An idiots guide to electric fencing. Can anyone help me?

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HaffiesRock

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Please can someone give me a basic rundown of how to make a good electric fence?

My pony is a serial escape artist, but unfortunately the fencing at the yard isn't great for my pony. The electric is weak and a lot of the times isn't even turned on and he gets out daily. I worry for his safety while on his jolly jaunts.

So I have decided to buy my own electric fence to build on the inside of what is already there. He is in a relatively small paddock and I would say around 40 posts would do it, and ideally i'd like 3 strings of electric rope rather then tape (I'm guessing rope is better than tape)

Can anyone point me in the direction of a handy guide of how to do it? List me everything I will need to buy and where from?

I want to do it properly and build a fence with the biggest zap factor but have never done it before.

Belvita breakfast biscuits and coffee for whoever can help.

Thanks
 
I've just bought the bargain bundle deal from UK Country Stores, you get 20 3ft posts and a 200m roll of tape for £30ish and you can add an extra roll of tape for £10. I was really pleased with the quality of it all, posts are strong enough to do the job and the tape is fine. I also bought a shrike energiser for £74 from my local feed store but you can get them cheaper online - unfortunately I needed mine quickly so couldn't wait for delivery :( It runs off two D cell batteries (the type you would put in a torch) and gives out a pretty good zap, it's doing a really good job of keeping my shetland yearlings in. So simple to set up as well as you don't have to faff about getting a proper battery.

Here's links to both:
http://www.ukcountrystore.co.uk/acatalog/Green-Plastic-Horse-Posts-200m-Tape.html

http://www.molevalleyfarmers.com/mvf/store/products/hotline-hlb100-shrike-battery-fencer-energiser.
 
I really wouldn't use rope for temporary electric fencing (where I say temporary, I mean moveable posts) - to be honest I wouldn't use rope at all - I have seen wounds to the bone caused by horses getting tangled in it in their attempts to escape! The breaking strain is very, very high - think your horse's leg - would you rather the fence broke or horse's leg?

My serial escape artist greedy cob, can escape from 2 strands of tape on the tall (4ft) posts - so I use 3 strands on the 4 ft posts, I cannot stress enough though - do not put the bottom strand too low as it's so easy then for them to roll near the fence and get a leg caught through the tapes.

Keep the tension tight and don;t space the posts too far apart
On corners, try to secure (with baler twine, to something solid, by tying on the outside of the fence away from the horse) -or, use a wooden post with insulators to keep the tension at corners.
Use the proper gate hooks for gates, nothing worse than frying yourself trying to close the gate!

MOST IMPORTANTLY OF ALL, get a decent reliable fencer energiser as your horse will soon learn when it's on! and when it's off - so if you use a battery one check the batteries frequently and replace/recharge.

also - keep fences off the floor when opening/closing the gate (so you don't drain the battery) and turn off your fencer when the horse isn't in the field so you save your battery.
If you fencing touches anyone else's remember you'll not only be energising their fence, but if they dumpt their gates on the floor they will be draining YOUR battery!

Sorry - this is getting a bit long (:() !!

IMO your best best though expensive (if you can't have a mains fencer) is a solar powered fencer - I switched to one last year and it's SO much easier! No more changing batteries every week or two, or lugging heavy car batteries around - I've got this one:

[http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/08-087-RU...aultDomain_3&hash=item3a6edf71fe#ht_661wt_721

You can buy cheaper but I can definitely vouch for this one!

I bought all my fencing, tape, posts, gates etc from these people, next day delivery and very very helpful!

http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/farmcareuk?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

or Paddock Perfection (also on EBay).

Happy fencing (lol)
 
jnb said:
I really wouldn't use rope for temporary electric fencing (where I say temporary, I mean moveable posts) - to be honest I wouldn't use rope at all - I have seen wounds to the bone caused by horses getting tangled in it in their attempts to escape! The breaking strain is very, very high - think your horse's leg - would you rather the fence broke or horse's leg?

My serial escape artist greedy cob, can escape from 2 strands of tape on the tall (4ft) posts - so I use 3 strands on the 4 ft posts, I cannot stress enough though - do not put the bottom strand too low as it's so easy then for them to roll near the fence and get a leg caught through the tapes.

Keep the tension tight and don;t space the posts too far apart
On corners, try to secure (with baler twine, to something solid, by tying on the outside of the fence away from the horse) -or, use a wooden post with insulators to keep the tension at corners.
Use the proper gate hooks for gates, nothing worse than frying yourself trying to close the gate!

