Re-introducing electric fencing

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now_loves_mares

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My horses have both been used to electric fencing in the past, but not for a year or two. I am picking up my new energiser etc tomorrow so want to get them set up in strip grazing. I will be using tape on the main fence line (to stop the irritating "grass is greener" scenario), then using rope to make the temporary paddock.

Should I just put them in, wire it up and let them get on with it, or somehow try to introduce them to it? Was thinking if I use a stick to touch the rope, it should "tick" which might remind them it's on? Any other bright ideas?

Also (technical question now!); if I use the reel of rope, do I have to cut it; or can I leave the spare length on the reel? In that case, presume it needs to be off the ground somehow? Does it have to be on one of the expensive reel holders?

I'm very confused, I feel like I need a degree in electrical engineering :confused::rolleyes:
 
I've never introduced a horse to electric fencing, just left them to get on with it.

Yes, you'll need to hang it off the ground somewhere. I would probably just cut it to the right length.
 
Will let them take their chances then! Thanks

The problem with cutting it is I want to introduce them to a small area first to graze it down, then steadily increase the size. The way I need to do this means I will have to extend the rope each time ie I'm making a corner paddock which will gradually extend into the field more each time they need more grass.
 
Cut the fence and leave them to it, to be honest most horses can tell when its on and wont touch it. If they do it they wont do it twice. They'll be fine :)
 
This reminds me of my old horse who being 'introduced' to electric fencing with his field companion went mental :D He was used to being able to groom his friend over the fence and suddenly could no longer without getting a shock :( When i went into the field, i snapped a carrot in half and the sound Which i presumed was similar to that of an electric crack off the fence, sent all 5 horses in both paddocks galloping off!! :eek::D They soon got used to it though (within hours) :D
 
They soon will know it's on! I can highly recommend the reel holders
(we have these:http://www.rappa.co.uk/hand-reel-fencing/hand-reels/?mode=productlist&cfid=8625690&cftoken=52357899 if you're frequently moving the tape - well worth the extra cost in terms of time saved not having to sort out a tangle, as ou just wind it back on. We also have a spring loaded one which we use as a gate across our barn and stable yard, so it winds itself in when you open it.

For economy you could attach an ordinary reel to the fence, but it might be a pain moving it when you extend the area.
 
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As an update - I am now officially an expert in all things electric fence related. And also skint :mad: Over the last week I have bought

An energiser, a battery, a battery charger, 600m of tape, 240 insulators, 2m of copper pipe, a bungy gate, couple of packs of tape joiners. Sum total about £500 :eek:. All this to put my fat mare in a small paddock; and to stop them leaning on the fence and wrecking their rugs:mad:. Who said keeping skinny TB's was the expensive option :rolleyes:

Anyway I ignored all your helpful advice, and decided not to cut the rope but to keep looping it back and forward to make multiple strands of fence. OMG what a mistake, I was at it for hours :p and I have a sneaky suspicion that when the fat mare runs out of grass, she'll just jump the flipping thing!

So I'm off to order the reels recommended above, and a bunch more posts so I can make a double fence to stop her jumping out. Because clearly I've not spent enough money this week :rolleyes:

Also - hammering a metre of copper pipe into the ground is NOT easy! Luckily I found a handy mole hill which made it a littl easier :)

Tra la la, don't you love horses :cool: Thanks for the advice everyone!
 
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