Horse fence advisor

Horses rank among the world’s most popular pets. They must be kept and cared for in a way which is appropriate to the species. In addition to stables, paddocks, food and riding accessories, this also includes horse fences, of course. Only by opting for a high-quality electric horse fence can you really ensure the animals’ safety. What does an electric fence for horses do and what should I particularly pay attention to when purchasing one? You can find answers to these important questions here along with tips on which electric horse fences are available for which purpose and how to correctly equip an electric fence for a horse paddock.

Safety for horses

According to Statista.de, over 400,000 horses were kept in Germany in 2010. Although that is less than in the 60s, for example, when roughly 1.2 million horses were kept in the Federal Republic of Germany, it’s still quite a respectable figure. In the same year, over 62,000 horses were kept in Switzerland (which has a smaller surface area and smaller population than Germany) for agriculture or equestrian sports. In surveys, around 68,000 Germans indicated that they were familiar with horse riding. Many of them actually took part in the sport. These figures make one thing clear: In Central Europe, horses are far more than an important farm animal or pet. Horses are a real passion. Our aim is to protect horses and keep them safe with just as much passion. Our horse fences, which are available in many different versions, are designed with the well-being of the animals in mind and are devised to offer horse owners the highest degree of benefit and satisfaction. An electric horse fence is indispensable whether you own just one horse, a farm, estate or stud farm, or whether you keep several horses or even run a riding school. What should I consider here, given that so many different types of horse exist? Whether your animal is a cold blood or hot blood horse, a thoroughbred, pony or Shetland pony, observe the following points to provide your pet with optimum protection. Only in this way will you be able to ensure that your “Master of Escape” will stay safe in his field, right where you want him.

What are the different types of horse fence?

Fences for horses are almost as multifaceted as the huge variety of cold blood and hot blood breeds of horses that exist. Wooden horse fences have been in use for centuries and are likely to continue being used for many more years to come. They can be seen around many paddocks and offer considerable advantages. The natural materials blend into the environment, and there is no risk of injury for the enclosed animals. However, unfortunately, upon closer inspection, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages, as a wooden fence for a horse paddock is not particularly weather-resistant. In addition, it can be easy for strong-willed, aggressive, powerful or temperamental horses to damage a wooden fence, or in the worst case scenario, to break through it. If you really wish to ensure a high level of safety, we advise that you keep up with the times and rather than investing in a wooden paddock fence, we recommend opting for a combination of a wooden fence and more effective methods, such as electricity. Nevertheless, when keeping horses, it’s a good idea to permanently enclose the riding arena, animal enclosure or field with wooden fencing. Attention must be paid to stability on this extremely easy-to-erect fence.

The electric horse fence offers a suitable alternative to this. It’s similar, to a certain extent, to ordinary electric fences and can therefore also be used for other animals such as cows, sheep or goats. What characterises an electric fence for horses? Clearly the fact that electricity is used. So, not only is there a mechanical barrier, but the animals are also deterred by an electric shock when they touch the fence, and therefore do not try to escape through it. An electric fence is the preferred option whether used as a permanent, semi-permanent or mobile horse fence. Although the fence is continuously supplied with electricity, this does not represent a danger. The animals are frightened away by the short, sharp electric shock that they receive if they come into contact with the conductors. As soon as they move back, they stop receiving the shock. Regardless of the model, this principle characterises all electric fences for horses, other pets and livestock.

The advantages of electric fences for horse paddocks

Compared to permanent electric fences made of wood, electric horse fences offer decisive advantages. These include:

• durability
• resistance to wear
• the highest possible level of safety
• can be used on a permanent or mobile basis
• modern technology
• easy to mount and maintain
• not just designed for horses

It’s also important to remember that an electric horse fence is not just used for fencing animals in but also for keeping wild animals out. Thus, on the one hand, the horses are kept safe within the enclosed area. While, on the other hand, the electric horse fence also ensures that no intruders can reach your animals from outside. If you keep valuable thoroughbred horses for breeding or riding you, no doubt, constantly worry that the animals could be stolen during your absence or overnight. By relying on an electric fence to keep your horses safe you can avoid this problem, as anyone seeking to gain unauthorised access will come into contact with the electricity or at least first have to work out how to get to the electric fence gate. Sometimes we read in the news about criminals who inflict pain on horses or even kill them for the wildest of reasons. An electric fence for horses also provides an effect deterrent against this, as it provides more reliable protection than a fence made solely of wood.

Mobile horse fences

A mobile horse fence is a variation of the electric fence designed for short-term use. A mobile electric fence for horses can be quickly mounted and dismantled in just a few easy steps. If you wish to quickly fence off an area, separate an animal or small group of animals, temporarily enclose a field or ensure safe fencing when travelling, a mobile electric fence is just the thing. Thanks to the kit made up of conductors with integrated plastic posts, mounting this type of fence is child’s play, and yet at the same time it’s extremely secure. The electrifiable fence for mobile use can be useful on trekking holidays or courses, during horse shows or for fencing in small numbers of horses, and is just as impressive as its permanent relative. With a mobile fence, you can ensure safety while saving time, effort and money. A mobile horse fence is, of course, also equipped with an energiser operated by a battery unit and should be constructed with care.

