To keep your horses safe, use good horse sense:
- Know your horses and recognize the limitations of your property.
- Always introduce a horse to a new pasture. For your safety, turn the fence energizer OFF so the horse you lead won't get accidentally shocked and bolt. Lead the horse around the fence perimeter. Once the horse understands the boundaries of its new pasture, release the horse and turn the energizer back ON.
- Prevent your horses from accidental electric shocks by avoiding placing water troughs close to your electric fence, hanging grain pails on your fence posts, or leaving hay near your electric fence.
- Separate stallions from other horses by a laneway. In these cases we want the animals to maintain a respectful margin from the fence. Time spent frolicking next to the fence can allow for the possibility of wrapping a strand of ElectroBraid completely around a leg.
- Create a sandy area away from the fence for your horses to roll in.
- Take particular care when introducing a new horse to a pasture where other horses have an established pecking order.
- Don't build a new fence close to where your horses roll. If necessary, relocate the fence away from where they habitually roll.
- Do not leave your fence un-electrified as most animals will chew on it, including horses, goats, rabbits and rodents.
Fence Sense:
- Install your ElectroBraid fence as recommended. We recommend 4, or at the very least, a minimum of 3 strands of braid in normal settings. Set the highest strand at approximately withers height to your largest horse and the lowest strand accordingly based on your specific needs.
- Don't turn off your fence energizer to save electricity. The cost of electricity for a fence energizer is the same as a 100-watt light bulb.
- Regularly inspect your fence to ensure the braid is taut and properly electrified. A taut fence is a safer fence.
- Thoroughly check the fence after rainy or stormy weather and during a drought.
- Take particular care to confirm your fence is well grounded. Poor grounding is the cause of 95% of electric fence problems. Check your installation manual or our website, or call us for advice.
- Always turn the energizer off before servicing the fence.
- When testing an electric fence with a voltmeter, wear rubber gloves or rubber-soled shoes to minimize any accidental electrical shock. Wet or sweaty hands or wet feet intensify electrical shocks.
- Use only one energizer per paddock or continuous fence line. Never use two energizers on the same fence.
- Use extreme caution if you are considering installing an electric fence near overhead lines or underground power lines.
- Do not stand beside a fence during an electrical storm.
- Use warning signs to mark an electric fence every 200-250 feet. Check local by-laws.
- Never attempt to service your energizer. If it fails, seek professional assistance or send it to a certified repair center.
- ElectroBraid is engineered for your horses' safety. Don't take shortcuts.
Do not:
- Hang feed buckets on the fence;
- Drape water hoses over the fence;
- Stack feed or manure near the fence;
- Run water lines parallel to the fence;
- Allow feed or water barrels to be located too close to the fence;
- Place a water trough near the fence.