Which do you prefer? High sun, high wind area. Will be used as an interior fence to keep livestock off of the perimeter fence. So it needs to be durable, but it won’t be the first line of defense between animals and freedom.
If you can provide a link from Tractor Supply or Amazon, that would be great.
I’m in a high wind area…with lots of mule deer and antelope wandering through my pastures. I tried step in posts to section off parts of my close in pasture, and found them to be absolutely worthless. Wildlife and wind made for constant, daily repairs; will only go with t-posts now.
Yes, what DD said. Good for gerbils with no wind…
ugh… this is what I feared. I dont’ want to spend $4 post though… any other sections to keep them back off the fence line, about 10’?
What type of fencing are you using? And how many feet did you want to use the step ins for?
I’ve tried two kinds from TSC. This one https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/american-farmworks-4-ft-white-step-in-fence-post?cm_vc=-10005 in white or black is worthless. They’re currently in my garden holding up pea plants.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/sunguard-ii-3-8-in-fiberglass-step-in-post?cm_vc=-10005
These ones were better.
Unfortunately I have a small pony who blasts right through temporary electric fences, so I’m not currently using those, either.
What type of tape or fence are you using and have you checked it with a meter to see how hot it is? Also with ponies if they are still kinda hairy you can clip them around where the fence would hit them and give them a good jolt or two to remind them it hurts lol. Sounds mean I know, but I’ve seen it work with a couple fence blasters.
You might have better luck with “stand off” insulators and a hot WIRE carrying the charge. You may need more than one wire.
You can, at the same time, “train” them to a fence. Build a small, fenced in area with same materials you use in your perimeter fence. Put up the stand off wires. And heat it up with the BIGGEST fence charger you can find. So that IF they touch the fence they don’t just get “shocked,” they get knocked on their butts.
Training a horse to a fence is a training problem like any other. Treat it as such while, at the same time, setting up a system to reinforce the training as required.
Good luck in your program.
G.
I live in a high-wind area and I have step-in posts as my only fencing in some areas. I use the ones at the link below and I set them up so they alternate the direction they are facing (east vs west) so the wind can’t whip them tape out of both sides. I also use zip ties to secure the tape to every second or third post. This system has worked really well for the last few years.
https://www.horse.com/item/powerfields-heavy-duty-stirrup-post-62-in-white/E013512/
just do not have a pony who can be used to test the fence, our big guys will crowd the pony into the electric fence to Test it
THAT’S SO MEAN!!!
Much more expensive than I’d like to go, but I think that may be inevitable, given the ‘gerbils with no wind’ comment above.
I do have some unused round pen panels that I could use for a section that’s the most urgent. It’s a start… I think a semi-circle arc should keep it upright since there’s nothing really solid to attach it to on either end.
What I really need is the funds to take down some mesquite trees and buff up the existing fencing. Which is barbed wire. My biggest concern is them eating the mesquite seed pods when they ripen…
I use the black/grey fibreglass posts from TSC & they work great – we get hurricanes, so I think that counts as high wind. They are very durable, I ran over one with a chain harrow & it didn’t break & I have pictures of one bent nearly double when something fell on the fence. I love them.
I hate the plastic step-ins, won’t touch them with a 10’ pole.
Thank you… Do you use tape or wire or cord?
I use Horseguard bipolar tape.
You can pound in tposts on each side of the panels and zip tie or baling twine the panels to the posts for support! I have 100lb heavy duty pallets as the back of my manure bin and they are secured on either side that way and it has held up great so far!
You can run your fence whether it is wire or tape to the T posts to help keep ponies away too. Just put caps over the tops please!!
Can you spray a tree killer herbicide on the trees to kill them? Then cut em up and burn them? Or at least cut off the branches or “arms” so the areas that create seeds will be gone?
This x 1000!
For the past decade, I’ve been renting farms. As I renter, I haven’t been able to make permanent changes to fence lines (nor have I wanted to pay to do so on someone else’s property), so I’ve always used step-in posts when I need to section off something.
The plastic ones in the top link are garbage-- the slats to hold the tape/wire snap off easily, the posts bend and bow with the tiniest amount of pressure, and worst of all, I’ve had them snap in half after only a few months use, leaving jagged plastic exposed.
While I hate fiberglass, I have been pleasantly surprised by the ones in the bottom link. I bought a ton of them in a pinch back in 2012, and even after 8 years in the elements, they are in good shape. My only criticisms are that they are very short. Also, if your soil is exceptionally hard or rocky, you’ll likely have trouble getting them in the ground. The risks of fiberglass are always in the back of my mind, but knock on wood, no issues…
This x 1000!
For the past decade, I’ve been renting farms. As I renter, I haven’t been able to make permanent changes to fence lines (nor have I wanted to pay to do so on someone else’s property), so I’ve always used step-in posts when I need to section off something. I use them with both electric tape and wire.
The plastic ones in the top link are garbage-- the slats to hold the tape/wire snap off easily, the posts bend and bow with the tiniest amount of pressure, and worst of all, I’ve had them snap in half after only a few months use, leaving jagged plastic exposed.
While I hate fiberglass, I have been pleasantly surprised by the ones in the bottom link. I bought a ton of them in a pinch back in 2012, and even after 8 years in the elements, they are in good shape. My only criticisms are that they are very short. Also, if your soil is exceptionally hard or rocky, you’ll likely have trouble getting them in the ground. The risks of fiberglass are always in the back of my mind, but knock on wood, no issues…
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
