Is electric perimeter fencing okay?

jkpisani · 04-08-2006, 01:54 AM

I need some feedback. We are currently living in a rental place and we lost all of our fencing here last hurricane season. We are planning to move (hopefully) in about 6 months or so to our land. Here is the problem:

I am wanting to seperate my kids' two ponies and bring them closer to the house so they can fool with them more. (right now all of our horses are on a neighbor's property and it's just not the same) and they are jusyt too crowded over there. Well, we have plenty posts, some tee posts and some wooden line posts to put something up.

The two ponies are 10+yrs so they shouldn't be acting stupid about challenging the fence and all. Also, keep in mind that they are only 12 hands.

My husband refuses to put up anything even remotely permanent. So, the other day, while I was sleeping, he was being sweet and he wanted to surprise me so he went to the feed store and bought a whole box of step in posts and some of the 1/4" electric tape and a fence charger. He plans to put it up and keep the ponies in there for us. He only plans to use the step in posts except for where the gate goes. But, when I look at it, it is just so short compared to what I have always had (with the big guys)!

Well, I am scared to death that it's not going to be enough. I mean, I know ALL fences just about are more psychological than physical barriers but, it just seems like there needs to be something - anything- strong between the horses and the road. Right? Please tell me I'm wrong here and just over reacting because my hubby has, of course, already opened EVERYTHING and stuck the darn posts in the ground and can't take them back to the store. Needless to say, he is determined to use the supplies he bought and now I have ruined his good intentions.

I was thinking maybe I could add the wooden line posts and add a taller strand of something more substantial like a 2" tape or an electric rope. I have a friend that has had pretty good luck with the electric tape but, she uses it to seperate a stallion and her mares. Not for a perimeter fence and I'm just scared.

ANY feedback-good or bad- will be appreciated.

reba4 · 04-08-2006, 07:40 AM

Well I use the electric rope with no problems, but I use t-posts with caps on them. The step in posts do tend to be pretty flimsy. They tip over fairly easily and dont stand up to wind. If you feel they are secure in the ground and your ponies already respect electric fence it might be OK.

Faceman · 04-08-2006, 07:52 AM

I can only give you my experience. I tried to use that setup to separate my 20 acre pasture into two 10 acre sections. It worked well for a while, but if you are using a low impedence solar charger like I was, it does great on noses, but doesn't provide enough oomph to get through their winter coat too well. Mine got in a habit of leaning over the short step-in posts to eat the grass on the other side - once they start doing that they lose respect for the fence and it's all over. At that point they start getting tangled, bolt, drag your tape all over the county, break and bend the posts, etc. Overall, not too great.

However, as your horses are small, the height shouldn't be any problem, and you are only looking at 6 months - without a winter coat - so you may be OK. If you go that route, be sure to lead them up to the fence and make them get their little noses zapped a couple of times. They just hate that...

Cowboyskeeper · 04-08-2006, 08:36 AM

I used the step in posts and tape for a relief paddock and have had no problems at all. We used a regular fence charger though and it packs quite a wallop. If your ponies know what an electric fence is it should be fine. After a heavy snow this year, we had to retighten the tape, but everything else is still fine.

Stephanie

joustinggirl · 04-08-2006, 08:56 AM

Watch out for deer. They don't care how strong it is, they will go through it. And if a horse wants to bad enough, they will go through it too. We always have woven wire with the electric on the inside.

alihspharaoh · 04-08-2006, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faceman

If you go that route, be sure to lead them up to the fence and make them get their little noses zapped a couple of times. They just hate that...

you are just mean...lol

Touche · 04-08-2006, 09:54 AM

I use woven wire and my middle strand is aluminum wire.
Has worked for me for 13 years, every now and again I have to replace some wire. It does get aged.
I use T-posts with caps on them also.

As far as the deer, they can and will jump it especially when they have been shocked by it.

I think it is sweet that your husband did that for you and the kids, give it a try-it should work out OK.

Good luck!

jkpisani · 04-09-2006, 06:36 PM

Thank you! I really appreciate the input. I didn't mean to sound ungrateful to my husband. I am just so darn paranoid something will happen to one of the horses. I had never tried electric and wasn't sure if it would really keep them in. I mean, we are right on the side of a road. If they get out, well, I don't have to tell you what could happen.

I will give it a try during the day at first and make sure they don't get out before I leave them in it overnight.

Thanks again.

