I am in central Florida. The soil here tends to be sandy. I have been reading about grounding electric fences and how you can do a “hot/ground” system where normal grounding is ineffective.
Horseguard seems to have tried to take care of this issue with their “bi-polar” system that puts hot and ground in the same tape.
Has anyone used this type before? Is it worth it?
Yes. Search it–lots of horseguard users on here/old posts you will want to read.
I have also written a pretty extensive review on their stuff in my blog, if you would like to peruse it–if you end up going the bipolar route. http://weownblackacre.blogspot.com/2014/08/horseguard-bipolar-review-or-post-i.html
Bipolar tape and parts cost more.
Oh too funny, that blog post is one of the few things that come up when I try to search for Horseguard bipolar reviews 
I could never quite tell from that post if you actually liked the bipolar tape or not?
I have used the regular Horseguard tape in the past and liked it, just with the sandy soil in Central Florida I was wondering if the bipolar tape might be a better option and I am having a hard time making that decision 
[QUOTE=froglander;8282816]
Oh too funny, that blog post is one of the few things that come up when I try to search for Horseguard bipolar reviews
I could never quite tell from that post if you actually liked the bipolar tape or not?
I have used the regular Horseguard tape in the past and liked it, just with the sandy soil in Central Florida I was wondering if the bipolar tape might be a better option and I am having a hard time making that decision :([/QUOTE]
I do like it. I wish it came in black. Mine packs a wallop of a charge (plug in charger–buy the fence tester) and does what it is supposed to do. There are pros and cons with any fencing. We’re currently re-fencing most of the dry lot with 3-board, but I’m still going to run the bipolar inside the boards to keep them off and prevent chewing. It makes me nervous living by a highway and having such a high-pressure area that is just tape. I did have a donkey run through the fence (it didn’t break, but the insulators tore out of the t-post covers, which are the safe-fence brand, not horseguard’s) when a dog got loose (not my dog) but they didn’t cross over it when it was on the ground. That says something. My personal feeling is the key to tape is a strong charge. The bipolar means I keep it when it is dry.
FWIW, My horse was injured at a barn when the wire fence lost charge during a super cold and dry winter.
I was searching for something the other day, I forget what, and my blog was the top hit on Google. Which was ironic, because I already know what I thought about the topic, I was looking for someone else’s ideas. LOL!
I am looking at doing a pipe panel corral 24x36 and then have the Horseguard tape to make a turnout paddock off of that that will grow in size as I get some stuff cleared (some toxic plants and a couple trees that need to go).
Agreed it would be nice if it came in black!
It is sounding like the bi-polar tape might be a good choice though with the sandy soil since it will be hard to keep well grounded. I’ve heard from someone in this area that grounding is one thing she struggles with for her fence.
I appreciate your blog post warning to get the other kind of tensioners, not the box ones
I have monopolar Horseguard fence and like it. I could have gone either way, where I live, but I chose monopolar because I didn’t think I could justify the extra cost for the tape and insulators. Now I sometimes wish that I had sprung the little bit extra for bipolar. Driving grounding rods was a major pain because we hit bedrock 18" down. :mad: Worrying about whether it’s grounded well enough is an ongoing issue. (However, mine is only for internal cross-fencing so it wouldn’t be disastrous if the horses escaped.)
I personally like the Horseguard colors. From far away, green/brown or brown more or less looks like black anyway. Here is the brown on my blog.
TTP, I just bookmarked your blog post to read later–it looks really informative!
As far as I can see, the bipolar tape is cheaper than or about the same cost as the mono tape. Mono is $121 for 820 feet; bipolar is $220 for 1620 feet.
[QUOTE=Libby2563;8282896]
I have monopolar Horseguard fence and like it. I could have gone either way, where I live, but I chose monopolar because I didn’t think I could justify the extra cost for the tape and insulators. Now I sometimes wish that I had sprung the little bit extra for bipolar. Driving grounding rods was a major pain because we hit bedrock 18" down. :mad: Worrying about whether it’s grounded well enough is an ongoing issue. (However, mine is only for internal cross-fencing so it wouldn’t be disastrous if the horses escaped.)
