Question........we have some fields with barbed wire on top of the fence, (for cattle reasons), we dont have cattle now, and I dont like it there for the horses, so would a single strand of heavy guage wire work or should i put electric on top?
In my opinion, wire is only really safe if it is electric.... the safest fence is the fence they will not touch. You can make it a heavy gauge wire and electrify it, that would be best. I use only medium-heavy gauge wire on my fences... I like how tight you can pull it compared to the lighter stuff.
And... any barbed wire you can get rid of is a good thing... especially with babies around. They learn the hard way what it does.
I agree with hair. Take down that barbed wire as soon as you can, and put some electric wire up there instead. Much safer. And they'll respect it instantly. Though some are more pigheaded than others....