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How to set up electric fencing for horses

How to set up electric fencing for horses

Using electric fencing is a quick, affordable, and easy way to set up a turnout area for your horse. It is also an effective method of protecting existing fencing from damage as it deters horses from rubbing against it and helps to stop habits such as cribbing which will wreck your fencing.

People often buy electric fencing in the Spring as it is also an ideal time in the year to section off pasture to let it rest and regrow.

 

Where to start with electric fencing

Where you plan to set up your paddocks and what type of horse you have will have an impact on the equipment you will need. This is because these things will affect the size of paddock you will need to set up, as well as determine the height of the fence too.

For example, if you are planning on grazing stallions in the paddocks you may want to use more strands of wire and higher fences compared with grazing Shetlands or foals.

What you will need

Fence Posts
Suitable fence posts are your first essential as they will keep your paddock stable and resilient and ensuring you chose the right fence posts for you is vital- you don’t want them blowing over in the wind and risk your horse escaping!  If you are planning on moving your fencing regularly, then light posts will be for you, whereas if you are looking to build long-lasting paddocks, then wooden fence posts may be more appropriate. This is something you should consider before you set up your paddocks.

Fencing Conductor
Secondly, you will need to find a suitable fencing conductor. There are lots of options from electric fence tape, rope, wire and more. However, for horses, we would always recommend that you use a form of electric fence tape or rope as there is less risk of injury compared to if you plan to use wire, which can be more commonly used for other animals such as livestock. At Farm & Stable we recognise that one size does not suit everyone – so we have a wide range of different types of wires, tapes & ropes so you can find the one that works for you.

Insulators

Next, once you’ve got your fence posts and conducting rope, you will need insulators. These connect the fencing conductor to the posts and stop earthing from occurring. Avoid the common mistake of getting the wrong size insulators for your conductor. It is important to choose the right size/shape insulator for your conductor to allow it to work effectively. This is because if you use the wrong insulators that are not suitable size, it can cause damage to your wires. Therefore, always choose an insulator that matches the conductor. For example, you don’t want to shoehorn flat tape into a round ring conductor as this can cause less or no power on the wire.

Gate handle

You will need gate handle insulators to ensure that the current flows through the gate while you are also kept safe from shocks when you are turning horses out and bringing them in.

Earthing Rods and Energisers

Finally, you will need an earthing rode and an energiser to convert power and push the pulses down the fencing line. This is what will keep your horses of the fencing and safe inside the paddock.  But don’t worry, the pulses from electric fencing are of high voltage but low amperage. This means they are safe but just strong enough to be very nice when touched meaning your horse will respect the boundary.
Make sure the energiser you choose is suitable for the size of the area you want to cover. In our latest catalogue and online, we give you an indication as to what size of paddock the energiser is suitable for – from small paddock to whole farm, then Farm & Stable have an energiser that will meet your needs.
Don’t forget, Solar Energisers may also work for your paddocks too. We have a range of solar panels and solar energisers that make solar energy a viable option – including dual power options to make sure you are protected even on a few cloudy days.

Electric fence tester

You may want to consider using an electric fence tester to check your electric fence is working everywhere. This will allow you to test the voltage to make sure the electrical current is flowing and that there is no earthing occurring. This can happen if there is movement in the posts or if the rope slacks and touches vegetation. Ensuring that there is a current the whole way around your paddock is vital for keeping your horse securely kept within the paddock.

Signs

If your field has any touchpoints with a public footpath, it is worth putting some warning signs on your fencing. You may have been brave enough to test the electric fencing on yourself, but the public may be less than pleased to unexpectedly be shocked by your new fencing.

 

We hope you found this useful and that you have every success grazing your horses and ponies inside your new electric fencing! If you have any questions do not hesitate to get in touch with us either by phone or online chat – we are very happy to discuss your requirements and suggest an electric fencing solution that will work for you.

View all electric fencing range

 

Alternatives to Electric Fencing

We recognise that electric fencing is not for everyone. Some people have paddocks on very shallow soil whereby it is too rocky to put in electric fence posts. Plus, very occasionally someone will have a horse that seems to be immune to the shocks or will run through the electric fencing regardless. In this case, the duracorral system is an excellent solution.

The duracorral turnout pen consists of 8 plastic duracorral panels and a steel gate. The rotomolded polymer panels give the assurance of no sharp edges and being relatively lightweight making it very easy to move around the paddock for the horses to graze on fresh grass. They can easily be transported, set up and assembled by a single person and can be extended to any size and virtually any shape.

Duracorral panels can be used as creep pens, paddock pen, lunge ring, corral systems or even with a couple of panels, you can easily set up and medical pen. The options are limitless.

Duracorral is Safe, Strong & incredibly versatile – a great alternative to electric fencing.

 

 

 



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