04-08-2006, 01:54 AM
jkpisani Weanling Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Mississippi Posts: 237	Is electric perimeter fencing okay? I need some feedback. We are currently living in a rental place and we lost all of our fencing here last hurricane season. We are planning to move (hopefully) in about 6 months or so to our land. Here is the problem: I am wanting to seperate my kids' two ponies and bring them closer to the house so they can fool with them more. (right now all of our horses are on a neighbor's property and it's just not the same) and they are jusyt too crowded over there. Well, we have plenty posts, some tee posts and some wooden line posts to put something up. The two ponies are 10+yrs so they shouldn't be acting stupid about challenging the fence and all. Also, keep in mind that they are only 12 hands. My husband refuses to put up anything even remotely permanent. So, the other day, while I was sleeping, he was being sweet and he wanted to surprise me so he went to the feed store and bought a whole box of step in posts and some of the 1/4" electric tape and a fence charger. He plans to put it up and keep the ponies in there for us. He only plans to use the step in posts except for where the gate goes. But, when I look at it, it is just so short compared to what I have always had (with the big guys)! Well, I am scared to death that it's not going to be enough. I mean, I know ALL fences just about are more psychological than physical barriers but, it just seems like there needs to be something - anything- strong between the horses and the road. Right? Please tell me I'm wrong here and just over reacting because my hubby has, of course, already opened EVERYTHING and stuck the darn posts in the ground and can't take them back to the store. Needless to say, he is determined to use the supplies he bought and now I have ruined his good intentions. I was thinking maybe I could add the wooden line posts and add a taller strand of something more substantial like a 2" tape or an electric rope. I have a friend that has had pretty good luck with the electric tape but, she uses it to seperate a stallion and her mares. Not for a perimeter fence and I'm just scared. ANY feedback-good or bad- will be appreciated.

04-08-2006, 07:40 AM
reba4 Long Yearling Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Traverse City, Michigan Posts: 1,007	Well I use the electric rope with no problems, but I use t-posts with caps on them. The step in posts do tend to be pretty flimsy. They tip over fairly easily and dont stand up to wind. If you feel they are secure in the ground and your ponies already respect electric fence it might be OK.

04-08-2006, 07:52 AM
Faceman Kid Safe Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arkansas Ozarks Posts: 7,257	I can only give you my experience. I tried to use that setup to separate my 20 acre pasture into two 10 acre sections. It worked well for a while, but if you are using a low impedence solar charger like I was, it does great on noses, but doesn't provide enough oomph to get through their winter coat too well. Mine got in a habit of leaning over the short step-in posts to eat the grass on the other side - once they start doing that they lose respect for the fence and it's all over. At that point they start getting tangled, bolt, drag your tape all over the county, break and bend the posts, etc. Overall, not too great. However, as your horses are small, the height shouldn't be any problem, and you are only looking at 6 months - without a winter coat - so you may be OK. If you go that route, be sure to lead them up to the fence and make them get their little noses zapped a couple of times. They just hate that... __________________ Read what I said, not what you THINK I said...

04-08-2006, 08:36 AM
Cowboyskeeper Weanling Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tennessee Posts: 201	I used the step in posts and tape for a relief paddock and have had no problems at all. We used a regular fence charger though and it packs quite a wallop. If your ponies know what an electric fence is it should be fine. After a heavy snow this year, we had to retighten the tape, but everything else is still fine. Stephanie __________________ A closed mouth gathers no foot.

04-08-2006, 08:56 AM
joustinggirl Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Boones Mill, Virgina Posts: 3,386	Watch out for deer. They don't care how strong it is, they will go through it. And if a horse wants to bad enough, they will go through it too. We always have woven wire with the electric on the inside. __________________ Pink Tiger says \'Grrrrrr\'

04-08-2006, 09:54 AM
Touche Coming two Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,902	I use woven wire and my middle strand is aluminum wire. Has worked for me for 13 years, every now and again I have to replace some wire. It does get aged. I use T-posts with caps on them also. As far as the deer, they can and will jump it especially when they have been shocked by it. I think it is sweet that your husband did that for you and the kids, give it a try-it should work out OK. Good luck! __________________ Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. W.C.Fields

04-09-2006, 06:36 PM
jkpisani Weanling Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Mississippi Posts: 237	Thank you! I really appreciate the input. I didn't mean to sound ungrateful to my husband. I am just so darn paranoid something will happen to one of the horses. I had never tried electric and wasn't sure if it would really keep them in. I mean, we are right on the side of a road. If they get out, well, I don't have to tell you what could happen. I will give it a try during the day at first and make sure they don't get out before I leave them in it overnight. Thanks again.