Electric fence on a slope

[froglander]

We live on a hill. It’s not a terribly steep hill, just a nice slope, but even nice slopes look steep when you start trying to make things level…

Just this past Thursday we had a carport installed that will be my horse’s shelter once he comes home. Working on fencing right now. It’s going to start with a pipe panel corral and then I am planning to make a bigger area with hopefully the Horseguard bi-polar fence tape (we have very sandy soil, so not needing to ground the tape is a plus!).

The panels are already driving me nuts because I am going to have to get creative for them to sit level (and I just can’t do crooked). I was trying to hunt around the Horseguard site for what they recommend for using their tape on a slope. All I could find was to “install the posts perpendicular to the ground”–which would mean not “level”. It seems like they would be less sturdy that way and also, they would look “crooked” and bother me every time I saw them.

So, does this mean fence tape doesn’t work well on a slope? (We are talking 1:12 for the areas I’ve measured so far). Or can I put the posts straight up and down and put the insulators at an angle so the tape doesn’t get “kinked”? Although, that may not work well for corners.

So…am I overthinking this?

Here is a contour map of the property from house to road (approx 2 acres, 2 more behind the house but it is even steeper and needs to be cleared so focus is on front for now)

http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr8/kfroglander/Misc/contour%20map_zpsh1ybjdt1.png

[Highflyer]

It works fine on a slope. If you put the posts perpendicular to the ground they will be straight. The tape will be parallel to the ground.

[froglander]

But perpendicular to the ground on a slope won’t measure as “level” and I am one of those people that will straighten a picture out at someone’s house if I notice it being crooked

http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr8/kfroglander/Misc/fence%20posts_zpsgy0tasur.png

[ToTheNines]

When I first bought my place I had that thought too. But fencing follows the ground, and posts are perpendicular relative to a level. A good fencer will know how to "split the difference on runs with an uneven surface between the beginning and end, but a fence will generally have the same slope as the ground.

Believe us, it will look best that way. The Horseguard is a good choice for a sloped surface. Follow their directions, and get a fencing string to mark your tape holders. If the beginning and end of the string are the same distance from the ground, it will look fine.

The only time you would want the level you are thinking of is something small like a round pen. Or something like a small dog pen. Then you would make a level base for it.

When I fenced my arena, I got a little compulsive about this. The long sides are level to earth, but the short sides do slope a bit. It looks fine.

[fordtraktor]

LOL. put your fenceposts vertical. You can and should use an actual level on both sides on the post if you are setting them yourself.

Then put the tape attachments about the same height on all the posts (like 48, 34 and 16 inches from the ground on the pivot posts (the ones you decide are going to be change points), but not all the posts – you want the ones in between to be wherever it hits straight when stretched, not where the ground contours). Then just string the tape where it hits on the posts in between. Using a string is very helpful if this is permanent fencing. the string is very lightweight and easy to tension properly so you can get it straight and it will stay that way.

[Mango20]

I have a steep hill. I put my posts perpendicular to level ground (so “straight”). I’m kind of thinking that must be what people mean when they say “perpendicular to the ground”, otherwise the posts would all be jutting out of the ground at varying angles. The tape follows the ground if you attach it the same distance up each post.

[tangledweb]

[QUOTE=Highflyer;8412556]
It works fine on a slope. If you put the posts perpendicular to the ground they will be straight. The tape will be parallel to the ground.[/QUOTE]

Huh? The fence boards or electric tape can be parallel to the ground regardless of the angle of the posts, but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen posts installed perpendicular to the ground. Most people do them vertically. I guess instead of a level you could use a carpenter square to set them perpendicular to the ground along the fence line, but I’m pretty sure it would look odd.

Do you have pictures?

I can see how it would be OK on a single fence heading straight up a hill, but then what do you do on the corner posts? The fence lines along the face of the hill would be leaning in or out of the field and look wrong.

If you have trees (which tend to grow vertically) the whole thing could look like an optical illusion.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

Posts vertically straight. Use a level. Consider bracing at top and bottom of run if it is super steep.

Fence rails follow contour of land.

