Electric Fencing for Horses UK 2024 - Kits and energisers on sale

It's almost turn out time - Hooray!

Horse lovers can't wait for this time of year...but it does mean you need to fix up that fence!  Luckily electric fencing is much easier than it may initially seem.  And, if you have any questions, we are here to help!

The most important part of your kit (and the most expensive) is your energiser.  Start by deciding if you can run it from the mains, or if you need a battery operated energiser (mains is better if it is an option).  Next, think about how large your fence is.  Most people go for about a 200m fence, but obviously this can change depending on our space.  Now think about the character of your horse - is it going to test the fence, or comply easily?  

9 Volt energisers - Pros: easy to carry, not too expensive   Cons: you will need to replace the battery   Examples:  Horizont B12, Fenceman B430, Hotline Centaur.  Price range:  £119 up.  Replacement batteries £16.99 up.  Here is a link to our 9 volt energisers.

12 volt batteries - Pros: tend to have more power than 9 volt energisers and you can attach a solar panel to the battery so little need to charge.  Cons:  the cost of the 12 volt battery is an upfront pain...but can save money in the long run.  Examples: Fenceman CP450, Hotline Falcon, Hotline Gemini, Gallagher B60.  Price range: £59.99 up.  Here is a link to our 12 volt energisers

Solar energisers:  Fantatsic option if you are starting from scratch and have the budget.  This would be my preference, just for ease!  Cons: Initial cost and you need to give them a few boosts from the mains during the darkest months.  Examples:  Hotline FireDrake, Gallagher S20, Horizont AS35  Price range:  £194 up. Here is a link to our Solar energisers.

'Little Battery' energisers - Pros: some energisers run from D-cell batteries or other smaller batteries.  This can be a good choice for little strip grazing fences and are small and easy to take to events.  Cons: Not much power, so not suitable for large fences or very cheeky animals.  Batteries need replacing.  Examples: Hotline Shrike, Fenceman DP350B.  Price range:  £75 up.  Here is a link to our Little Battery energisers

Mains energisers - Pros: inexpensive to purchase and no batteries to worry about.  Plus, they have the most power potential out of all the energisers and are great for large fences. Cons: most people don't have easy access to the mains!  Examples:  Hotline Gemini energisers, FarmerN500, Gallagher M35 Price Range: £78 up.  Here is a link to our Mains energisers

The energiser is the big decisions, but don't over think it.  For most horses all the energisers will work, and the decision comes down to what is easiest for you, or budget!  The Hotline Gemini 40 is a great option for mains or 12 volt (it can work from both).  The Horizont B12 is out 9 volt energiser pick.  The Hotline Shrike or Fenceman Dp350B are our favourites for strip grazing.  The Hotline FireDrake 67 is a great option for a solar energiser (it looks smart too).  And for a cheeky horse, look at the Fenceman CP range and the Fenceman B340 that have 2 levels so you can whack it up high to train them, then lower the shock (and reduce battery draw) once they have got the message!  

If you get a 12 volt energiser, it is well worth spending an extra £39.99 and getting a solar panel to go on top of your leisure battery.  You won't pay for the electricity, it is environmentally friendly...and it will make life that bit easier!  Here's a link to our solar panel.

So, once you have selected the energiser (again, there are lots of options that will work for you so don't over think it), pick your 'barrier'.  For horses, you want to select tape or rope (no wire or twine, please - it can hurt them).  For horses and ponies, you want 2 lines of electric fencing. If you are using plastic posts, 20mm tape is usually the most popular because it carries a good shock and is inexpensive. 12mm tape is cheaper (and good for strip grazing), 40mm carries more of a shock, but it more expensive and can act a bit like a kite in windy spots!  If in doubt, opt for 20mm tape, unless you have a naught horse when 40mm is better.  Rope is also great, but is heavier so tends to be better on wooden posts with insulators.  Almost all electric fencing rope is approximately 6mm in diameter and it will all work for horses.  Better quality rope has UV stabilized plastic and thicker and more plentiful metal strands running it through it (usually stainless steal, sometimes with a few copper ones too).  The UV stabilization is really good, if you can afford to go for the more expensive rope (it will last longer - some rope even comes with a 7 year warranty).  For very long fences (think 2km or more) then distance rope like Turbo rope is a good idea.  But for most 200 metre type fences, any electric rope will do the trick.  But, tape or rope, never tie knots in your barrier - always use connectors (knots can stop the flow of electricity and weaken your fence).  Here is a link to our ELECTRIC ROPE.  Here is a link to out ELECTRIC TAPE.

For those with wooden posts, I could now bore you by talking for ages about insulators - the things that go on to your posts to hold the tape or rope.  I won't!  Very briefly - most people opt for ring insulators for rope and clamp insulators for tape.  You can also get off-set insulators (also known as distance insulators) if you want the tape held further way from the fence.  There are LOADS of insulator options - don't get overwhelmed - most of them will do the job well.  Here is a link to our insulators.

For those with plastic posts, most opt for the 3 foot posts unless you have a large horse, or the land is undulating.  Posts are another slightly dull topic - and again, they nearly all do the job.  Don't over think it!  You want a post about ever 8 metres, or closer if the ground is not flat.  Here's a link to our posts.  

You DO want a fence tester for trouble shooting.  There is a massive range of testers, but actually the simple testers that cost about £12.99 and have a spike that goes in the earth are good options.  This is because they ley you test the fence or the energiser.  You can also get volt metres and flashing lights to show that your fence is working at a glance - all quite handy, but definitely not essential.  Here's a link to a basic fence tester.

Other bits you may need for your electric fence are: earth stake (some energisers come with a stand that doubles as an earth stake, so make sure you check), gate handles (2 for each gate you want), gate handle insulators (only if you have wooden posts and want a gate), high voltage lead out wire (if you are using a mains energiser), a hart to hart connector to make both lines of tape live (if you ware using rope), a tape to tape connector to make both lines live (if you are using tape), about 10 tape or rope connectors for when something breaks and needs connecting (don't tie knots) and a warning sign if you are close to the public.  Accessories can be seen HERE.

Fences with plastic polyposts are really easy to put up.  It should take about 30 minutes, and is handy if you have somebody to help, but easy enough to do yourself.  You do need to keep an eye on your fence to make sure everything is working, there are no breaks and there is no greenery touching the fence.

Fences with wooden posts take marginally longer because you need to screw in the insulators.  There is a drill bit that can make this easier.  Click here for details.

Of course, many people just want a simple 200 metre double lined fence.  We've made it easy for you by putting some great value 'everything you need' kits together.  My favourite to use is the Solar FireDrake Kit (and I like it in green, which apparently horses can see more easily than white as well, but most prefer the white option).  The Equine 9 Volt Starter Kit is the best seller (super easy to use and a great price - most go for 3 foot in white).  And the High Power Mains or 12 Volt Kit is another winner.  Check them out HERE.

Or, if you have questions or would like help putting together your electric fence kit, please email sales@farmcareuk.com.  We are a family run business and we are really happy to help.  We also offer the best pricing and if you see it cheaper anywhere lese, don't be shy, let us know and we will try to beat it!

www.FarmCareUK.com

Thanks for reading!