fence, it’s important to know how to plan and install Horserail on your property. It will help you prepare better, purchase more wisely and achieve your desired results of creating a beautiful equine property. 

If you have more questions on the cost, availability, installation and delivery of Horserail, feel free to speak to one of our fencing advisors We will guide and help you to build a beautiful equine property just the way you wanted, with zero obligation of purchase.