I personally like the Horseguard colors. From far away, green/brown or brown more or less looks like black anyway. Here is the brown on my blog.
TTP, I just bookmarked your blog post to read later–it looks really informative![/QUOTE]
Thank you for the link to your blog, lots of good info there! Placing things on this property is going to be…interesting, it is a long, skinny 5ish acres (about 165x1330) with the house in the middle.
[QUOTE=vineyridge;8283042]
As far as I can see, the bipolar tape is cheaper than or about the same cost as the mono tape. Mono is $121 for 820 feet; bipolar is $220 for 1620 feet.[/QUOTE]
The cost difference mostly comes from the tensioners which you need in corners, cross fences, or any other sort of direction change. I’m starting with a smallish area though, so the difference isn’t too bad.
I have the bipolar and like it a lot; went with the green/brown tape as 1) I liked it and 2) it was easy not to confuse which edge goes up and which down (brown=down).
Two things I would suggest:
Other than that, very easy and have done a good job for my horse and donk on just a solar charger.
Thanks for the info! I had been looking at the newer BP37, will have to see if that is replacing the BP32 or if it is just another option when I go to actually order
FYI, I like the simple button keepers better than the more expensive ones (for the loose ends of tape by the tensioner). I think my tape slips back through the other type of keeper they sell. I would suggest getting the keepers. It keeps the fence tighter imo.
I agree on the gate handles. I really like mine. I also think the brown and green make it easier for farm sitters or anyone who may be in a rush to make sure they are lining up the tape gates correctly.
[QUOTE=froglander;8284935]
Thanks for the info! I had been looking at the newer BP37, will have to see if that is replacing the BP32 or if it is just another option when I go to actually order :)[/QUOTE]
The BP37 may also be fine but don’t let them send you the 9BL version (shown at bottom left on page 36 of the HG catalog). Very hard to put together with just 2 hands and once the cover is on you can’t see where any problem might be without totally undoing. I think they may not even offer those anymore but just be forewarned - you don’t want them! I wil say the HorseGuard people were very, very helpful when I called to ask them to change those out to the BP32s. Got the replacements immediately at no cost and didn’t even have to send the 9BLs back.
And I agree the simple button keepers are great for holding the loose ends.
LOVE LOVE LOVE my bipolar (although worst product name ever) HG. Runs of off Parmak DC charger with a solar panel keeping the deep cycle battery charged. So so so easy (I’m a one-person operation, despite the voices in my head), great help from reps, emailed many schematics back & forth & they helped me save money! Worth every single penny & easy to repair if stretched or knocked by deer or, say, very large TB’s who hate nature touching them & kick their back legs over fences. 
(yay for nice wide tape, only a scratch)
SO happy not to have to fuss with ground rods anymore, and the system is so versatile.
I like the older brackets as well & agree, the gate handles are nice. Not a huge fan of the “stretchy tape,” it sags over time, but it’s easy enough to re-tension it. I always keep some spare splicers & extra button snaps on hand, but love my worry-free fence!! (Mine’s white because my horses already had a healthy respect for anything resembling white tape)
ETA – white tape also has a “brown is down” strand woven in the lower edge. 
Thank you all for the helpful advice! Can’t wait to close on this place so I can get to work on it
Unrelated question, although still about fences, if I am planning to start with a smaller area because I have some noxious weeds to clear before I can expand, would you make that smaller area with pipe corral panels (round pen panels) or would you feel comfortable doing that with the Horseguard tape? Or I guess my question should really be, how small of an area would you feel comfortable using the tape for?
Thanks
My dry lot is 30 x 75’ (and then 16’x16’ run-in opens into it). All electric. Horse, donkey, mini donkey. I just completed a paddock that is probably a double stall. Maybe 24’x24’ and two of the four sides are Horseguard (the other is board fence). That will be a solo confinement if I need a layup spot, or to separate someone.
How many horses? I don’t know that I would put another horse in my dry lot. Donkeys are a little different than horses. Calmer.
What is the rule of thumb? 1000 sq feet per animal?
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