Insulators for backside of T-posts?

[Showbizz]

We just relocated, and the whole backside of our property line borders our neighbor's pasture. They have the whole line fenced in a brand new barbed wire fence. Thus, the fence is in good repair, but obviously I don't want my horses coming into contact with it. We're trying to figure out our options. We're doing pipe and rail for all the dry lot areas, but will likely do electric for the back areas that won't be used as much. Is there a type of insulator that we could use to put a few strands of electric rope on the backside of our neighbor's existing T-posts? What is the "protocol" there - is that even allowed? Any advice or direction on where to find such insulators would be fabulous.

[Bluey]

How about asking your neighbor if it would be ok to use steel post caps with a hot tape or wire?

I could not find a link to the ones we have, that look like a mushroom on top of the T posts, but here are some:

http://www.thefind.com/hardware/info-t~post-sleeve#

http://www.fencingsolutions.com/

We got ours at our local feed store.

[Showbizz]

Thank for the idea. That would be great, but I still feel like my horses would be in contact with the fence - I need something that either sticks away from the fence and/or is some sort of insulator that we could use to go down the post to allow several strands. Any other ideas?

[Bluey]

Thank for the idea. That would be great, but I still feel like my horses would be in contact with the fence - I need something that either sticks away from the fence and/or is some sort of insulator that we could use to go down the post to allow several strands. Any other ideas?

If you are going to use several strands anyway, how about just putting some step in plastic posts on your side, close to the existing fence and so your horses would not even be touching that fence?

All you are adding is the cost of the post, minus the cost of the insulators, a wash out.;)

[ReSomething]

We have almost the same problem, 650' of older four strand barb with two t's per wooden fencepost. So there's a wooden fencepost about every thirty feet. Obviously the t's are facing the wrong way for clip ons, and I haven't found any that'll suit. In our state, that half of fence is the neighbor's responsibility. (the "left" half) We are responsible for the other half (the "right half"), which the neighbors had done in fenceposts, cattle mesh/ strand barb on top, my seller said that the fence "wasn't his", sooo, we lucked out.
Probably one of the reasons why the whole fence/horse thing is dragging along has to do with how exactly we are going to deal with this. That and drilling postholes.

Most likely we are going to line the fence with mesh on our side, using their fenceposts and adding our own on our side, or reversing their t-posts or possibly adding our own t-posts facing the right way.

Our other options include a step-in fence just inside the property line, in fact we are probably going to subdivide using moveable step ins, giving ourselves a tractor trail all around the perimeter (only 15 acres). We still have a bunch of newer barb wire strung from tree to tree to wreck out, such a PITA as it is all grown over, but not enough to not at least try to get it out without cutting it into tiny pieces.

It is unfortunate that a barb wire fence is worse than no fence from a horseman's perspective, as it is a shame that the fence winds up being two types cobbed together yet costing as much as nice fence.

[Showbizz]

Wow, that might just work!

[ttldr1]

They do sell reverse t-post insulators

http://www.jeffersequine.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=1&mscssid=H7FEBW3L7VML8HRQKKEV14ATC4A34VN4

I used them all the time. I get mine at tractor supply but you can order them online through most of the places that sell fencing supplies.

[Bluey]

This is what we have and you can put it in any direction:

http://www.jeffersequine.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=1&mscssid=4E03JLPAENPN8JBN6MUG7WE8RMUM16AF&pf_id=12186

Here are the reverse T post insulators for the lower strands:

http://www.jeffersequine.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=1&mscssid=82H329BG9LDW9LSD108ST3SVCE9EEFA1&pf_id=12207

All thanks to ttldr.:)

[ttldr1]

Thanks Bluey, Don't know why my link doesn't take you right to the insulator - I copied the direct link. Those are the same caps that I have.

As far as the protocol for putting eleictric on your side using the exsisting t-posts, if the fence is one the property line (not set back onto the neighbors property) then it is a shared fence and you can add to it (but they could also ask you to pay for half of the t-posts since it is new). If it is a shared line you will both be responsible for repairs and upkeep.

[ReSomething]

This is what we have and you can put it in any direction:

http://www.jeffersequine.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=1&mscssid=4E03JLPAENPN8JBN6MUG7WE8RMUM16AF&pf_id=12186

Here are the reverse T post insulators for the lower strands:

http://www.jeffersequine.com/ssc/product.asp?CID=1&mscssid=82H329BG9LDW9LSD108ST3SVCE9EEFA1&pf_id=12207

All thanks to ttldr.:)

TSC, eh? I need to look harder then. We want mesh anyway to keep the neighbor's dogs on their side but this is still useful, thanks both of you.

[Showbizz]

Oh, how I love COTHers.... Thank you SO SO SO much! Absolutely - I'll offer to pay for half of the posts. Good fences make good neighbors - right?

[Bluey]

Oh, how I love COTHers.... Thank you SO SO SO much! Absolutely - I'll offer to pay for half of the posts. Good fences make good neighbors - right?

In TX, it is customary for both owners on each side of the fence to contribute to any fencing.

We share some fence with one neighbor that he cares for the stretches in the canyon bottoms and we do the tops, on part of it and in the flatter stretches both of us go along and fix whatever needs fixing, like watergaps going out.

With another absent owner neighbor, when the old fence needed work, he paid for half of it.
Then, once long ago, one neighbor said he would pay for his 1/2 on six miles, then went bankrupt and never did pay his $2500, that we had to cover.:(

A neighbor tore one old fence down with his neighbor on the other side and that one paid for the materials and our neighbor built the fence.

Sooo, there are several ways to go about it.:)

[BasqueMom]

Check out www.kencove.com. They have snap on to T-post insulators. We have them
for the thicker White Lightning we sell, but if you are planning to use uncoated electric
wire, think they have them for thinner wire. They also have insulators that stick out several inches from the T-post.

[Twiliath]

There is also www.premier1supplies.com (http://www.premier1supplies.com) for other ideas.

[Showbizz]

Thank you to all who have responded! You've opened my eyes to the world of insulators. I had no idea better quality ones existed and am glad to have them for my new endeavor.