Type of electric fence for horses

[chado613]

I run a small horse boarding facility that will accommodate around 20 horses.

Since I have owned it I have pretty much installed polywire fence to the split rail fence for my electric fencing option. The stuff is garbage IMO, the strands break and horses demolish the stuff. One advantage is that it is easy to work with. Especially for my wife.

What are your recommendations for fencing material....looking for long lasting and less maintenance.

 

[sseelhoff]

I run a small horse boarding facility that will accommodate around 20 horses.

Since I have owned it I have pretty much installed polywire fence to the split rail fence for my electric fencing option. The stuff is garbage IMO, the strands break and horses demolish the stuff. One advantage is that it is easy to work with. Especially for my wife.

What are your recommendations for fencing material....looking for long lasting and less maintenance.

Kencote Hotcote

http://www.kencove.com/fence/Hotcote+(Electric)_detail_WSWH.php

We have it in all of our paddocks.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

We have 5 strands of high tensile wire with a 100 mile fencer, horses won't mess with it unless the fence is turned off. We do have a couple crazy show horses who like to charge the fence and won't stop unless there is a visual marker that there is a fence there. Usually a flag of some type secured in place with crimps works fine for us.

 

[bunyip]

We run 5 strand wire with two white sight wires at the top and a stand off arm that carries plain wire that is connected to the 'charger'.
We also have short plastic spikes on timber rails to discourage the crib biters.

 

[QRTRHRS]

With 20 horses, poly wire or the 1 1/2 wide tape would likely be better for individual paddocks within the main fencing. I too like Hotcote or similar. Safer than standard high tensile, visible but still carries a charge. Requires some serious posts and H bracing.

No matter what, the fence must be meticulously maintained and must have a charger with enough "umph". If there are extended dry spells or a large area, I like to make my fourth wire up ground with plenty of ground rods, not just at the charger. The theory is that a horse is likely to touch the fourth and fifth and get a good shock plus the lower strands will still work as expected.

I like to have five strands, the upper about 60-65 inches high for mares and geldings then six strands for stallions, the last being six feet high but still with the fourth wire grounded.

A lot depends on the horses, some need to be "educated" by setting up a really hot paddock and maybe walking them up to let them touch it. When I sold a place to someone, I saw that they were not maintaining the fence no matter what I told them. The charger shut down to protect itself from the many shorts then the horses proceeded to destroy the fencing. They tried to tell me that some horses do not respect any electric fence. Hmmm, I have a dog that burned her groin similar to a lightning strike on that fence and I myself have seen stars from touching it. Yeah well!

In my opinion, the tape and hardware has been "cheapened down" from when I first bought it years ago. I have only used poly wire about ten years but have seen acceptable service with it. Just buy the better clips. I am just now setting up a new place with all poly wire except for some paddock areas where I am using tape only because I had plenty on hand. My horses respect fencing no matter the type. With the poly wire, I was able to get away with a minimal amount of wooden posts, the rest are T's spaced at 16 feet. I never go over that.

 

[Spindifferent]

Very happy with products from Premier1:

Electric Fence and Netting for Horses - Premier1Supplies

 

[TheMan419]

We use ElectroBraid(R) Offers 25 Year Product Performance Warranty and I am VERY happy with it.

Easy to use. It can be installed with almost zero equipment. You can use wood posts, T-Posts whatever you want with it. 25 year warranty so you know it should last.

Safe for the horses. High tensile can cause injury to the horses. Of course so can t-posts so pick your side effect as it were.

For me it is the ease of installation and maintenance that made me choose this product.

Of course the fence charger choice will depend on if you run 3 wires or 4 and how many acres you are enclosing. More juice is better in my mind.

Easy enough for anyone to use a multi-meter to check fence continuity periodically to make sure all is well.