horse fence alternative (electric)

Anonymous-0 · Nov 17, 2011

Hey,
just ran across something about electric fence that was creative and looks decent and almost cheap....

We can only have temporary fences here in my area so electric is the option. Visibility dictates a tape or the heavier (6-8mm) electric rope which can get expensive for anything good enough to carry power any distance. Can get an electric twine (?) pretty cheap that will knock it in the dirt at about any distance we deal with around here but not real visable.

Some creative sole set solid corner posts and made his fence with 5/8 inch plastic banding material (visability and a little strength) then ran the electric twine next to it. Has a fence that is visable, looks decent, and shocks harder than anything other than bare wire, and costs less than using the cheapest tape or rope available.

Have to refence a couple pastures in spring and will see how it works out but the guy swears by his.

Just thought I'd share.

Dave

Nebraska Cowman · Nov 17, 2011

If the horse learns where the fence is once he don't
need to be able to see it. My horse won't walk
between two small fence posts if he thinks there may
be a wire there.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 17, 2011

Ours are usually good also. The visability thing works both for the animals inside and the passerby's as well as wild animals. Had some hogs get in a pasture with the stallion and a couple mares/foals a few years ago and the stallion ran thru the fence chasing the hogs......

Allan in NE · Nov 17, 2011

What the cowman said,

You don't need an electric fence with horses, because they are the most easily contained of any animal. Probably 'cause they're lazy and just not all that bright. :>)

If they know where the fence is, they won't cross it; one tiny strand of kite string will hold 'em, unless of course, they are all worked up.

Besides that, electrical fences really ruin a horse; they have a memory that won't quit.

Allan

Anonymous-0 · Nov 17, 2011

(quoted from post at 06:14:24 11/17/11) What the cowman said,

You don't need an electric fence with horses, because they are the most easily contained of any animal. Probably 'cause they're lazy and just not all that bright. :&gt

If they know where the fence is, they won't cross it; one tiny strand of kite string will hold 'em, unless of course, they are all worked up.

Besides that, electrical fences really ruin a horse; they have a memory that won't quit.

Allan

I need to send a couple horses to you two and let you tell them that. I've got a mare that will walk the line until she (smells??) a weak spot and ducks under like a deer. She had two babies and passed it on to both of them. One would watch me turn the fence off and duck under until I faked him out a couple times. One will time the pulses and slip under but he just sold and will be picked up on the weekend.

Joneil · Nov 17, 2011

I disagree with horses being easy to contain. Ours know when the electric is off, or shorted out, and they'll push it over to eat on the other side. One horse tests it with his nose. He doesn't shock himself, he just gets his nose really close to the wire. If it's on he walks away, if it's off he starts pushing. They do stay in until they break the wire. And we had a pony whose hair was so thick it insulated him. He would push right between the wires.

For the cows we cut old t-shirts, curtains, whatever into strips. Then we would tie those on the wire every 20 to 30 feet.

hayray · Nov 17, 2011

The twine you are referring to is what we over here call Polywire, works great. I often use fiberglass sucker rod for corner post. In this photo the top strand is 12.5 gauge high tensile and the bottom strand is the Gallagher turbo wire, a combination of copper and stainless steels strands in a nylon carrier. Easy to work with, we roll it up with reels and move it around. Don't buy the cheap stuff, it breaks within a couple months of use, this stuff last a few years easy.

hayray · Nov 17, 2011

I wonderd if they were being sarcastic because I agree, all things being equal, meaning tame and trained cows and horses and a good operating electric fence (which most are no where close) horses are way harder to contain. Remember, those guys are from open country in Nebraska where there is miles and miles of fence, they probably can't remember what a electric fence is cause I don't think hardly anyone uses it out there.

SJ · Nov 17, 2011

We must of had "trained horses".Over 9yrs are horses(mares) got out maybey 2-3 times.When they did they didnt go 20yds.Why?Cause thats where the food was and no love available.Only reason they did get out was because a deer broke the fence or we left something open.We didn't even leave the electric on the last couple years we had them.Thats the answer,plenty of food and no love.

Good Luck

Stan

LorenMN · Nov 17, 2011

I wouldn't use plastic banding material. Seems like it would be an accident waiting to happen if a horse gets tangled up in it. Use 1.50" wide tape with embedded stainless steel wire.

souNdguy · Nov 17, 2011

them make a poly flat brade with electric wire embedded in it.

less work.. already made for ya,.

soundguy

Allan in NE · Nov 17, 2011

Gotta ask yourself why they want out. :>)

Allan

Dick L · Nov 17, 2011

Horses like people have different opinions of how good an electric fence. They also express their opinions by staying where they are suppose to be or go where ever they have a mind to.

Not a bunch different than city deer hunters.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 17, 2011

(quoted from post at 09:37:34 11/17/11) Gotta ask yourself why they want out. :&gt

Allan

Kinda like Forrest Gump................"I just got out and am standin here.for no particular reason...... They useally walk up to me and wait for me to open the gate and let them back in.....

hayray · Nov 17, 2011

Here is a picture using the fiberglass post, I just tie it like string.

jose bagge · Nov 18, 2011

Dave:
I have seen some guys out here use the material from Coverall buildings as fencing- they sell it in 4" widths by the roll and it looks pretty good (non-electric). I have also seen a good looking fence made out of surplus Fire Hose.

While racing in baja, i passed about a mile of fence made out of surplus army cot bed springs, and about another mile made out of car hoods placed end to end...not much wood down there.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 18, 2011

(quoted from post at 09:53:44 11/18/11) Dave:
I have seen some guys out here use the material from Coverall buildings as fencing- they sell it in 4" widths by the roll and it looks pretty good (non-electric). I have also seen a good looking fence made out of surplus Fire Hose.

While racing in baja, i passed about a mile of fence made out of surplus army cot bed springs, and about another mile made out of car hoods placed end to end...not much wood down there.

been collecting fire hose. Was going to use it for a roundpen but got to thinking of setting/maintaining/replacing posts and went with steel fence panels... Just thought the banding material was pretty creative

horse fence alternative (electric)

Anonymous-0

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Nebraska Cowman

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Allan in NE

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Joneil

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