Is there a way to add height to an existing electric fence line that has those green steel T posts? There is some crazy playing going on between 2 horses over a hot rope line. Both are tall enough (and smart enough) to stand back just far enough so they don’t touch it but still manage to knock heads playing. Someone suggested adding a section of PVC pipe but i can’t figure out how to attach another hot line. Any ideas would be welcome.
You say “step in post” in the title but “green steel” in your post, which is it? Are they step-in posts (lightweight) or are they t-posts driven into the ground?
If they’re actually t-posts, you could wire more t-posts to them without driving them in, and then use the insulator clips meant for t-posts.
If they’re step-in posts, I got nothin’.
Obviously the best and safest idea would be to re-do the fence with taller posts, but I’m sure you know that and have ruled it out, or you wouldn’t have asked.
Oh, also: if they’re t-posts and you’ve not done it yet, get caps on them. Always the best idea anyway, but most especially if you’re got them reaching over.
They are T posts not the skinny plastic step ins. I will edit my original post. Thanks for the heads up. The barn owner allowed me to put a paddock in for my horse ( he needed solo turnout) but unfortunately put a more aggressive horse right next to him. Therefore I am trying to head off problems. Also, I do have caps on the posts which also carry the top line.
Could you add one of the taller T-posts between every, say, two or three other posts, enough to carry another hot line or two higher up safely?
They sell T-posts up to 7’ and 8’ tall.
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What Bluey just said! By the time you mess around trying to add height to existing posts, you could just add taller posts and just add a hot wire across the top on the caps.
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This is one of the reasons why I do not like like shared fencelines.
We’re not on our new property yet, but we have already built our own fences so that there is a “buffer” between our fence and the neighbors fence. I will also make one of the wires hot (probably the middle of the 3 wires) so they won’t reach over, but can still graze a little bit under the fence (keeps the snow out of the fence line better … sometimes…)
So… consider that an option. Is this your own property? If so, I would look into investing in a second fence so they can’t reach each other.
Or, as the others have suggested, scatter in some taller posts with a single hot wire on the top to get more height.
Or… redo your fence with taller T-posts.
Lots of options depending on your long-term needs and budget.
Bluey’s idea is a better one than mine, yes. I hadn’t thought that far :lol:
Knowing that it’s not your farm makes me irritated on your behalf. I’d meet with the BO and see what he or she suggests as a resolution to this issue that you’re both happy with.
The only way I can think is to get some plastic step-in posts, and some gorilla brand duct tape. Take a step in post and overlap it on the steel T-post (so that 1/3 of it is above the top of the T-post and 2/3 of it is below), the very tightly duct-tape the plastic post to the steel post. You’ll need two people to get that tape good and tight - and tape it above current insulators, so they will keep the tape from sliding down the steel post and tape the bottom of the plastic post well to give it stability.
Once you have the plastic posts attached to the steel T-posts, run new line through the plastic posts and attach to the current fence to make it hot.
Thanks for the ideas. I had to put this paddock in myself (at my expense) so I would prefer to not spend alot, although keeping my horse safe is my priority.
To Texarkana- went to the website but unfortunately they do not make the extenders anymore. Thanks though
You might do best just to pull them up, sell the old ones and put taller ones in…this is what I have done so I know the pain it is…but, it didn’t turn out to be as bad as I thought it would be as I have a GOOD post puller…there are 2 kinds…the cheap kind and the good kind. The more expensive one is WORTH it! Or look for something like this: http://www.tpostextender.com/BUY-NOW.html. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM0U_vLItfY. Or put another fence line up several feet in and don’t worry about having to raise the height. Or: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpkA8zwEdTU. Good luck!
There are several good u-tube videos out there on extending T post fences with PVC products and the like. There is also another facebook page with a website for t-post extenders: https://www.facebook.com/tpostextender/. This looks like a nice option if avaliable and not too expensive. When I have faced this dilemma…more than once, I have removed the short ones, put in taller ones, and sold the short ones. It is pain, but solid fencing that works in the way it is intended to work is one of the most important things when it comes to horses. Most important if you go with this option is having a good fence puller…not the cheap one that everyone sells, unless you have really soft soil. I have a Rhino Jack. Wish I had gotten it MANY years ago. Having replaced mine, I can say that it really isn’t that bad. It feels like it is, but once you get going with a good post puller, it’s not bad…and you can pound the new ones into the old holes. One other option is (if you have enough room), but in another fence several feet in from the one you are using. It could even be one strand of hot electric tape on step-in posts. Good luck in any event!
look at the maximum fence spacing for running strands of hot wire (it’s usually at least 75ft between posts), so you might be able to add just a few 8ft T posts with a few strands of galvanized hot wire to make an “impenetrable fence” (or at least one that will zap them silly if they keep messing with it)
I mention galvanized hot wire specifically since it breaks if they get tangled in it and doesn’t droop as much as the hot rope or hot tape.
4 year old thread - I’m sure it has been dealt with by now
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