MOST IMPORTANTLY OF ALL, get a decent reliable fencer energiser as your horse will soon learn when it's on! and when it's off - so if you use a battery one check the batteries frequently and replace/recharge.

also - keep fences off the floor when opening/closing the gate (so you don't drain the battery) and turn off your fencer when the horse isn't in the field so you save your battery.
If you fencing touches anyone else's remember you'll not only be energising their fence, but if they dumpt their gates on the floor they will be draining YOUR battery!

Sorry - this is getting a bit long (:() !!

IMO your best best though expensive (if you can't have a mains fencer) is a solar powered fencer - I switched to one last year and it's SO much easier! No more changing batteries every week or two, or lugging heavy car batteries around - I've got this one:

[http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/08-087-RU...aultDomain_3&hash=item3a6edf71fe#ht_661wt_721

You can buy cheaper but I can definitely vouch for this one!

I bought all my fencing, tape, posts, gates etc from these people, next day delivery and very very helpful!

http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/farmcareuk?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

or Paddock Perfection (also on EBay).

Happy fencing (lol)
Click to expand...

That is excellent, thank you very much.

I never realised that the gates touching the floor wasted battery, makes sense though! Is that why the fencing clicks when it touches the floor?

Sorry, I sound really stupid don't I! I have never really had to think about fencing before!

Is it cruel of me to be a little excited at the prospect of electrocuting my pony?! I will keep the little b*gger in (for his own safety of course...) :D
 
as said above rope can cause a nasty injury, as i found out the hard way, I still use rope but now wired to the mains and my lot don't go anywhere near it, I just don't think the battery was man enough to give a sizeable jolt. I also only use it now where I absolutely have to.
553932_10151014358977219_259959048_n.jpg
 
The link that someone has posted to the Rutland site will answer most of the questions you have.

If your pony jumps the fence then buy the taller 4' or 4'06" plastic posts, if he pushes through then you may as well buy the cheaper shorter 3'00" posts. It's true that electric rope carries a good charge & it is tidier & doesn't blow about in the wind but the breaking strain on it it very high & it is alot easier for horses to injure themselves on it than tape that has a much lower breaking strain. Tape 20mm wide is ideal & ensure that you have 6 conductors running through the tape, that should ensure you have a good charge the length of the run even if a strand breaks somewhere.

When you run the tape out around your paddock use proper jointing clips on the joins, don't tie a knot as this doesn't give a great connection . The joiners will add a small cost but they will ensure a good job & your pony will be safe. The more knots you have the less of the stainless steel conductors will connect with each other & power will decrease.

If you can use a leisure battery rather than a car battery your battery will last longer between charges & also have a longer user live as they are designed to drain right down & then be recharged, car batteries are not & get damaged by constantly doing this. My system has in excess of 5000v running around it & that has given me & my horses a really good belt on occasions & that's powered by a leisure battery.

The earth stake needs to be about 3' long & knocket well into the ground. In dry weather you cabn increase the earthing ability of the system to keep the ground damp around the stake (Just throw down a bucket of water occasionally.

Foliage/grass/bushes etc touching the electric tape will all affect the efficiency of tyhe system, it will drain the power. Keep the foliage etc cut down away from touching the tape.

Buy an energizer that will be able to easily cope with the distance you are electrifying. If you have only a 500mtre length of fencing remember that you are actually putting 2 or 3 strands around so suddenly the 500 mtrs becomes 1.5 kilometres.

As to where to buy your stuff from, there are 2 very good sellers on ebay namely Farmcare & Paddock Perfection. Both offer good service, don't necesarilly buy all from one, sometimes there can be a substancial price difference between items.

Good Luck
 
Last edited:
Toby_Zaphod said:
The link that someone has posted to the Rutland site will answer most of the questions you have.

If your pony jumps the fence then buy the taller 4' or 4'06" plastic posts, if he pushes through then you may as well buy the cheaper shorter 3'00" posts. It's true that electric rope carries a good charge & it is tidier & doesn't blow about in the wind but the breaking strain on it it very high & it is alot easier for horses to injure themselves on it than tape that has a much lower breaking strain. Tape 20mm wide is ideal & ensure that you have 6 conductors running through the tape, that should ensure you have a good charge the length of the run even if a strand breaks somewhere.

When you run the tape out around your paddock use proper jointing clips on the joins, don't tie a knot as this doesn't give a great connection . The joiners will add a small cost but they will ensure a good job & your pony will be safe. The more knots you have the less of the stainless steel conductors will connect with each other & power will decrease.

If you can use a leisure battery rather than a car battery your battery will last longer between charges & also have a longer user live as they are designed to drain right down & then be recharged, car batteries are not & get damaged by constantly doing this. My system has in excess of 5000v running around it & that has given me & my horses a really good belt on occasions & that's powered by a leisure battery.

