I’m looking to find some fencing options to get my gelding access to more pasture. He is very respectful of fencing, so it doesn’t need to be extravagant.
I’d like it to be easy to set up and move around. I’m thinking 2-3 strands of electric tape and t-posts. I think the area I want to fence is about a quarter acre and L-shaped. Does anyone have any input on stuff you’ve used in the past, what you liked and what you didn’t like?
Thanks!
T-posts, with the proper safety caps, and 2-inch hot tape for bottom 3 strands and 1-inch for top strand. I got everything from Tractor supply. I prefer the wide tape since it’s easier to see and takes a strong charge. I also went with 6-foot posts since deer do visit and, if they wanted to jump in, would only take down the top strand of 1-inch
I have been super happy with Premier1’s electric net fences for poultry.
They do have this 4-strand (not mesh) Horse QuikFence that I’m planning to try for sub-dividing a pasture: https://www.premier1supplies.com/hor…p?fence_id=117
I haven’t used it yet however. I would prefer wider tape and might look into sliding an extra holder onto the posts just to run a non-electrified strip of tape to make it easier to see.
-Wendy
For 1/4 acre, I wouldn’t bother with T-posts except at the corners and ends. Line posts can easily be poly step-in posts.
Two strands of tape should be plenty for a horse that respects fence.
The most important part of the fence will be a GOOD charger, properly grounded and hooked up. DO NOT skimp on your ground rods - put them in deep, and use a minimum of 2.
If you do not have access to electricity, Parmak, Gallagher and Premier1 all make fantastic solar chargers. I have yet to find a solar Zareba that works well and consistently. They all crap out after a few months, and never pack much of a punch.
I use Premier1 and PowerFields electric mesh for my goats, and I LOVE IT, but I am VERY wary to use it around the horses. It would be super easy for a horse to get a foot caught in the mesh, and freak out when zapped, and get into all kinds of trouble! I recently got a new horse, and actually replaced an electric mesh shared pasture fenceline before I turned her out, because I did not feel I could trust her judgement around the mesh…
How temporary?
Step in posts are great for truly temporary fencing. Easy to put in, easy to take out. They have built in clips for electric fencing.
If it’s within outer fencing, I’d do a single strand of hot tape.
If it is the outer fencing, I wouldn’t do it. The most respectful horses remain fully capable (mentally, physically) of powerful panic flight responses. No need to risk his life like that.
I have the $2 step in posts and a roll of electric tape that I move around to allow access to areas within our perimeter fencing. It’s so easy and very visible. In total we have maybe 10 posts and 100 yards of tape? So much simpler with the step in posts than with T posts!
I will add that we don’t electrify the temporary fence either, but will only use it when there is sufficient distraction available to entertain ponies (good grass, etc).
I’m thinking extremely temporary. It would only be used on weekends when I am home to supervise and I’d like to take it down regularly so its easier to mow.
That is what we use those white plastic step in posts for.
For something this temporary, I also vote for the plastic step-in posts. T-posts, if pounded in far enough/correctly, won’t come in and out so easily to do every weekend.
Oh, that’s truly temporary. Yeah, step in posts will hold him
Agree 100%. If it’s within a perimeter fence, then yes. If not, then no. When we were replacing fencing and had to use electric for a perimeter side, I used t-posts with 4 strands of tape and a 30 mile charger - it was really hot. But within a pasture? I’d do 1-2 strands of tape on step-in posts with a small solar charger.
It’s just not worth the escape/injury/vehicle accident if he chose to ignore the fence (or something spooked him).
For my electric fencing, I have so many separate areas that I had no desire to attempt to drive 3 ground rods for each area. I put up top and bottom strands of tape that are hot, and a middle strand of braid attached to the ground terminal. I feel a bit of shock wearing rubber boots if I touch only the hot strand. Quite a shock if I touch the ground and the hot. If you use T-posts you can wrap the ground strand around the metal post periodically so it’s as if you have ground rods. It may not matter for your purpose, but I’m finding that wider tape gets beat up by the wind more than narrower tape/braid.
The bolded part can be a result of the tape not being installed and tightened properly. The wind blows right thru TIGHT tape, but it will catch loose tape like a sail and that motion does wear down the plastic and metal filaments of the tape.
I’ve used baler twine or a single strand of un-hot poly wire to temporarily fence off an area for certain old horses so they could assist with lawn mowing. For respectful horses, I like 3 hot strands of poly-wire or 2 strands of the lighter rope or the thinner tape on step in posts. It’s easy to roll back up on the spools and fairly lightweight.
Anyone have any experience with these posts? I’m kind of far from the nearest Tractor Supply, (and its still starting to feel like I live there) so I’d like to order off Amazon if possible. I was going to also get a solar charger and a couple rolls of zareba polytape.
Those look the step in posts I got from Tractor Supply - they work fine, but the 4’ measurement does include the spike part, so your fence will only be about 3 1/2’ tall max. Also, they do flex a good bit, so I ended up using a couple of t-posts as anchors to help support everything.
If your gelding is respectful of fences, you should only need ONE line of electric fence tape. And use the step in posts or else the little metal posts that can be pushed or hammered in.
And if he really is respectful … you honestly probably won’t have to turn it on!
We actually used colored rope every summer with step in posts to let the horses graze various parts of the yard of the summer on the farm. They left it alone. Didn’t even need to use “real” electric wire. HAHA
Those will work fine.
I agree.
They work great for line posts, but suck for corners and ends. They will just tip over at the corners/ends when any tension is put on them. I always use T-posts at the corners/ends to make the fence more stable.
I have used them forever. They do eventually degrade and get brittle in the sun, and the clips break off without much pressure at that point. But some of mine have been in use for 7+ years and are still going strong.
I also have the round gray posts that have 3 black clips on them. They are a PITA to step in, as the plate you step on often just slides down the post vs. going into the ground. I much prefer the square step in posts linked.
He used to live in a pasture that was completely fenced in by yellow rope (with wooden posts and inside of a more robust perimeter fence) and NEVER challenged it. He has also spent much time inside electric tape that was never turned on. Like I said, he is super respectful of fencing. I’m pretty confident that if I build a “wall” out of 6" cavalettis he would never dream of crossing that either. He has no ambition of being a jumper :lol:
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