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  Discussion on Optimum fence height and spacing
Author Message
Member:
Ladycfp

Posted on Sunday, Nov 19, 2006 - 3:43 pm:

What would I do without you people?

I spent yesterday pounding fence posts and today having an argument with myself over where to hang the insulators. Everything I read online says 5 feet minimum fence height, but that seems high for my girls. I have 2 mares, both around 15 hands. I started hanging them at 24, 36 and 48 inches but then quit, those suckers are hard to move! Please share your fence spacing and height and your rationale, what you wish you'd done, etc. I am hanging 3 rails of electric polyrope on metal t-posts with caps to get through the winter. In the spring I plan to replace the perimeter with HotCote and use the polyrope to create an inner track. The HotCote requires tension and therefore wooden posts, and I am too uncertain about gate placement still to commit to that today. Thanks in advance!
Member:
Erika

Posted on Monday, Nov 20, 2006 - 8:49 am:

I'm always amazed...there is a boarding stable near me that has 200 horses on over 300 acres. They are in large herds. They are kept behind one strand of hot wire at about knee height!

Never seen or heard of one ever getting out.

Mine, on the other hand have 5 foot four-board fence with hot wire around the top, and I have managed to have two jump out!

Sorry, not very helpful to you, but I guess what I'm saying is it depends on your horses.
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Monday, Nov 20, 2006 - 9:31 am:

Hey, Anne,
We are doing ElectroBraid here, and they have different recommendations for different numbers of strands. We are using 3 strands, and the recommendation is:
Bottom strand: 20" from the ground
Second strand: 10 inches above the bottom strand
Top strand: 10 inches above the middle strand
Member:
Imogen

Posted on Monday, Nov 20, 2006 - 2:26 pm:

Hi Erika

I use temporary posts withone strand of polytape at about 28 to 30 inch height regularly and the only time they ever break out is when someone (could that be me?) forgets to check the battery to ensure that the power is on or if a storm or a hysterical horse knocks down the temporary posts.

I do always ensure they have decent grazing, as they would work out how to get over or through it quick enough if hungry.

I think that given we have to teach horses to jump wire and white tape for hunting, whereas they are well able to teach themselves to jump ditches and post and rail, that it is actually harder for them to judge and therefore more offputting.

All the best

Imogen
Member:
Ajudson1

Posted on Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006 - 7:31 am:

Anne,

We use Horse Guard with the plastic t-post covers. The covers came with spots for holes to be punched out for the insulators but we didn't like the placement as it would only look right with 4 strands which was one more than we wanted.

So we made our own holes, and I measured them last night: 22", 32" and 42". About what Holly said.

If I read your post right, you are changing to something else next year? If so, you could try just using the middle height, and save some time and money. Or the middle and upper height. I have one pasture with all 3 strands, a small training area with 2, and one pasture with one. Waiting for the time and money to finish both with the 3, but it is working.

Just be sure the fence is hot and the horses can see it, especially if you use only one. As a rule, the smaller the area, and the more horses, the stronger the fence needs to be.
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