Why is my electric fencing so difficult?!!

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kat2290

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My electric fencing setup is very unprofessional and I think I am missing a few vital items that would make it easier to use...I just don't know what they are!
At present my electric fence run in a straight line from the bottom of the field to the top, splitting it in two. My start and end posts are just regular plastic posts with a bit of rope tying them to the boundary fence. I do this to stop them bending when I pull the electric tape taught. The tape is one continuous line which is secured at the start post in a knot(or 10) and then runs up to the top of the field, goes up the end post to the next loop and then comes back down to the start post, goes up to the top loop and then back up to the end post. The remaining tape is kept on the reel which is plonked on top of the dry stone wall at the top of the field and held down with various rocks to stop it moving. It's far from ideal! Every time I have to move to fence it is such a battle and it takes me forever, I end up with baggy tape which takes ages to get taught again.

Please tell me there is in easier way and tell me what I need to get to achieve it! I'm at my wits end! If anyone has pictures of their fencing that would be marvellous!

I can offer a cup of tea and belvita breakfast biscuits :)
 
The knots won't help so get rid of them and make it just one knot or a joiner and if its still on the reel your having to charge the whole reel. Cut what you need and loop it onto the outer fencing on the same hook that the other electric tape goe through and electric the whole lot.

Hope that makes sence and could work out your exact set up without pic.
 
I've got no advice. Just that some horses devote their lives to pulling down/ ruining and attempting to strangle themselves on electric fences.

Some ponies just want to watch the world burn.

2rp7fo0.jpg


2v26t53.jpg
 
If you are getting a nice kick through the fence & it's keeping your horse where it should be then it's working fine. When you are constantly moving your electric fence then there is little more you can do. It may not look 'professional' but if it works then that's ok. If possible get rid of knots & use proper jointing clips. the connection will be much better & the power will carry right through the tape. It's worth doing this as they are fairly cheap to buy.

I have a paddock that's divided down the middle with a horse on each side. I have got a wooden post knocked into the ground at each end & the fence tape runs between them & it kept tight as the posts are rigid. In betwen these posts I use plastic posts to hold the tape up. The fencing remains nice & tight & tidy. I then have another strip of fencing that runs across the paddock from hedge to hedge & meets the centre fence . It joins the centre fence using a gate hook thus allowing entry to the paddock either side of the centre fence. This fencing is made using 2 strands of tape, plastic posts & the end posts are tied to the hedge with rope to prevent bending the poles & keeping the fence tight as you have done. I keep any surplus tape wrapped up & down one of the plastic posts so I can extend the fence or shorten it if I need to. Overall my fence is tidy but sometimes you can't get a professional finish with a fence that is constantly being moved.

If your fence is doing its job & working don't worry about it. :)
 
Last edited:
wallykissmas said:
The knots won't help so get rid of them and make it just one knot or a joiner and if its still on the reel your having to charge the whole reel. Cut what you need and loop it onto the outer fencing on the same hook that the other electric tape goe through and electric the whole lot.

Hope that makes sence and could work out your exact set up without pic.
Click to expand...

The reason I've kept it on the reel is because If i then wanted to extend the fence I wouldn't have enough tape, and then is have to start adding new bits of which seems like I'd just be adding to the complication! The energiser I have is only small and it says it electrify up to 800m, I think even with the extra on the reel I only have a total of about 300m.

Thanks :)

Jessi&Magic said:
I've got no advice. Just that some horses devote their lives to pulling down/ ruining and attempting to strangle themselves on electric fences.

Some ponies just want to watch the world burn.

2rp7fo0.jpg


2v26t53.jpg
Click to expand...

Haha great pics!! I am fortunate as my Shetlands are very respectful of the fence...I think I must be the only one!

Toby_Zaphod said:
If you are getting a nice kick through the fence & it's keeping your horse where it should be then it's working fine. When you are constantly moving your electric fence then there is little more you can do. It may not look 'professional' but if it works then that's ok. If possible get rid of knots & use proper jointing clips. the connection will be much better & the power will carry right through the tape. It's worth doing this as they are fairly cheap to buy.

I have a paddock that's divided down the middle with a horse on each side. I have got a wooden post knocked into the ground at each end & the fence tape runs between them & it kept tight as the posts are rigid. In betwen these posts I use plastic posts to hold the tape up. The fencing remains nice & tight & tidy. I then have another strip of fencing that runs across the paddock from hedge to hedge & meets the centre fence . It joins the centre fence using a gate hook thus allowing entry to the paddock either side of the centre fence. This fencing is made using 2 strands of tape, plastic posts & the end posts are tied to the hedge with rope to prevent bending the poles & keeping the fence tight as you have done. I keep any surplus tape wrapped up & down one of the plastic posts so I can extend the fence or shorten it if I need to. Overall my fence is tidy but sometimes you can't get a professional finish with a fence that is constantly being moved.

If your fence is doing its job & working don't worry about it. :)
Click to expand...

I suppose you are right, it is keeping them where they are. It's just that my heart SINKS when I have to move it or alter it in any way as it is such a faff! I really need to move it at the moment to try and save some of my field before winter but I just can't bring myself to do it :(
 
I use steel posts in the corners, and use the odd one between the plastic onse, they dont break and help keep everything tight if you wrap the rope round the insulators twice :D though if the horse does go threw the fence the insulators do tend to fly off the stakes and ping off in places you cant find.. (so yellow ones are great) I sometimes still tie them to something in a corner is possible to make them more secure http://www.rappa.co.uk/categories/1+-6-steel-stakes they last years (Ive had mine 8 years now) and I dont have any problems knotting the rope, still get a good zap out out the rope.. Im liek you and have moved it round alot, so I cut it and knot it
 
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