Power has always been associated with horses due to their muscular build and the strength of their limbs. This mindset may convince you that horses need harsher treatment in order to contain them. As what most would say, “To tame a horse, you need to break them”.
You may be thinking of the following options to avoid keep your horses from visiting your neighbors:
– Buy and use barbed wires as fences to restrict these powerful creatures.
– Keep them tied.
– Hold them in a barn.
The first option would most likely literally break your horses and cause unwanted injuries. The second and third options would restrict your horses and prevent them from maintaining a part of their wild side which is considered by most as beneficial to their growth.
Horses are sociable creatures of the wild. They need to run with the herd. But as their owner, you need to keep them from straying away. While causing harm to them is not an option.
How would you solve this problem?
The answer is simple.
Install an electric fence.
Contrary to the power they possess, horses are gentle in nature. When feeling threatened, their first instinct is to flee rather than to attack. They are also easy to train and can retain memory of certain things that are repeatedly introduced to them. These characteristics of the equine herd make an electric fence the ideal enclosure for these animals.
Poly products are the most advisable electric fence wire to use for keeping you horses at bay. These colored wires will help in training your horses to keep away from the fence since they have a more solid visual impact. These types of wires also conduct lesser amount of current which is enough to convince a horse to keep away but not too much to make it run in panic up to the other side of the enclosure or to retaliate against the fence.
Permanent enclosures:
For permanent enclosures for horses, one may use wood in the bottom part of the fence with a height of 3’ to 4’ and add two layers of poly tape wires (or other types of poly products) on the upper portion. Painting the wooden fence white is recommended for this type of fence. This would strengthen your enclosure and also add to the visual weight of the electric fence.
In choosing the electric fence charger, pick the ones with low impedance. A charger having low impedance will distribute only a small amount of current around the wires. This will be enough to make the horses feel an uncomfortable shock when they hit the fence without causing panic to them.
Temporary enclosure:
Step-in posts and poly tape wires are most advisable for use in temporary fences for horses. These products will provide ease in the installation of your temporary enclosure and will help in training your horses to stay within. It would be advisable to keep your horses tied until they become accustomed to the effect of the temporary enclosure. If you have a permanent enclosure and are maintaining temporary fences only for grazing purposes, use the same color of wires for the permanent enclosure and the temporary fence. This will help in the conditioning of these animals.
Make sure to also choose a charger with low impedance for your portable electric fences. Solar chargers are most recommended for this type of enclosure. This will prevent running out of power and losing your horses due to un-charged fence wires.
Electric fences will be very beneficial to maintaining a herd of horses since these animals can be trained and conditioned to stay within the enclosure. You don’t need to break them just to keep them in.
