Post & Rail - Deadly Extras

[Antw23uk]

Yes you heard me ... I need to replace a large amount of post & rail next year and looking at the state of it currently I'm feeling evil and tough! It has to be post and rail but I'm thinking poison arrows along the top so ANYTHING that looks like a monster of a horse gets the death penalty for touching it? I am so sick of owning horse (and more importantly neighbours hairy itchy bored thug horse/ ponies) that think its perfectly acceptable to lean, scratch on, break for fun/ food/ wotever, rails like they are going out of fashion!

So along with evil ideas, of course I welcome examples of post and rail with an added extra to keep the buggers off it. I don't have mains electric so a life time of changing batteries (and they know when its flat don't they!!) is an option but I'd rather see what other ideas are out there? Not averse to barbed wire .... Anything else?

Any particular design that will have them steering clear of using the posts as a scratch post (neighbours are the worst) and rails as a play thing!

Thanks
*disclaimer - i need ideas, they don't need to be deadly, thanks*

 

[Sprig]

Solar powered electric fence (with back up battery) offset from the top rail to keep them off of it.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Solar powered electric fence (with back up battery) offset from the top rail to keep them off of it.

That is what I am planning to use on my new fence. I wouldn't use barbed wire - it doesn't deter horses but you could end up with a very expensive vet bill. I would have strong words with the neighbours and tell them that if they don't stop their horses rubbing on your fence you will be putting barbed wire on the back of the top rail. Then the onus is on them.

 

[HeyMich]

Solar powered electric fence (with back up battery) offset from the top rail to keep them off of it.

Yep, what she said.

We have a shockrite solar energiser and it's brilliant. Even the hardy, hairy cobs stay away from the top rails now (and they famously broke 3 fences within an hour, which is what spurred us on to hooking up the hot wire around the fences!) Well worth the investment.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

We have two strand of wire on ours, one about 12" down on the inside and one along the very top so that any horse from either side putting its head over gets a belt.

 

[Frumpoon]

A trip to your local scrap yard and a perimeter fence consisting of the rusting carcasses of old Volvo estates and similar?

will also do wonders for your neighbours property value

 

[sport horse]

We have, for years, run a strand of barbed wire along the top of the rails, It is stapled to the actual rail with staples at intervals of 12 - 18" so that it is will anchored. It has stopped them chewing and we have had no other problems with it. I do however have double fencing everywhere, with hedges in the middle and that has stopped them leaning over to chat to their neighbours. Yes you lose a bit of land but much much safer and looks lovely,

 

[Ownedby4horses]

I would definitely use offset electric, works great to keep them off the fence.

 

[Coblette]

I would definitely use offset electric, works great to keep them off the fence.

Yeah I have a strand of electric rope offset from the top rail. Not had any reaching over/scratching or chewing works great and if you don’t have mains power the solar panels seems to keep the battery’s ticking over for a long time !!

 

[Esmae]

I have electric rope which is on long insulators half way down the height of the fence and to both sides. I did it to stop SI horse from itching on the fence and it worked like a charm.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I would definitely use offset electric, works great to keep them off the fence.

This. Plus you can run string along the top rail as well if you have a determined chewer.




You can run undergate cable enclosed in blue water pipe in gateways so that the electrical connection is maintained, that’s the blue pipe and cabling that you can see in the pics.

Never, ever use barbed wire .

 

[Antw23uk]

Great thank you people. Off to the scrap yard it is then

Tiddlypom im very jealous of your fencing, it looks immaculate. Will certainly be looking at this idea and the water pipe idea thank you.

 

[J&S]

A solar powered fencer definitely saves you having to lug batteries around. I haven't recharged mine since some time last winter. Also. easy to manouevre if you need to change [position. Mine is a Hot line, Drakes Fire or some thing like that!

 

[Cocorules]

When I was younger my ponies were kept in a post and rail paddock which had four rails which were close enough together that they couldn't get their heads through and they never broke it.

Currently have fields which are double fenced with post and rail on the inside. The first bit I put up with three rails and they could get their heads through and they have broken through it.

The second bit I put up with three rails they can't put their heads through and that has been fine to date. I also have rubber itching mats nailed to giant thick posts which they use. However, the rain has got into the posts so I need to refresh these.

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

I use a hotline solar panel & its looked after itself from around April until last week as the weather has been so overcast/dull miserable it hasn't been able to charge itself, so it came in for a day plugged on the mains. It's saved me a fortune in time alone not having to lug batteries around.

 

[Flicker]

Long term solution, but could you plant gorse?

 

[Antw23uk]

Long term solution, but could you plant gorse?

I've thought about planting and i wish i'd done 'something' when we first moved here four years ago as it would have taken well by now! Sadly funds werent there then. Im going to make myself a solar powered battery electric energiser (solar panel, battery, battery charger, ground rod and an old weather resistant toolbox to keep it all in.