Day 2 with shetties hasn't gone too well...

muckypony

muckypony

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Well... What a stressful morning!!

I got my minis home yesterday about 1pm and was advised to keep them stabled until this morning as they don't know me and might not let me catch them. So i spent all yesterday afternoon grooming and fussing them, although nervy of sudden movements they were ok and seemed to have settled pretty well. Their paddock is fenced with electric (which they have never seen before), very sturdy with 2 rows of 40mm tape, there is another fence outside this but I don't want them going too near it as I am jsut paranoid they may get out (even though 3 sides of the field are post and rail and sheepwire and the other side is hedgerows and sturdy diamond shape mesh fencing - I am almost certain they cannot get out (I'm just a bit paranoid!)


This morning i fussed and fussed, groomed for ages and then took them out. Their leading isn't great but they walked out very well and seemed quite relaxed. I was silly and should have got someone to help me! As i was putting the gate handles back up, one of them zapped his bum on the fence! Took me by surprise and shot off. I didn't think it was the end of the world as he needed to know it would zap him! They were walking round with leadropes attached so I followed them for a bit, just walking slowly, crouching down, calling etc to try and get the ropes off. Whilst checking out the field the same one got zapped again on his nose, shot to the other side of the field and tried to make and escape. After lots of trying he just ran through it! So hes off and the other was left alone screaming, still wouldn't let me catch him and eventually ran through too. They were both really frightened at this point and just kept running, I was worried they might push through the mesh fencing in fear and be gone forever! My mum came up to help me and we eventually got them back in the electric and after about an hour and a half i managed to creep up and grab one and soon after the other and put them back in their stable. Now they are both terrified of anything that moves!! :(

I don't know what to do... I've re-done the electric fencing so there is now 3 strands instead of 2. Will they keep getting out with this as well though??

I think Im going to keep them in for a few days to gain their trust and make them feel safe. I think the first one only did it as he was frightened, and the second just followed, but I'm so worried about them getting out again :(

Any advice? Or just hugs... Sorry for the essay, feeling very down now!! :(
 
I'd use a metal post on each corner with your three strands. I wouldn't be walking two by myself. They don't know you yet and they are strong little things.
I'd pop out and just spend time being around them without working with them, let them know you come out to scratch and play.
They are escape artists though, id have post and rail with electric if its their permanent paddock
 
I bought two mini fillies before last xmas, they spent quite a while in the stable together with me just doing the routine stuff as well as fussing them, grooming etc. They both wore leather foal headcollars with a tag strap hanging. I tried tape, they went through it which didn't matter as my paddocks are all fenced with stock netting. We ended up buying 20 sheep hurdles which have proved invaluable, a movable paddock to fresh grass when needed and the ability to create a small pen to corner then if necessary. Now one is easily catchable and the other can be caught but is a little monkey still! They still come in every night for a handful of tea etc.
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Can you turn it off whilst you put them back in? I think get someone to help you ie one each.

You do need to turn them to face the gate entrance or tape entrance (so their ar...ses away). I walked mine in and round in a circle to face the tape so I could put it back across. Then replace the handle bit before removing rope etc I would give them one pony nut on catching and one when they STAND and wait to remove their lead ropes/headcollars etc. Then turn electric on when you are out.

But I always turned mine off as I didnt want to get zapped and neither do they. They will get use to it and you dont want to be associated with a painful experience. Hence the token pony nut.(have a small bag in your pocket)...some may disagree with the food thing but make it easy for yourself. Its all about food.

But turn off the fencing.
 
Oh poor you :( I don't have any ideas other than get as many strands of tape across as possible! I feel your pain tho as I am always fighting battles with ponies and fencing!!
 
Bobbly said:
I bought two mini fillies before last xmas, they spent quite a while in the stable together with me just doing the routine stuff as well as fussing them, grooming etc. They both wore leather foal headcollars with a tag strap hanging. I tried tape, they went through it which didn't matter as my paddocks are all fenced with stock netting. We ended up buying 20 sheep hurdles which have proved invaluable, a movable paddock to fresh grass when needed and the ability to create a small pen to corner then if necessary. Now one is easily catchable and the other can be caught but is a little monkey still! They still come in every night for a handful of tea etc.
041220112141.jpg
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Hurdles yes good idea too, I have used those as well. They are moveable. Brilliant things.You can get on ebay.
 
Thank you

The corners are done with trees (luckily they are in the right places!) or the original post and rail fence, so the corners are as good as they will be.

The sheep hurdles look like such a brilliant idea!! How big is your paddock with 20 of them??
 
I'm sure they will settle, I had a fence jumping foal who I kept stabled with a pal for a few weeks and he's now settled in the field. I'm sure yours will settle soon maybe just let them find their feet first
 
I hope they will. I think it was perhaps too much in one go :(

I'm just worried now and don't trust them not to hop through the fencing again even with 3 strands, I can't leave them and worry all day everyday about what theyre doing. I think the sheep hurdle idea is fab, think this is what I am going to try!
 
I would say leave them in for a couple more days so that they get use to you and start trusting you, then when you want to turn them out get some one else to help you,take straight into field, turn them to face the gate, but not anywhere near the fenceing,give them some carrots on the ground, unclip and I think you will find they will stay away from the fencing for awhile.
 
muckypony said:
Thank you

The corners are done with trees (luckily they are in the right places!) or the original post and rail fence, so the corners are as good as they will be.

The sheep hurdles look like such a brilliant idea!! How big is your paddock with 20 of them??
Click to expand...

Well the hurdles are 6ft long so a run of 120ft though I try to use the corners or one side of the paddock fence as the other 'walls'. Makes a sizeable area that lasts a fair while. Obviously if you have lots of grass you can make it smaller and just increase it by a little at a time.
 
Hurdles are good but I have had mine fall over before! They are an option and they are inexpensive when you think they are so moveable etc. I did use plastic tapes to make sure they didnt fall off each other. But its a good option if they do trash the electric fence continually. You can understand why the pony tanked off as its a bit of zap. It was for a reason.

Hope they settle as they look so sweet. Let us know how you get on. Am sure its temporary one off set back(I hope so).
 
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