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Can I install electric fencing along three sides of my horse pasture?
Do I need to have a complete circuit with the wire running continuously around all four sides of the pasture, or is there a way I can run it along just three sides? Or is it possible to run just one straight row of electric fencing? If so, how is it done?
I have a woven wire fence with rose bushes growing on it on the fourth side and I know if I install electric on that side the vines will short it out or ruin it!
Answer: yes, you can run it along just 3 sides if you wish. One wire will come from the positive or "hot" terminal of your charger and will go to the fence. The other wire the negative will either go to a grounding stake or depending on your soil and ground types to a ground stake and one of the wires of your fence.
I've run 1, 2 and 3 wire systems. 1 and 2 wires are usually to the positive terminal. Best for normal soil or loamy earth near woods.
3 wires are best for sandy, or icy/snowy areas. The top and bottom wires are hot and the middle wire is connected to the negative terminal and the ground spike. It makes sure the animals get the proper jolt from the system.
As for your 3 sided fence, you can simply stop and tie off the ends where you wish the fence to stop. make sure the ends are touching nothing besides the insulator. Or.. if you wanted to make sure the animals left your roses alone, run the fence along that side as well, but use12 fence extenders. They will hold the wires a foot away from your fence and will keep the bushes from touching.
either way make sure your chargers has a "weed clipper" or "bulldozer" circuit It will allow the charger to "burn" off weeds and vines that climb on it to some extent.
