Safe Fence - Installation: Improving Poor Ground System Conditions

Grounding a strand of fence

Grounding a strand of fence provides direct connection to the fence charger when the animal contacts both the negative and positive strands of fence at the same time. Because this is a direct connection, the earth's ability to return voltage to the ground system is by-passed, avoiding the limited ability of dry, arid soil to return voltage to the fence charger.

A ground wire buried along the length of the fence line and attached to the T-posts extends the reach of the ground system. Voltage has to travel only a short distance to return to ground.

The ground wire is best buried 4-6" below ground level. It may also lay on the ground stretched tight, but will present the risk of a horse pawing and hooking the wire on a shoe or in the pastern joint-exposing the horse to potential injury.

TIP: When burying your ground rods they should be 4"-6" under the surface of the earth. A coffee can, with a slot to run the ground wire through, can be placed over the end of the rod and then back-filled for added safety.