On fencing- We removed acres of 5 and 6 strand barb wire. What a joyous day
it was when that the last last "bloody" strand came off. A wonderful
product that is not inexpensive is BAYCO. It's a stretchy plastic-type line
that is very forgiving to horse stresses. My babies, however, would easily
slip through even 6 strands of. The babies are now trained from the
beginning in a paddock with 4 strands of Bayco and 2 strands of the white
electric poly/stainless.
Adult horses are easily maintained with 4 strands of Bayco and 1 inside Hot
strand of the white poly/stainless. I have 1 paddock with only 3 strands of
Bayco- it's resident is not the fence-meddler type. I do not recommend
smooth wire even when it is electrified. I know people who have used it
(hot or not) with success, however, I also know people who have horses with
sliced tendons. I think...Cheese Slicer when I see smooth wire.
I also have used plastic coated wire- very difficult to work with and not
worth the effort. I have a roll of Stud Rail that is still unused in my
barn. It seems like a good, serviceable product.
For cheap and easy the best product I've found is electric tape. My posts
are spaced 20ft. apart (I know a horse-farm that spaces their posts for
electric fencing at 30'). I used 4 strands of the 1/2" tape. Only the top
2 strands are electrified. In 6 mos. time I've had no problem from the 2yr
old colt and gelding turned out in that small pasture. I hired the labor
to have the postholes dug & helped set posts, nail insulators and string up
the tape.
Although this particular "taped" pasture has no exposure to road or highway,
I do know some folks who have pasture along a very busy black-top highway
who also use 4 strands of tape. They electrify all 4 and say they feel
quite secure with the solar fence-charger in control.