Fool horse hanging on to rubber panels on horse walker.

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EJJ999

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My life has become a long drawn out saga of outwitting the horse.

Latest. He is hanging on to the rubber bottom panels of the horsewalker with his teeth. Only him on it and he planted his feet and brought it to a standstill. Motor protesting loudly.

He doesn't hate the horsewalker he happily goes on. It is just typical of him being a total idiot.

I do need to use it sometimes especially after a hard session when he has had a wash. Otherwise he rolls in stable. (Half day turnout at the moment so can't get him back to the field). And if bad weather comes it might be our only option for a short while.

Middle of the night I wondered if I could put a grazing muzzle on him but contract says no headcollars or tack on walker.

Ideas please. Before I loose the will to live.

Thanks.
 
I think he gets points for ingenuity!

Mine always rolls in the stable, it's not something I worry about particularly but understand that it might be your only option at some time. I would speak to YO re. contract terms as I don't think you could even temporarily electrify that bit (presuming large rubber hanging flaps).
 
Red-Nose said:
Presuming the metal parts above the rubber sheet are electrified, I would simply get some electrical tape and hang strips down the rubber. Soon learn not to go there!
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Are you thinking the sort of tape used for electric fencing?? Thank you.
 
Yes, if the metal is electrified, the tape would carry the current where you need it. I would not do huge strips in case the wind blew (!), but I am sure you could find a way to attach the electric tape to the rubber at the bottom, even if it were Sellotape!! (Or indeed the different type of electric tape, the black stuff that sticks and does not carry a charge).
 
We have had all sorts of horses doing different things on the walker! One has learnt if he stands still he can stop the walker. He has temporarily been outwitted and is attached to a rope which is tied on the paddle in front of him so he thinks he is being lead along. Not ideal but it keep him moving for now!

If nothing else works then I would speak to your YO about putting a muzzle on for a few days because if he starts tugging the rubber it does come off very easily and you would then need to replace it!
 
Red-Nose said:
Yes, if the metal is electrified, the tape would carry the current where you need it. I would not do huge strips in case the wind blew (!), but I am sure you could find a way to attach the electric tape to the rubber at the bottom, even if it were Sellotape!! (Or indeed the different type of electric tape, the black stuff that sticks and does not carry a charge).
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I am not sure this would be safe, I don't think it is going to be the same current as an electric fencer and I would be very concerned about him getting a true electric shock from it, he may be put off by just seeing some tape but I would be checking before putting up anything that may carry a live current.
 
I have done something similar, the current would just be what is in the metal paddles anyway, same as an electric fence, designed to modify behaviour of leaning/pushing.

I was not talking about using an actual live electrical supply, such as the mains o_Ohence enquiring first weather the metal paddles were electrified, and if they were, using the shock from that.

The better walkers do have an electric shock charge, the same as an electric fence. It does not electrify the side mesh, just the paddles at the front and back of the horse. It is a static shock, just the same as an electric fence, not one with a current. The electric shock from the metal paddles has been designed to be in contact with the horses (but not for long IME :p).
 
But the intention behind them is the same, it's not going to be a 'dangerous' level of current to stop them sitting on it? People would complain.
 
ycbm said:
Trying to find pout what charge a Wales delivers, I came across this site with two brilliant videos on it. The small one is genius! The larger one is, well, a horse with his own way of doing things!


http://www.equinebehaviourist.co.uk/blog/2016/10/24/the-alternative-horse-walker
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I love the one that goes the wrong way round! He's still marching along he just clearly didn't fancy going left handed that day! I wonder if he goes the other way when the walker is changed direction...

There was one at Brian Ellisons who would stand stock still and let the paddles sweep over his back and head - in the water walker! Now that is some piece of kit! Needless the say the horse was banned from it 😂
 
Thanks for your replies. Some ideas to think about.

His character is that once you have stopped the behaviour he probably won't do it again.

It would be so much funnier if it was someone else's horse doing it !!
 
Red-Nose said:
Presuming the metal parts above the rubber sheet are electrified, I would simply get some electrical tape and hang strips down the rubber. Soon learn not to go there!
Click to expand...
This is what we have had to do at work. We have a few who will either do this or have managed to work out how to lean back low enough to stop the walker without getting the metal! They hung thin bits of chain or electric fencing tape.
 
I've seen a walker that had a broom head attached to the inside of the walker, behind the horse. If the horse stopped, the broom would brush against its' hindquarters and it would scoot forward.
 
The posh yard down the road from us now mostly keeps minis and a few show ponies, the minis spend most of their time trotting backwards and forwards in 'their gap' creating trouble.
 
Mine was like this, in the end we gave up and he wasn’t allowed on. He’d either grab the front rubber like yours, use the one behind as a bum scratcher or stand there with his head down and let the panels go over him.

He once did that before I could get him off with another horse on the walker, scared the living shite out of the other horse but he didn’t care one jot. Clever horses will always find a way to beat machines or electric fencing in my experience 😂
 
poiuytrewq said:
This is what we have had to do at work. We have a few who will either do this or have managed to work out how to lean back low enough to stop the walker without getting the metal! They hung thin bits of chain or electric fencing tape.
Click to expand...
Yes I had a similar problem with one horse some years ago and the horsewalker manufacturer came out and attached lengths of chain to the metal part of the gate that already had electrified pushers - say four lengths per pusher and long enough to reach the level at which your horse grabs the rubber. You can attach the chain to the mesh/metal with cable ties. Worked a treat.
 
Well it did make me feel better to know there are other fool horses about. It's just so embarrassing that it is always him.

But the good news is .... the rubber downwards panels have some sort of electrical strips in them. So if I put the electric pusher on it will carry some current into the rubber paddles.

So, basically I aim to zap him this weekend !!
 
My old boy decided he did not want to go the same way as the walker so went backwards until he got bored and turned round. We just laughed at him. My long dead boy knew how to stop a walker by leaning backwards on the paddle so when he decided he had done enough would just stop it.
 
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