I think that many ranchers will agree that keeping their horses and livestock away from high voltage power lines is at the center point of concern. There have been conflicting opinions that power lines can cause electric-magnetic field exposure and have negative effects on horses.
Are Horses Safe From Buried Power Lines, Myth or Fact
Horses can be particularly sensitive to all forms of electricity, including those that are generated by common household appliances and those that are produced by household electronic devices (i.e. televisions, computers, etc.).
The negative qualities of EMFs are now widely recognized in 2021 as a health threat by Consumer Reports, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Cleveland Clinic, and independent researchers from Harvard, Columbia, and Yale. According to many ranchers, the electricity flowing through the buried lines creates an electromagnetic field (EMF). The presence of this EMF is of concern because research has shown that exposure to EMFs can be harmful to horses.
Homeownership Liability Issues Of Burying Your Power Lines
Property owners decide to bury their powerlines 2-3 feet under the ground for a multitude of reasons like keeping them safe from storms and weather damage, it’s also possible for livestock to get tangled up in the power lines and lastly they can be an eyesore to the property. Burying the power lines also prevents horses from chewing on them but doing this comes with a cost.
It may cause a stir with your local power company because easements held by electricity providers allow them to erect and maintain power equipment on your land. Buried power lines can create challenges for them to do their work. Trespassing lines can also be a liability for landowners. Burying powerlines that are not your property could lead to fines.
If You Do Bury Your Power Lines Make Sure You Take Special Precautions
To prevent horses from accessing the power line, as well as animals and people getting access to it, property owners can create a perimeter around the buried lines. A good practice is to clean out all tall grass, weeds, and brush around your power lines so your horse has no reason to go near it.
To do this, spread treated wood chips or bark around the backfill material used to bury the cable. This surrounds or makes “the perimeter” that keeps horses from grazing on or near power lines. Instinctively, keeping a distance of 20 feet on either side of the line should be a safe distance for your horses. Creating a fence to block this area from grazing is the best solution.
The fence should be sturdy and of a height that would deter the horses from trying to jump or step on it.
Using a Solar Electric Fence Versus Other Types Of Fences
Non Electric fences have vulnerabilities such as allowing horses to be able to pull on the chain or wire and cause damage to the fence. If you choose a solar electric fence it has a much higher success rate of keeping your horses away from buried power lines.
Solar Electric Fences work by using a small solar panel on the post that sends energy through a wire, which in turn creates an electric pulse. The energy from the panel is transmitted across the wire by an electronic receiver that resets itself every time it ‘sees’ an animal try and cross over it.
A solar electric fence has many benefits over a traditional wire fence because it is not only electric but runs on solar power. A traditional electric fence requires a lot of maintenance and can be very dangerous for your horse if the electricity goes out.
When it is dark, your horses should be kept away from the wires, even if you have lighted posts that are powered by solar energy. Your livestock may think it is nighttime and try to graze near the fence. The small safe shock to them will keep them out of danger while maximizing pasture efficiency.
The solar electric fence gives your horse enough distance to graze and allows you to monitor them more easily while not having to worry about electric shocks. If the electricity goes out, the micro-controller on the fence will reset itself and it will not harm your animals.
A solar electric fence is also a great way to enhance a pasture with a high quality of grass. Your horses will feel safer knowing that they are enclosed in a safe zone that is shielded from predators and pests like rodents, coyotes, and wild burros.
The solar electric fence also increases your property value. The zones you create are well-kept and enhance the aesthetics of that fence.
Horses and Pasture Efficiency
It’s no secret that many ranchers say that they are considered as more grass farmers compared to livestock handlers. For many of them, grazing their herds of cattle is the core of their business.
Landowners hope that all their pastures can be covered in thick green grass year-round so they do not have to purchase hay which has risen in price in 2021. The grasses are the main source for cattle, horses, and other types of livestock to eat. Improving pasture efficiency is a way to reduce expenses for your ranch by keeping your horses healthier and more productive. How to Improve Pasture Efficiency
Some practices of grazing are so easy that even novice owners can do them using solar electric fences.
Improve the natural grasses in your pasture by rotating cattle on the same grasses over two years. This time helps the grass regenerate instead of taking a big hit all at once, reducing grazing stress. Keeping your horses in the same pasture for an extended period of time can cause a lot of stress on the grass. When moving your horses, always try and keep them on fresh grass or paddocks that are picked up daily. This ensures that they are always eating the healthiest grasses available for them.
Also, create zones or paddocks where you can rotate groups of horses around a pasture. Taking advantage of solar electric fencing makes this task simple and it’s a sophisticated method to improve the quality of your land so it does not get beat into the ground, mainly the solar electric fencing keeps your horses far away from the buried high voltage power lines.
What Solar Electric Fence System Is The Best For Horses
If you’re considering purchasing a high-quality complete-in-one package electric solar fence system the Power Grazer by Range Ward is an excellent choice. It’s tough as nails and can withstand the strongest animals and weather elements. The Power Grazer electric solar fence system combines solar power with advanced sensor technology to provide horses with a safe and effective way to graze without being severely injured from accidental contact with the electric wires.
It was created by Range Ward, a Canadian grassroots company that builds solar electric fences that go point for point with some of the biggest names in the industry. If you are located in British Columbia or anywhere in western Canada that is where we come in, recently we have become an exclusive distributor for Range Ward in BC and can help with installation, delivery, and time-saving techniques if you are looking to purchase the Power Grazer for your land. Start reaping the benefits today and learn more about solar-powered technology.
Get Latest Price Of Range Ward Power Grazer.
