Conference noted::equitation

    
    
    My father used temporary electric fence for years to keep two horses in
    the side yard of his house in Iowa.  He used the smaller electric fence
    posts rather than the large green regular fence posts as they were
    easier to install every spring.  He made sure that all of the posts and
    wire had reflective tape on them to make sure that the horses and the 
    neighbors ( and neighbor kids) knew exactly where everything was. 
    Every fall after the first hard frost he pulled the fence out and put
    it away for the winter.  The horses got the benifit of green grass and
    his mowing chores were minimal.
    
    I would be sure and check with your local city/county zoning commision
    before installing the electric fence.  It might be ilegal or require 
    special markers to keep your liability to a minimum in case someone 
    (kids) get into the fence and gets hurt.
    
    Pat

    For temporary fencing, even better than the old fashion wire electric
    fence is the new flexible mesh electric.  This is available through 
    most grain and feed stores.  It is made of a nylon type of material.  
    It is very visible.  You can even tie it in knots, and best of all it
    can be attached to a post no bigger around than your finger.  These
    posts you can just push into the ground.
    
    One disadvantage is you need a sensible horse who is fence wise.  This
    is not intended to be a restraining fence.  I have three friends who use
    this type of fencing today and love it.  One of them put it up as 
    temporary fencing three years ago and it's still up today.  She claims
    the biggest advantages are.
    1. No need to dig fence post holes
    2. It goes up in minutes
    3. to move the fencing just pull up the post move it and push it
       back into the ground.
    4. Easy to repair
    Although this fencing is not for everyone it is a good alternative for
    the right situation.
    
    Karen
                                

    For temporary fencing I use fiberglass posts with little metal clips on
    them, with 14 gauge electric fence wire. The posts are 7/16 in dia. and
    very smooth so they pull back out in seconds. We found these at our
    local Central Tractor store. For good visiblity we hang streamers made
    out of survey tape on the wire. Use an ordinary fence charger.
    Sandy
    

    I built some portable fence sections, using 1 x 6 rough-sawn pine from
    the mill (lots cheaper if you go get the green lumber from the sawmill)
    which I used at a show as portable paddocks. I made some 9 ft. long and
    some 12 ft long, using three boards as rails and four-foot uprights at
    the ends.  When I put them together (nailing through and clenching the
    nails, very strong - drill for the nail holes so the boards don't
    split) I bored a couple of 3/4" holes at each end of top & bottom
    rails.  Then, in use, I simply tied them together with short pieces of
    nylon clothesline made into tie-ties for the purpose.  Since they were
    at an angle to one another they couldn't fall over, and the horse felt
    like he was inside a real fence.  He couldn't push it over trying to
    graze, but could move the corner in or out.  I used the sections once
    for a temporary fence tying them end-to-end, and pounded in a steel
    fencepost at each juncture to tie the fence to.  My daughter used them
    to make, in conjunction with a corner of a riding ring, a round pen for
    
    training her young filly.  They look like this:
    	____________________________________
    	|______________| |_________________|
    	| |            | |               | |   Paint white with any kind
    	|_|____________|_|_______________|_|   of water base paint.
    	|_|____________|_|_______________|_|
        | |            | |               | |
    	|_|____________|_|_______________|_|
    	|_|____________|_|_______________|_|
    	| |            | |               | |
    	| |            | |               | |
    	|_|            |_|               |_|

    To update .0 here's what I ended up doing:
    
    Erikson Grain in Acton sells fiberglass posts that are 5 feet high and
    have pointed ends you can just stick a foot or more into the ground.
    They also sell plastic insulators that easily snap onto the posts. We
    chose cord rather than fence wire so it can easily be rolled up if we
    dismantle the fence. We did put in two wooden fence posts for the gate,
    and that's where we mounted the battery and charger. 
    
    It was really easy to install--especially because the ground was still
    wet and the posts went in really easily. My husband did the insulators
    and cord in about 45 minutes. Setting up the charger took a while
    because it was new to both of us.
    
    The area enclosed is about half an acre and we use it for a couple of
    hours every day. So far the horses respect the electric cord, but we
    wouldn't leave them in there when we're not on the property because it
    would be so easy for them to slip underneath or run right through the
    fence.
    
    This ended up being a really easy, fast, and not too expensive
    solution.