[SuckerForHorses]

[QUOTE=froglander;8412772]
But perpendicular to the ground on a slope won’t measure as “level” and I am one of those people that will straighten a picture out at someone’s house if I notice it being crooked

http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr8/kfroglander/Misc/fence%20posts_zpsgy0tasur.png[/QUOTE]

You set the posts like the image on the right.

Posts straight up and down (regardless of the slope of the hill), and the fence tape follows parallel to the ground itself.

[froglander]

[QUOTE=SuckerForHorses;8412997]
You set the posts like the image on the right.

Posts straight up and down (regardless of the slope of the hill), and the fence tape follows parallel to the ground itself.[/QUOTE]

Yes, that is what I want to do, I drew the illustration because of what Highflyer had said to try and show what I meant better.

I was concerned about fence tape possibly getting kinked/crimped at the top of the insulator if the post is vertical? Or would that take a pretty steep slope for that to be an issue?

[tangledweb]

[QUOTE=froglander;8413222]
I was concerned about fence tape possibly getting kinked/crimped at the top of the insulator if the post is vertical? Or would that take a pretty steep slope for that to be an issue?[/QUOTE]

I think even if you set up a trap and install your posts perpendicular to the ground to try to get every OCD passer-by to crash their car that would still be possible with changes of grade if it’s possible. I don’t know how tight a fit the insulators you intend to use are, so maybe if you get close to 45 degree slope with vertical posts there is enough twist to squish them.

But if you get close to 45 degree slope with perpendicular posts, you’ll look like a complete Muppet so I think it’s still for the best.

[Jumper_girl221]

On the super steep slopes you’ll have to compromise, but gradual slopes you can run a string on the line of posts, and drill your insulators based on that vs. the length from the ground.

That’s what I do for my boards

[Mallard]

[QUOTE=SuckerForHorses;8412997]
You set the posts like the image on the right.

Posts straight up and down (regardless of the slope of the hill), and the fence tape follows parallel to the ground itself.[/QUOTE]

YES!!!

I don’t think the tape will kink.

[saultgirl]

[QUOTE=froglander;8412772]
But perpendicular to the ground on a slope won’t measure as “level” and I am one of those people that will straighten a picture out at someone’s house if I notice it being crooked :)

http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr8/kfroglander/Misc/fence%20posts_zpsgy0tasur.png[/QUOTE]

Yeah you’ll probably get over that pretty quick once the horses have been home for a while

I have T-posts on a slope and I definitely have them more perpendicular to the ground in some places than in others. You may also need to play around a little bit as to the spacing between them (you’ll need to get over that “unevenness” too!) in any areas that are particularly steep or awkward.

[hosspuller]

Vertical posts will look the best … they’ll be parallel to the trees and grass on the slope.

When you set your posts vertical… You might have to purchase extra long posts for the sloped area to keep the tape at the same distance from the ground.

[Frog_Pond]

Froglander, I’d take pictures, but it’s too messy still – I’m doing the world’s slowest install of HorseGuard – a 3 strand bipolar version, with t-posts and HG’s fiberglass posts. My pasture is long, narrow, hilly and rocky, so the fence goes where it can, which is usually not where I’d have liked it. I have little patience for this project right now, and as a result, make more mistakes than usual. This fence STILL looks good, despite the uneven terrain and my lousy attitude :lol: My tape doesn’t crimp even with the steep angles and many odd corners. HG is forgiving stuff, yours will surprise you, too

[froglander]

[QUOTE=Frog Pond;8414011]
Froglander, I’d take pictures, but it’s too messy still – I’m doing the world’s slowest install of HorseGuard – a 3 strand bipolar version, with t-posts and HG’s fiberglass posts. My pasture is long, narrow, hilly and rocky, so the fence goes where it can, which is usually not where I’d have liked it. I have little patience for this project right now, and as a result, make more mistakes than usual. This fence STILL looks good, despite the uneven terrain and my lousy attitude :lol: My tape doesn’t crimp even with the steep angles and many odd corners. HG is forgiving stuff, yours will surprise you, too :)[/QUOTE]

Oh that is good to hear, thank you! And good luck with your fencing project