CONTENTS
Montana
Regional Tennesee Walking Horse Rendezvous
& Versatility Show
Baxter Black - Cowboy President
Wishing Star Gallop Gears Up For
2003
Van Hargis Clinic - “The
Horse Is My Teacher"
Rescued Equine Movie Star
Visits Spokane
Youth
of the Month:
Kaitlin Ens
Real
Estate: Mistakes to Avoid
with Electric Fences
UPCOMING
ISSUES
January
Wishing Star
February
Paint
March
Quarterhorse
April
Arabian
May
Reining Horse
June
Gaited Horse
July
Fjord Horse
August
Trail & Recreational Riding
September
Ride the West
October
Miniature Horse
November
Open Breed
December
Open Breed
Don't forget
the deadline!
"15th of each
month for the
next month's
publication."
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17 Mistakes To
Avoid With Electric Fencing
High-tensile, smooth
wire, electric fencing is the fastest and most affordable fence, and its technology
has drastically improved over the past 10 years. But many folks are hesitant
to use it because they remember old failures-wires breaking, chargers starting
fires, wet vegetation shorting out the fence and other troubles.
With a little
commitment and a modest investment in time to learn how to use this new technology,
you can save dollars and hours of maintenance time by making electric fencing
work for you. So you won't have to learn the hard way, here are 17 common mistakes
that you should avoid:
- Poor earth
grounding. Install several ground rods- at least three that are 6 to 8 feet
long, galvanized, and attached with good ground clamps.
- Using different
types of metals. Don't do it. When you hook up steel wire to copper, electrolysis
happens and the metal becomes corroded, making a poor contact.
- Inadequate
animal training. Each and every animal must learn that the fence hurts. Build
a handy training fence, preferably on heavy wet soil. Flag the fence for visibility,
and force the animal to try and cross the fence.
- Fenceposts
too close together. Fifty-foot spacing on flat land is just too close. You
want the fence to act like a rubber band. When something runs into the wire,
you don't want to break all the insulators or knock posts out of the ground.
- Too many wire
tie-offs. Fencing specification may call for braces every quarter mile, but
5000 feet is okay, and actually adds more elasticity in the fence wire.
- Wires tied
tight to each fencepost. To maintain elasticity (the rubber band effect),
wires must float past each line fencepost.
- Building new
fences near old existing fences. Old fence wires seem to be always moving
somewhere and coming in contact with the new electrified wires.
- Bottom wire
in contact with heavy, wet vegetation. Hook up the lower wires separate from
the other wires, and install a switch for the lower wires that you can turn
them off when the grass is tall.
- Poor-quality
insulators. Sunlight deteriorates plastic. Buy good-quality, long-lasting
insulators. Usually black ones are treated to resist degradation by ultraviolet
light.
- Staples driven
in all the way. When using plastic tubings as an insulator, don't staple it
too tight.
- Solar panels
not directly facing the sun. A solar panel won't function at its potential
if not properly installed. Please read the instructions.
- Kink in high-tensile
wire. A small kink in stiff wire will always break. Also avoid hitting this
kind of wire with a hammer, as this will easily damage the wire causing a
break.
- Installing
in-line strainers close together. Wires will flip together once in awhile.
Separate in-line strainers by a fencepost and they will never catch on each
other.
- Wires too close
to each other. Keep them at least 5 inches apart.
- No voltmeter.
Without a voltage meter to check how hot a fence is, you're just guessing.
- Wire too small.
The larger the wire, the more electricity it will carry.
- Inadequate
charger. Don't skimp here because animals will think a smooth wire fence is
a joke without a strong bite, and they'll walk right through it. Your fence
charger should be low-impedance and have a warranty and replaceable components.
Buy one that puts out lots of power.
The above
article is a reproduction from the Small Acreage Land Owner (SALO) quarterly
newsletter. The SALO newsletter is published quarterly by WSU Cooperative Extension
in Spokane County. If you are interested in receiving the newsletter or have
an inquiry, please contact John Fouts, County Extension Agent, Small Farms,
Livestock, and Forages at 509-477-2176 or email fouts@wsu.edu
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