USNative,
In looking at the ground around your new barn I was wondering how you got the posts in with that rock. That driver looks to be a very good answer. In comparison, building fences in our area is so much easier than at your location, there is virtually no comparison. Not only are you dealing with the rock, but it looks very cold so the ground is probably frozen hard as well, at least the surface.
The new barn looks great from a distance and your new fence job is impressive considering the conditions you are dealing with. Nice straight fence. Your idea of using wire that is not barbed sounds very wise around horses. Cattle can deal with barbed wire pretty well, but I have seen some nasty injuries on horses from barbed wire. That choice of wire should be good for the horses and will keep the vet. bills down.
My oldest Son's family are horse people and I notice they utilize plank fencing in confinement areas and tall woven wire in combination with electric tape on the large pasture areas. They removed all of the barbed wire fence on their place prior to bringing in the horses. Their girls show horses in a wide variety of competitions and injuries of any kind don't fit with their program.
You mentioned that you were changing priorities by setting the new barn aside for now while you catch up on the fences. Experience has shown me that you are doing exactly what the rest of the farmers and ranchers do. I don't know if you ever get completely ahead of the game, but it feels awfully good as long as you are not getting any further behind.
Having the horses inside must be exciting now that you are beginning to use your new facility and getting to watch the fencing go in is all part of seeing your operation develop into a working ranch you and the TBN members will be proud of.
I hope we don't have to wait until spring when work begins again on the new barn to hear from you. It might be slightly off subject, but seeing some of your other activities in the mean time is definitely all right by me. Hope I don't get into trouble with the moderators with that last remark.
Nick, North West Farmer