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Post by luvnarabs on Sept 20, 2007 2:00:48 GMT -5
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Post by crum on Sept 20, 2007 8:38:54 GMT -5
Have you actually tested the fence with one of the testers specifically designed for this? What was the reading? I discovered that part of my electric fencing was not grounding completely so it was shocking but it was giving a much more mild shock than it should have been. The horses were still staying in but they were more than happy to touch that section of fencing.
I am also wondering at what height the electric fence is making contact with him. Is at least one strand of it catching him across the chest? If it is not touching him on the chest it may not be making enough contact with him to actually complete the circuit.
If you are considering some new economical fencing and are not using the tape variety of electric fencing I would actually recommend you go with it and go with a wider version of it. I have seen several horses that since it is more of a visual barrier than the other varieties will respect it even when it is not plugged in. I would not recommend leaving it unplugged but it is very handy in case you loose power or have problems keeping it grounded properly. If you go this route I would also suggest multiple strands. There are some big differences in how this type of fencing is built from manufacturer to manufacturer so make sure you do some research before you settle on one.
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Post by sassiedogtk on Sept 20, 2007 11:13:14 GMT -5
We use electric fence in our pastures. We use the rope wire and we run four rows of it, so that the horses can not get there heads over or under it. You need to make sure that you have a good ground or it will not zap as much. Now that we have the rope up they will not even go near that part of the pasture. We have also unplugged it and forgot to plug back in and they still did not mess with it. Also make sure that there is nothing touching the wire/rope. If you hear the clicking sound than something is touching, (a blade of grass, a frog or even a bug) and that can affect it. Good luck  mod. for spelling |
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Post by toeps on Sept 20, 2007 14:00:35 GMT -5
Sounds like my stinker  5 acres of pasture but you know its greener on the other side. We took down our nylon rope hot wire and replaced it with a 14g (don't use a smaller one, they break too easy imo) metal wire, 3 strand instead of 2 strand. It worked and the metal wire is cheaper. mta - I've heard that aluminum has more snort but its more expensive than galvanized. Also get a tester and see how hot it really is and make sure you don't need a new hotbox - if its fence he's respected before you may have lost some power somewhere |
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Post by luvnarabs on Sept 20, 2007 22:33:09 GMT -5
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Post by cutiepiepmu on Sept 30, 2007 23:52:52 GMT -5
If you are only using a single wire, then I suggest running at least 4 strands. The inside pastures of my property are done with large wood posts set in concrete and we use the large cable electrobraid - 5 strands. I have never had one go through the fence, even when it is off. The cable is made of a polymer with copper core wire braided into it. It has a NASTY zap to say the least. www.electrobraid.com - it IS permenant fencing - where as most electric type fence IMO is just a temporary fence - horses can easily run through it or break it. I do not like the tape because if they hit it they can tangle in it and end up in a real mess. I also don't feel like the tape is permenant fencing. Check out electrobraid - they sell all the components and for what you spend on the fence foot for foot you get a good solid fence cheaper than most any other real fence out there - and the warrenty on it is unbeatable! Take care, Sara in WA |
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Post by crum on Oct 1, 2007 8:24:37 GMT -5
I don't want to start a war on fencing here. I think you probably need a few more facts though. Knowing someone who has had a horse with horrific injuries from the electrobraid fencing I would like to say that it has its dangers also if a horse ends up wrapped with a leg or neck wrapped in it. Like any sort of smallish diameter rope if wrapped tightly enough around something it causes serious damage. The electrobraid unfortunately does not break as easily as the typical wire used for these fences so the more he struggled the tighter it became. The horse she had get hung up in this fence was a yearling who she believes was possibly chased into it by another yearling. Her crossfence were multiple strands of the electrobraid. Since then she has replaced all but a very small 70 feet section of the electrobraid. Last time I talked to her about it she had pointed out if she had just gone with this different fencing to start with it would have cost about the same once the vet bills for the yearling were figured into the cost of the electrobraid. This fencing still might be a good choice for you if the horse is by itself, is calmer or is not likely to try to test the fencing at speed.
None of the electrified fences should be considered a permanent fence in my opinion unless used in conjunction with other fencing.
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Post by icehorse on Oct 1, 2007 11:42:12 GMT -5
not to mention, when the power goes out there is no fence
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Post by cutiepiepmu on Oct 1, 2007 14:19:01 GMT -5
I am sorry to hear about the yearling! I do agree that any electric or rope/wire fence can be an issue in the right situation. I have never had any issues at all with my big drafts with it - although I think part of it depends on how it is installed as well. Ours has been installed the way the maufacturer suggests using round wooden posts spaced at 12 feet and set into concrete - with 4 or 5 strands(depending on area) spaced with 12 inches in between, we also used the recommended spacers and ties with safety breakaways on the ends. If a horse does get tangled, it will pop loose rather than hold tight - Our outside fence is all the 5 board solid white vinyl that has springs in the center of each board - we use the electrobraid for the inside parts to divide pastures and whatnot. I would much prefer to divide our entire 18 acres with the vinyl, but the cost per square foot is very high for the type we used. For cheaper white vinyl the cost is much less, but the boards inside are not solid and they don't have the spring in the center - so if a horse hits the fence it just breaks or splinters. We didn't want that at all - so got the stuff we did. I have seen people install electrobraid knock offs putting them up in the same fashion that youwould a new zeland fence system leaving around 25-40 feet between posts and using T posts in between solid posts - I feel that those are VERY dangerous. The wires tend to be looser and sag more leaving alot more space for a problem. The diameter of the rope is also alot smaller. The stuff we are using is approximately the diameter of a nylon lead rope - maybe a slight bit smaller. It is not the thin stuff. We also check weekly to make sure all areas are still VERY tight and that all connectors/breakaways on all the posts are solid and in good condition. Any type of fence has drawbacks - but certainly some ore more dangerous than others - and single or double strand hot wire on T posts is not a good fence solution IMO. Sara in WA |
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Post by angelinmydreams on Oct 1, 2007 23:54:06 GMT -5
If there is a will there is a way. My yearling goes through the neighbors 5 stand fence and it is similar to cuties but not the electo stuff they have that heavy gage wire. She crawls through my 6 ft 4 strand 2 in poly tape fence even when it is on. She goes through the unfinished parts of the fence which is still the small wire 2 strands and that gets good current. I honestly think they like to make us mad because when she is out and sees me coming to get her she rips right through the fence to get back in. I can let her out or go and get her when she is being good but she knows when she is out and she is not suppose to be out. Ohh and I would not do the aluminum wire when it freezes as does the wire and it breaks or doesn't allow the current. Who would think, When I first moved up here I had to take it out and put in the steal wire the bad thing about that is that it rusts. I have a crap load of fencing to finish anyone want to help LOL I have a auger to make things easier LOL. Funny thing is to cut down on the costs I only did the main fence around my home/yard with all 4 strands 2 in poly the rest I started in 2 in on top and 1/2 in on the bottom )(34 strands)and she has not went through that. Go figure. Ohh I would purchase a yellow jacket or another brand battery charger for power outages. When we had that snow storm last year our fences took a beating they come in handy.
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5 acres of pasture but you know its greener on the other side. We took down our nylon rope hot wire and replaced it with a 14g (don't use a smaller one, they break too easy imo) metal wire, 3 strand instead of 2 strand. It worked and the metal wire is cheaper. 