Components of the electric fencing kit for horses

Posts

Of course, a fence cannot exist without fence posts. On a permanent electric horse fence, these are generally made of wood although many electric horse fences also generally consist of metal or plastic posts. The latter are used for mobile horse fences rather than permanent structures for paddocks, stable enclosures of fences around the riding arena. The posts are arranged at regular distances around the edge of the area to be enclosed, and are firmly and deeply embedded into the ground so that they remain securely in place. It’s possible to use impregnated wooden posts which are able to resist the rain, wind, cold temperatures and the sun’s rays for many years. Affordable models include Octo-Wood posts.

Energiser

The stables or stud farm will need an energiser to supply the electric fence with electricity. Energisers are connected to a power supply and provide the fence system with electricity. The more powerful the energiser for the horse fence, the more electricity will be generated and therefore the more efficiently the fence will operate. If it’s not possible to connect the energiser to the mains power supply, a battery-operated energiser can be used. These are recommended above all if the paddock is set away from the stables or buildings. This type of electric fence energiser is battery-operated or operated by a rechargeable battery set. Battery sets are generally included in the electric fencing kit for horses, but can also be purchased later, if required. Completely new solar-powered models are proof that a new era has dawned! These require a solar panel which stores energy from the sun and converts it into electricity. It is important for the energiser to be adequately powerful so that it can supply even long fencing at the stables with a sufficient amount of electricity. The strength of the electric shock (electricity) generated by the energiser should be as high as possible. 2000 V is the minimum safety voltage for ordinary electric fences. However, the thicker the hair on your horse, the more powerful your energiser needs to be so that the animal can actually feel the electric shock.

Conductors

The conducting material is just as important as the energiser. Conductors include polywire such as horse wires, polywire for horse paddocks or horse tapes through which the electricity, generated by the energiser, flows. They conduct electricity and are thus mounted between the fence posts and along the entire fence system. Never skimp on quality where conductors are concerned as the electric horse fence will only operate smoothly if equipped with high-quality conductors. Polywire is often used, as is wire, however, tape has also proven itself successful, not least due to the fact that it is well visible. Electric fence tape for horses is highly powerful and makes an excellent conductor, including in the long term. It is also compatible with the widest variety of electric fences. It must be pulled tightly and must be correctly connected together. Conducting tape should never be tied together or mounted in a way which could interrupt the flow of electricity. You can use standard connectors to do this or Litzclips manufactured by Kerbl. Otherwise, if you don’t observe these points, opting for an electric fence for your horse paddock makes little sense.

If you have a long fence, you should purchase high-performance conducting material. The longer the fence, the more conductive the horse fence tape must be. This means that its resistance is as low as possible. If the tape claims too much energy for itself, there will not be enough left for the electric fence. HPC and Tricond are ideal for use on longer fences. It’s not just the electric tape itself that’s important for electric fences for horses, but also the way in which the tape must be mounted. Ideally, three rows of conducting material are arranged at different heights. Foals, mares and stallions, and both large and small animals are effectively deterred or fenced in and protected. The fence height must be appropriate for the animal’s height in hands. A large range of tape exists in various widths, with several or few conductor wires, and in various materials, colours and qualities.

Testers

A tester is used to check that the required voltage is being supplied to the entire fence system. Testers for electric fences are not an optional accessory but are in fact compulsory. One of the fence owner’s roles includes regularly inspecting the fence system and checking the electrical voltage. Measuring the voltage is considerably easy with a tester. A digital volt meter is also an advantage for checking the fence voltage.

Grounding on a horse fence

What else should be included in your calculations? One factor which, unfortunately, is not always taken seriously, is grounding. As we experts regularly notice, this is one of the main sources of error, however very few are aware of its importance. More than three quarters of horse fences have faulty grounding systems. And yet, grounding is not rocket science. The grounding post or grounding stake is used to perform this important task. Together with the energiser, this component ensures that, in the event of an electric shock, the energy can be conducted into the ground and stored back in the energiser. Therefore, grounding must be taken seriously. Adding a second grounding post is always an advantage.

Accessories for the horse paddock

The role played by insulators and connectors on the electric horse fence should not be underestimated. When constructing an electric horse fence, make sure that you reduce the number of points at which energy could be lost to a minimum. The can be correctly attached to the fence posts and other components with an insulator, and connectors can be used to connect several conductor tapes together. If you can see sparks or hear cracking, this indicates that the transitions are not seamless and that electricity is not being transmitted due to contact problems.

Pay attention to every detail and aim for optimum safety

Of course, each individual component in the electric fencing kit for horses is essential, however, other external factors must also be taken into account. Many make their calculations without taking the vegetation, soil conditions, lay of the enclosed land or the animals’ behaviour into account. Finally, electric horse fences can also be affected by grass. If the grass and plants are too tall and dense and come into contact with the fence material, this can cause slight discharging in this area and affect the overall performance. Therefore, when erecting an electric horse paddock fence, it’s worth paying attention to every little detail. You don’t need to worry about the disadvantages, as there are virtually none. Some may regard electric fences for horses as a necessary evil, however horse owners appreciate them for their reliability. The animals soon learn to keep away from the fence to avoid getting an electric shock. The shock is unpleasant but harmless.
 

Electric fences for ponies

Electric fences for ponies  are not generally very different in structure to those for horses. Of course, the fence posts on electric fences for ponies do not need to be as tall.
You can buy posts for electric fences for ponies according to the size of your pony. The Equestrian Federation specifies a post height of 0.75 x the withers.
Therefore, if we assume that the maximum size of a pony is 148 cm, the tallest post on the  electric horse fence should be 111 cm above the ground. The strength of the energiser for ponies can
be the same as that of an electric fence for horses. In this way, electric fences for ponies are equally suitable for all “Masters of Escape”.