pass therethrough application_number US 37742882 A description the invention principally comprises a wire tensioning member which is adapted to provide a spring tension in a fence wire the wire tensioning member according to the invention is of a compound curve shape which is resiliently deformable so as to provide a spring tension in a fence wire and prevent damage to or breakage of the wire when it is subject to any excessive load the types of excessive load include those exerted by animals charging the fence or intentional loads where the fence is lowered raised for animals to pass therethrough as will be described the wire tensioning member of the invention furthermore provides a convenient apparatus for the adjustment of length of and the straining of the fence wire before tensioning the fence in particular the fence wire may be roughly adjusted for length and then may be engaged with or wrapped around the first end of the wire tensioning member of the invention the curve in the wire tensioning member provides a convenient handle by which the fence wire may be manually pulled or strained and more finally adjusted for length before the wire tensioning member is connected to a fence post in the manner to be described the shape of the apparatus in the preferred embodiment of the invention also provides that the handle as described may be properly insulated and may thus be capable of use in electric fence type applications in particular since the wire tensioning member is removably engageable from a fence post it will be readily appreciated that the wire tensioning member can be used to facilitate the opening and closing of that particular end of the fence to provide a gate means now with particular reference to the preferred embodiment of the invention.