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Choosing Fencing

4K views 13 replies 8 participants last post by  Koolio 
#1 ·
I write this to gain perspective and insight with people who have used different kinds of fencing since I'm completely redoing ours... because it is TIME! Actually it's past time but I digress.

We have large horses and miniature, the smallest being around 26" and even smaller when we have a baby or two. I do NOT want to use wire fencing, that's what was up when we bought the place and it has been more of a headache than a convenience. The headaches it has caused outweigh it's affordability, with the trees falling over on it, the horses pushing it over, those great times that they've kicked it and gotten a little scratched up, the minis using it to rub out their itchies -AND- the great time that someone cut the fence to our front paddock. NOT. WORTH. IT.

I was considering electric rope, but our power is really shoddy, it would end up being an expense on the electric bill, and not to mention with all of the weeds and trees surrounding our property line, it would be very easy for it to short out. We also can get ice storms and our power has gone out for up to 6 days, and I don't want to have to worry about keeping them in that long with a limited source of water.

I was also considering wood... it would be expensive but in my experiences it seems to be one of the better options. You only have to replace one board or one section if something happens, no electric costs, it's easy to replace boards. To keep in the miniature babies and keep things out, and to keep the horses from nomming away at the top board, I would run a thin line of electric on the inside that had enough bite to keep them off of it, but not enough to significantly raise the power bill. I could also switch it off when horses weren't in the pasture.

Has anyone used anything different? Thoughts, opinions, advice all welcome!
 
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#3 ·
you have used cheap, flimsy electric wire.
Use 12.5 gauge high tension cable, 4 strands. and Put a miniumum 2 joule works in weeds charger on it. The charger is a reminder, but the cable will also work as a phsical barrier. All your corner posts need to be concreted and angle braces concreted, but then you only need T posts about every 20 feet.

Once properly installed you will never have to mess with it. If a tree falls on it, cut the tree the wire springs back up. No animal is gonna break it. A horse running into it and it stretches until they stop. Only way to go.
 
#5 ·
Ah, assumptions. We used electric tape :) And I definitely will never use high tension wire. I've seen too many bad things happen and that's the last thing I need is to rehab one of my own horses. By wire fencing I mean like, horse fencing that you buy in rolls. Also done with t-posts, again I've seen too many injuries. Learning from other people's mistakes, do not want my own :P

NdAppy - I was thinking about that fencing too. I may have to email them and get some more info, thanks for the input! :D
 
#4 ·
We're doing a test section of fence before sully investing, but this is what we are doing -

we are doing a "strand" of the 5" flex fence at the top ( High Impact Flex-Fence | One-Person Tightening | The New Standard ) and two strands of the raceline coated wire ( Raceline Flex-Fence Coated Wire - Horse Fences )

I've been emailing back and forth with the company for more than a year now. I have received pictures and had extenseive conversations about what would work for our area. Like I said, we are just going to do a test section so we are not out the large amount we would be if we replaced the whole fence and had it not be worth it.
 
#7 ·
if deer are breaking it, it is cheap flimsy electric, that tape stuff is terrible, you cant keep it tight, the wind eventually shreds it, trees and deer break it.
I have never had a high tension cable injury. People either dont install it properly or are calling something different than I have high tension cable.
This stuff is 12.5 gauge, uses the big springs and ratchets to tighten, runs about $100 for 4000 feet. You need small bolt cutters to cut the stuff as regular wire dikes wont do.
 
#8 ·
Never said they broke it, and I've never had a problem with it breaking or shredding. Thanks, but it's still a 'no' on the high tension.

Themacpack - Love how that stuff looks and was considering it too. My gelding and mare would respect the fence, and I probably wouldn't even have to turn it on for them... it's just those darn minis! >__< They are SO lucky they are cute and entertaining!
 
#10 ·
That's what I use, they call it no climb horse fence around here. Mine is topped with the white electric tape on wooden posts. The fence always looks nice but each year there are some posts that have to be replaced due to rot even though they are pressure treated.
In hindsight I should have used the electric rope on top as it would last longer but I would have to change all the hardware to change it now, so it stays.
 
#12 ·
Is the electric rope easy to fix if it's broken? Does it splice in easily and does it look good and hold when it's fixed?
 
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