Electric fencing experts! Setting up rope paddock

[tobiano1984]

Having battled with electric tape for years, I'm changing over gradually to turborope. We're fencing a new paddock soon and it will consist of sturdy wooden posts and 2 strands of rope. the paddock is about 100m squared, and will be split in half down the middle.

I'm just after advice on a couple of things, any input would be much appreciated!

1. How far apart to space the posts?
2. What to use on the corners? I've seen either egg insulators, or the roller corner insulators - but they look a bit unstable!
3. Tension - is tensioning by hand enough for rope or is it best to have some sort of tensioner?

Any other helpful tips welcome too!

Thanks

 

[Dolcé]

We put our posts about 10ft apart (although we have 4 strands), the roller corner insulators are ok, we used them for the high tensile wire but used the ordinary ones for the rope and just looped it over twice to ensure it didn't move. The rope is dead easy to tension by hand, use the proper connectors if you can because then you can cut it down slightly if it stretches over time, rather than wrapping it around the insulator - both work but it just looks nicer. You will get a real shock at the difference in charge to the rope compared to tape, I would never go back. We have 3 stallions behind ours, with mares on the other side, in over 2 years we have never had an escape or a break in the rope, 3 sides have never been touched to tighten etc, they just didn't need it. The top end, where the gate is has needed tightening slightly (nothing compared to if it had been tape). The only thing I have noticed is that the rope is now becoming brittle so I doubt it would move if we wanted it to, but it still looks like new and works the same as it did when new.

 

[YasandCrystal]

If you have a good energiser the tension should not be a problem. I use the wheeled corners which come with a tensioner. My one piece of advice though having seen the horrific pics of injuries down to the bone on here is to ensure you put in joiners at reasonable intervals on each strand. I only ever hand tighten the joiners as you want the rope to pull out if a foot catches it. Better to have loose horses out of an individual paddock than a degloved leg.

 

[tobiano1984]

Thanks guys - YasandCrystal - what sort of intervals do you put joiners at? and is that on both strands or just the bottom?