Fencing- temporary or permanent?

[Debbie]

So I've hatched a plan to temporarily tape off two new paddocks for Blossom to graze. She needs to rotate out of her current field so I can get them rested at least a little, and to get the grass re estabished in them.

I was thinking of doing simple step in electric posts with white electrical tape. It should be good and visible, and with Blossom, I was hoping to do three strands so it was duly good and visible.

However, this morning, she snagged her blanket on the only bit of fencing that is this type of step in posts. In the blink of an eye she'd ripped the post out and had the fence flattened Other people's ponies seem to respect the temporary fencing quite well. In fact Lady Bear, the foxtrotter mare we had, respected a simple rope strung up. Blossom walks right through it!

Do you think Blossom'll respect the temporary fencing more if its got the three strands of tape up? Or should I plan for my 'temporary' paddocks to become permanents??

[harveydales]

Oh dear - I guess she is going to have to learn that fencing can bite! Trouble is, with her rugs on she probably won't feel it and so won't respect it. I like to have permanent fencing (electric or otherwise) round the perimeter and temporary fencing inside so I can alter the fields easily.

I think having 2 or 3 strands does make a difference though. Not sure what would be the best in your situation...........

[cadeby]

I would definitely plan for PERMANENT perimeter fencing. One of my mares hoiks the plastic posts out with her teeth and doesn't care if she gets zapped as the reward of greener grass is worth the few seconds of pain. However, she doesn't touch the permanent fencing which has wooden posts and 2 strands of electro-rope.

[NFK Dumpling]

I have to make sure that both ends of the temporary tape are firmly secured but this seems to work. The perimeter fences are electric rope and wooden stakes because of the wind. The whole field is stock-fenced for cattle with barbed-wire on top, courtesy of the neighbouring farmer

James did go through a stage of snapping the plastic posts off at the ground about five years ago but it stopped all of sudden so I think he must have gotten a good shock

[greydales]

I take it you don't have a current running through it Debbie? Some ponies will soon cotton onto this and just walk through it - I have a couple (Saturn and Olivia spring to mind!). Even if you have three strands up, if it's not connected it won't deter them.

I am sure if you have a reasonable current connected then once they get zapped they will have a healthy respect - however I have to say Saturn and Olivia will regularly test it and know when it's not on

I am lucky to have mains connection with a new energiser that delivers a huge zap LOL.

If you have permanent fencing, what were you thinking of? Post and rail?

[mickey]

Depends if you'll have it live. If you've never had it live she wont have the respect for it- Mickey only needs to hear it clicking and he wont go within a metre of it (making turning out interesting!). He has had some decent belts off it over the years and now respects it. Even if its on the floor turned off its rare he'll cross that line.
If its live Id give it a go- but if she starts walking through Im afraid she'd lose her rug for an hour, so she'd hopefully get a shock and keep away if she were mine (cruel owner alert- nothing annoys me more than spending hours putting it up, turning it on and the little darlings saundering straight through it. Gah!)

[Debbie]

Actually her fence is live all the time...and I know its working great because I got nailed by it only last week. Takes a day or so to lose the 'tingle' when that happens.

I'm thinking I'll have to go with more permanent paddocks with her, though. She has this game, even with the stronger current. She fiddles round with the plastic things that hold the electric line away from the woven wire perimeter fencing. I've seen her get nailed by it...she runs off, and usually won't play with it for awhile, but yes, I could easily see her discovering to grab ahold of the plastic poles and give them a yank to get rid of that whole annoying temporary fence.

Emily, I'm with you, after spending ages putting fencing up, I feel like when it takes her a split second to dissasemble the whole thing! Blankies can be sooooo not worth it She knows she can get away with it if she's got her coat on.

[stevebartle]

Turn it on and put it on a training setting if it has one they soon get a respect for it then once this is achieved you can turn it down or off unless you have a super inteligent one like my old dales mare Peggy she goes up to the fence unit and listens to see if its ticking or not . When its not she will push the tapes down to get to fresh grass I thought of lending her out because she can spot a flat battery on the fence unit before I do

[Debbie]

Better than those gadgets that tell you if your fence is flat ;D Clever girl

[NFK Dumpling]

James has a deep respect for electric fencing - he also seems to get a comparatively huge shock which has him leap in the air with all four feet and then charge about only pausing to shake his feet - a bit like a cat in the rain

I have a horrible feeling that Musky understands when its not on already

[echolady]

i have this problem with echo, horse setting just wasnt strong enough to begin with. turnd it up and after a few big zaps she got the message! every now and again we turn it up a little to keep her on her toes!
otherwise we throw a ball in there to keep her busy trying to destroy that instead of the expensive electric stuff!

[Debbie]

Drummer also knows when the power fails, usually within 30mins.

Hmmmmm.....Drummer's little sister seems to have this knack as well.

Methinks for safety all round, I'll give up the idea of having the ability to move temporary fencing about, and simply throw the whole thing up like Fort Knox.

[PonyGirl]

I want to know what is escape proof!

[Debbie]

[mickey]

And having said that my little darling has been going AWOL- 3 times in 1 day he was put back... tomorrows job is fencing!