Keeping Your Horses From Panicking At Electric Fences

Electric fences are a great way of keeping horses from fleeing a farm. However, horses may panic near them. Here's how farmers or horse owners can avoid this difficult horse fencing situation.

Horses May Panic At Electric Fences

Like any animal, a horse will be curious about an electric fence. The first time they touch it, they are likely to get respect for it and learn to avoid it afterward. However, in instances when they need to be taken outside of the fenced-in area, they may feel a little panic.

Getting too close to the wire is likely to remind them of the shock and cause fear. When that fear turns to panic, the horse is likely to try to escape or become impossible to control. Dangerous situations like these put the health and even the lives of the animal and the handler at serious risk. That's why it's necessary to manage this problem with kencote wiring and a decreased wire charge.

Why Kencote Is A Good Wire Choice

Kencote wire is a common type of horse fencing. It is a plastic-coated wire that is is easier for horses to see. Being able to see the fence and visually gauge its location is likely to calm the horse a little. Even better, it is sturdy and designed to withstand wear that could cause other electrified wires to throw sparks.

Even better, installing this fencing typically costs no more than $0.125 per foot. And adding metal wires in between these plastic ones lets horse owners electrify the fence. Before they do, it is important to adjust the charge to ensure that the animals don't feel the kinds of extreme shocks that can lead to panic.

Electrifying The Fence To Avoid Excessive Shocks

Typically, farm owners electrify a fence by attaching a six-volt battery to it using electric wires. Six volts is by no means a dangerous amount of electricity, but it will give the horse a real jolt. Adjusting the charge amount isn't a bad idea because it can decrease the fear it causes the horse. It might be a good idea to purchase a larger battery and to set its output to 4-5 volts.

This decrease in voltage is minor, but it can help take a little sting out of the fence. Though it will still startle the horse, it won't hurt it as much as a six-volt fence. As a result, the horses are less likely to panic near it because the pain they associate it will be less severe.

Following these simple steps help to decrease the risk of a panicking horse. It can create a strong electric horse fence that will provide farmers with 30-60 years of protection for keeping their animals safely penned.