Horses - fencing advice needed

[Ken45101]

When we first started out, we put up barbed wire. We found the horses were using it to scratch their rumps and getting small cuts. That was the only barbed wire we put up and it's gone now.

More and more I'm seeing the need for electrified fence with horses. We keep the horses in a smaller (8 ac) summer pasture to keep them from getting too fat. Well, they keep pushing the non electrified fence over to get to the grass on the other side. We have also had them break the board fence that we have around the house. reaching over to graze.

However, I'm going to heavier wire than the typical light gauge electric fence wire. The deer tore down a section of that and one of the horses apparently got tangled in it and had a deep cut on his knee Now I'm either using electrified rope or electrified regular smooth wire (two strands of 12 ga wire.) It's a bit more work to put up but lasts a lot longer.

Ken

 

[tallyho8]

I never use electric wire on a wire fence. I only use it on a board fence that horses can easily see.

On wire fences I use poly tape because it is highly visible and becomes a visual barrier to the horses.

 

[JakeBrake]

Nothing to add, but I thought this was an interesting article in the paper this morning.

Yazoo Co. mule eludes rescuers | The Clarion-Ledger | clarionledger.com

 

[yelbike]

Jake nice avatar!

Has anyone had problems with the electrified rope wearing and the corners? I've had problems wire the rope and copper fraying near the pulley wheels.

 

[grsthegreat]

OUCH! $7/ft X 1100 ft= OUCH! Sure looks good though and last a long time as well.

Nice pics there guys. Hey GRS, I assume the donkey's not a jack? I didn't see any Fjord cross mules around there, even though, that might make a little "pulling machine" of an animal!

No, hes a jack. But hes kept in own pen. Hes an older BLM rescue. Too old to worry about gelding. He also is scared to death of the horses.

But man is he a friendly character.... loves attention