Electric fencing as a corral - help please.

HappyHollyDays

HappyHollyDays

3 yard cats and 2 ponies
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I am hoping to attend my very first TREC event next month but it's over two days which means staying overnight. I have never used electric fencing before and have no idea how much or what I need to make up a corral and would appreciate some advice from those who do.

I understand you put poles in the ground and run the tape through them but that's as far as my knowledge goes. What is an energiser? Do I need a car battery as well? How many meters of tape will I need to make a decent sized corral and how far apart are the stakes placed. Can I use the lorry as a fourth side and how do you make a gateway?

As you can tell I'm a complete novice at this so all explanations gratefully received.
 
Get the 5 ft posts...10 should do and some wide elec tape...you can get an energiser from farm store/ Agra supplier they often are used with 4 x large batteries D cell size.. I used to use that set up at Polocrosse weekends, the instructions in the energiser box are easy.. once you have your pen set up with 2/3 lines of tape, and your gateway ( buy a gate handle) then you plant your energiser stake in the ground and attach your energiser clip to the top fence tape.
Make sure no weeds or the like can touch your run of tape to it can earth it and won't then give a good ping.. does your horse respect elec fence?
 
http://www.hotline-fencing.co.uk/catalogue/default.html


this is the hotline electric fencing catalogue. You can look up energisers (the units that run it) tape, stakes and gate catches in it.
If you then go to your local farm store you will get the items (still hotline) a fair bit cheaper than in the catalogue.

Hotline is a very good make btw.

You can use the lorry as the 4th side and it may be better if you are going to be doing this again to get a car battery and keep it in the lorry and wire it in to the lorry so it charges from the lorry. Then you will always have power. If you run anything else in the lorry off battery power there may already be a battery in there.
 
If you've never used electric fencing before build a corrall at home before you go so both you and your horse are used to it before trying it away from home where your horse may be more excitable.
 
Gloi said:
If you've never used electric fencing before build a corrall at home before you go so both you and your horse are used to it before trying it away from home where your horse may be more excitable.
Click to expand...

Good tip, thank you. He is used to a show atmosphere but I'm not so I will practice at home before we go. He is used to electric fences and has respect for them.
 
ROMANY 1959 said:
Get the 5 ft posts...10 should do and some wide elec tape...you can get an energiser from farm store/ Agra supplier they often are used with 4 x large batteries D cell size.. I used to use that set up at Polocrosse weekends, the instructions in the energiser box are easy.. once you have your pen set up with 2/3 lines of tape, and your gateway ( buy a gate handle) then you plant your energiser stake in the ground and attach your energiser clip to the top fence tape.
Make sure no weeds or the like can touch your run of tape to it can earth it and won't then give a good ping.. does your horse respect elec fence?
Click to expand...

Agree with all the above (especially the tall posts) as have camped at TREC competitions quite a few times. I'd also add it's quite a good idea to have a laminated sheet of card with your name and phone number on it attached to the fence in case something happens while you're not there.

Hope you don't get the knock on the trailer (where we slept) first thing in the morning to say "your horse is out" like we've had in the past!
 
All good advice ^^^

I have an energiser, brought from CN Countrywide which takes 2x D batteries and gives quite a zap, even with a fair old length of tape: https://www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk/rutland-electric-fencing-esb15-battery-fence

I've had it nearly 3 years now and it's still going strong, although I've had to tape up the cables where they meet the unit 2 or 3 times ... the angle means that they have a weak point.

I probably get through a couple of batteries every 3 or 4 months.

Have a lovely time! :)
 
Electric Fencing Online have a really good guide and explanation of how it all works.
http://www.electricfence-online.co....ce-advice-faqs/guide-to-electric-fencing.html

In terms of energisers, for a long run, you usually need a battery (car type) and energiser to transfer the power. For a short run, however, you can use an all in one energiser that takes, like others said D cell batteries. I've got a few made by Shrike that have lasted for years. (One even had the crocodile clips eaten by cows and was repaired easily). They take 2 D cell batteries which last for ages used continually. I've got some rechargeable ones now but Tesco batteries worked fine before that and, I would imagine, would more than do for your needs. Don't forget the earth stake. In summer, the ground can be hard and dry and lead to the earth not being as effective. Watering the ground before you put the earth stake in can help this.

Agree with idea of setting up a test at home. The only issue I can see with a corral might be the corners. Tying three posts together in a tripod to make a stable base can work. I think you can buy special corner plastic posts now though.
 
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I'd take a few more than 10 posts, I usually have 20 on board which means you can have them just a few feet apart, or strengthen corners etc. If you are attaching to the lorry, you'll need something non conductive to tie to the lorry - I use baler twine. If you are going to hang a haynet on the lorry, get ready for a bumpy night! My lad rocks the whole lorry. Also make sure the net won't snag on your side lights (I learned this the hard way...).
Don't feel that your corral has to be square or even rectangular - an oval is just as good if there is room, and eliminates the problem of weak corners.
I always take plenty of hay, a grazing muzzle (ever since I was forced to corral on a field of clover!), and a large stable water container, plus a water roller because water can be a long way off unless you take all your own.
You will find TRECies are very friendly helpful on the whole, enjoy your weekend!
 
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