The earth stake needs to be about 3' long & knocket well into the ground. In dry weather you cabn increase the earthing ability of the system to keep the ground damp around the stake (Just throw down a bucket of water occasionally.

Foliage/grass/bushes etc touching the electric tape will all affect the efficiency of tyhe system, it will drain the power. Keep the foliage etc cut down away from touching the tape.

Buy an energizer that will be able to easily cope with the distance you are electrifying. If you have only a 500mtre length of fencing remember that you are actually putting 2 or 3 strands around so suddenly the 500 mtrs becomes 1.5 kilometres.

As to where to buy your stuff from, there are 2 very good sellers on ebay namely Farmcare & Paddock Perfection. Both offer good service, don't necesarilly buy all from one, sometimes there can be a substancial price difference between items.

Good Luck
Click to expand...

Thank you for your excellent replies.
I have been looking at this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330904412983 and then get extra tape and poles and a battery. Is 40mm tape too thick?

There is no vegetation or anything that will touch it as pony is in the "fatty paddock" He tends to go through the fence. Steps over the bottom tape and under the next one. Partly because the posts are so far apart its impossible to get any tension, plus the electric is never on!

I'm hoping something like this with close together posts will do the trick. How do I build it? Do I do individual circuits of tape and then connect each together with connecters or is there a better way? I will definitely use proper tape connectors too. My current fence is also mostly tied together! The more you guys tell me the more I realise how useless the fence that is up is!

How do you make the gates when using only plastic posts? What is the best way to attach the tape to the gate handles and how/where do you hook them onto?

Thank you everyone. I have chocolate eclairs on offer now too x
 
Definately get an energiser that is up to the job. I bought a cheep one initially but then probably spent the same again replacing posts and tape as my pony kept going through the fence.
Now I have a Hot Line Buzzard and she hasn't touched the fence since (even in her winter rugs)
I use 4 foot posts because she jumps over the short ones.
Walk round the fence and see if you can hear any areas that are clicking (away from the energiser) this means your fence is probably shorting to another fence or a bit of wire etc.
I electrify the shortest fence possible: I have a non-electric fence to mark the boundry of my paddock then strip graze my girl in a smaller, movable, electrified paddock within this.
This means I'm not electrifying bits of fence I don't need to, my battery lasts longer and gives more of a zap.
Good luck - I know how frustrating it is to have an escape artist.
 
Have I got everything I need before I click order?

HC850 High Power Energiser
1 meter earth stake
Earth/live lead
Insulators
Posts
20mm tape
Gate handles
Gate Handle Insulators
Tape to Tape electric Connector
20mm Tape Connectors

I have a battery already. Anything I have missed?
 
Oh and muzzle the pony!;) - it'll add 30 minutes to how long he takes to get out as he has to remove that first!

If he's anything like my haffie he'll just pull up the fence posts with his teeth, short the tape and hop the now collapsed fence...unlike his field mates who weren't so clever and got tangled. 3 bloody times he did this before we caught him and his teeth at it - he used to check that nobody was watching.

What did cure it was fence and rail with 3 tapes to stop him bogging through the middle rails but it was very expensive about the cost of electrifying a 5 acre field 5 times. Can you tell I'm still bitter?:D

Good Luck.
 
I hope your field is well off the beaten track or you can house the expensive battery and energiser - we have had a series of thefts around here!
 
Your horse knows its off at your yard. I would use white wide tape(more zap) if they are going to barge through it they will take the lot with them.

But you need to make sure you keep it on(which you realise). I did buy a handle for mine but I find it easier to just put two poles next to each other and I turn mine off to get them out. But the whole lot is electrified. If you dont use 200m you will have to just cut it down to size(you can always join it up or wrap it over itself on a post).

zap zap zap if they are an escapeee. Good luck. Mine always knew from the clicking too. Have had horses where it can be off for ie a couple of weeks and they dont realise then others and its off 10mins and they are out.
 
cbmcts said:
Oh and muzzle the pony!;) - it'll add 30 minutes to how long he takes to get out as he has to remove that first!

If he's anything like my haffie he'll just pull up the fence posts with his teeth, short the tape and hop the now collapsed fence...unlike his field mates who weren't so clever and got tangled. 3 bloody times he did this before we caught him and his teeth at it - he used to check that nobody was watching.

Good Luck.
Click to expand...
:D don't you just love them :D mine used to pull them out with his teeth, or just jump the lot, I only use wooden posts and insulators these days - out witting a haffy is half the fun ;)
 
Thanks everyone. It's arrived today and I'll be putting it up on the inside of the existing fence so he has more to contend with!

Can anyone recommend me a battery?
 
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