Equiery Readers on Fencing, continued
tape,” said Laura Goddard, Mountain View Polo (Charlestown, WV). Bob Vechery (Checkmate Farm in Wood- bine) chose four strands of electric 2” wide web on pressure-treated posts because it was bud- get-friendly, easy to self-install and provides good security. He installed it 20 years ago and says it lasted longer than he had anticipated and has withstood everything. Melinda Propps (Merriwood Farm just over the line in PA) also uses wide electrifi ed tape which, like Bob Vechery, she installed herself. “I like the visibility, the ease of installation and the ability to electrify. Downside: in very windy situ- ations it will pull out of or break the connectors. Katie Phalen (Crossfox Farm in Clarksville) has a combination of fencing, which was in- stalled about 16 years ago: three-board as pe- rimeter and cross-fencing, woven high tensile along the treeline. “I’ve just signed a contract to have the same company replace all the three- board. Over 90% of the posts are still in good shape at this point, but I am replacing the whole thing to avoid 20-year-old posts start- ing to go in a few years while the boards are still good. I am having all the hemlock boards replaced with oak, hoping it is more durable. I can’t say enough good things about ProFence. T ey were absolutely wonderful in 2001/2002 and have been nothing but helpful since. T ey can’t fi t me in until mid-April, but so it goes.” Nicole Duarte, now living in North Carolina,
was originally going to use an electric braided rope type of fencing, until she found out that a neighbor had a horse killed by loose dogs. So she installed no-climb wire mesh fencing, and even covered the gates with it. “I installed it myself; I used my car and a few well-placed trees to stretch the wire. It’s been durable even though the horses like to scratch against it. My dres- sage mare jumped one fi ve-foot section of the
Art T acher (Way Back Farm in Westminster) had ProFence install the posts, and then he installed the fencing: “I use Endura Soft (like ElectroBraid but a little less expensive): four lines supported by conventional wooden fence posts with screwed-in insulators on the pasture side. Each line is in- terwoven with six fi ne tinned copper strands, energized by a fence charger. Each line is terminated at both ends with a strong P spring that keeps it taut but allows some give if something falls on or against the fence. T e lines are a soft but durable rope-like product, not under high tension and will not cut a horse like wire will. T is photo was taken after the ice storm of 2014. T e Endura Soft was pushed down to the ground in several places, but nothing broke. After cutting the branches off the fence lines with a chainsaw, they returned to their normal position, although one required minor retightening at the P spring. One of the reasons why I prefer this to wood!”
fence…she caught the top of the fence…I was convinced I was about to see her get tangled in the wire or break her neck in a horrible rotation- al fall. Very luckily, the fence had enough give that her hoof didn’t get caught and she landed like she jumps fi ve feet every day. T e fencing does warp and can lose its stretch, but it’s easy to bend it or stretch it back into shape.
Q. Do you use a pull-behind fence line trimmer?
A. Don’t know what it is. A. “I have no experience with a pulled-behind fence trimmer. I’d probably cut off the posts.” A. (Responding for partner): No, but she wishes she did; apparently she broke her arm while using a standard weed eater. Pull- or tow-behind fence line trimmers
are becoming increasingly popular as a way to maintain fence lines and reduce labor costs (or one’s own labor, in many cases). Most of our readers don’t have them, relying instead on a mixture of the following tried and true methods: mowing tight; walking with a weed whacker; spraying with Roundup™; goats or other livestock. Many of our readers have never heard of the trimmers.
Makers of the pull-behind fence line trim- mers tend to be smaller companies developing attachments for niche markets and have prod- uct names such as Fence Runner, Wright Fenc- eMower, and Perfect Van Wamel. One such company is DR Power Equipment, which manufactures the PTO-powered DR Mower. T is company frequently has “free” six-
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24 | THE EQUIERY | APRIL 2017
800-244-9580 |
www.equiery.com
909532-170417
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