Electric fencing

[sandspider]

Hi all

There are horses in my neighbour's paddock, separated by a post and wire fence (mine), and the beasts keep leaning over to chew my trees. Thinking of fitting an electric fence wire to the existing fence posts. Can I put it straight up in the air from the tops of the posts? (Further from walkers in the field, and further from growth that might earth it) Assuming I can use the existing posts to hold a wire, am I right in thinking I just need an energiser, wire, a battery and (solar) charger, a ground rod and the insulated holders to keep the wire clear of the fence posts?

Where's a good place to buy electric fencing kit?

Sure someone here knows!

Thanks.

[Old farrier]

You could have a word with the horse owners and explain your concern about their animals eating your (poisonous) shrubs and express your concern about the possibility of accumulation of toxins from the tree bark 

then it’s there problem they should really put up a fence to prevent it happening 

any evergreen types of privet rhododendron and yew are what you are going to replace the damaged plants with 

mole valley will do all the stuff you require along with a security chain 🙄

 

[sandspider]

Tried that, they didn't seem bothered! Said I could put up an elec fence if I wanted to. Will have a look at MVF, thanks.

[hedge]

You can get specific isolators that go in the top of fence posts. Sounds like you don't have access to mains power, so a battery, energiser and some sort of charger are needed. Most energisers have the relevant leads and earth rod (worth checking). You may find that in winter a solar charger struggles to keep the battery topped up. It's usually best to get a lesiure battery as they are better suited, rather than a car one.

Hope you get it sorted.

[simonm]

We get bits from Mole as said above but there are often bundles of stuff on Facebook marketplace so worth a look. 
 

if they horses are damaging the trunk rather than eating leaves, some sort of tree guard might be easier? 

[Dougy]

If it was our horse we would be putting some P&R and electric fence with offset booms a meter from the boundary away from the hedge line. 

[Lloyd90]

2 hours ago, sandspider said:

Tried that, they didn't seem bothered! Said I could put up an elec fence if I wanted to. Will have a look at MVF, thanks.

 

Ask them how they want to pay the bill for the damage their animals have caused to your property?  

[manthing]

1 hour ago, Lloyd90 said:

 

Ask them how they want to pay the bill for the damage their animals have caused to your property?  

This. 

They are responsible for containing their animals within their boundary.

If there was no fence would they be happy with their horses in your garden?

If all else fails you can get fence extender isolators which are longer wire carriers that screw into the top of a post or can be screwed into the side near the top to make the fence wider. Price it up and ask them how they'd like to pay.

https://www.pasturetec.co.uk/product/rutland-offset-ring-insulator-pack-of-10/

[sandspider]

Thanks folks.

Alas, when the previous owners of our house bought the land from the neighbours they agreed that they (previous owners) would be responsible for the fencing. Then they didn't, and we bought the house. Also, the neighbours are pretty good generally and we want to keep good relations. And the trees are windbreak / hedge plantings, not mature or valuable.

Secondhand fence from FB marketplace with fence hangers might be the best solution. 👍