Help - Horse escaping electric fencing

[starbucker]

My young horse keeps barging into and snapping an electric fencing pen. It clicks off after couple of seconds and my horse has got smart to this and escapes out to eat verges around the farm. my horses is being a bit bullied by another horse which isnt helping but there is also little grass left in the very boggy fields which could also be part of the problem. The fence is run off a power pack and isnt very strong. Ive agreed with yard owner that my horse who is clipped has to go out naked or stay in if is very cold which is obviously not a long term solution. Have tried attaching various types of wire to rug to deter but I just think the electric is not strong enough to deter the barge snap that has now been learnt. Any other suggestions much appreciated! Im aware of guardian rugs which are electric conducting but they are out of stock everywhere and I doubt if would really improve as I just dont think its given enough of a zap unfortunately. YO said doesnt want to shut physical gates as if she barges on these and breaks them they be very expensive to replace (i highly doubt that my horse is this strong but have asked for this an YO says not an option)

Is there anything else I can try? Hate my horse being kept in when could be avoided !!

 

[ihatework]

I’d turn it around and suggest if your horse was happier and had suitable turnout/companions maybe that would solve the problem? Easier said sometimes than done, but the tough questions are often the right ones.

 

[Widgeon]

He doesn't sound very happy - I'd politely suggest that if you do stop him breaking out he will probably just channel his frustration into some new and equally "undesirable" behaviour. Could you move him to a different paddock (away from the bully) and perhaps hay in the field so he isn't motivated by hunger to break out?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Either provide your own battery/energiser or find somewhere else to keep your horse. You know the problem is a very weak electric pulse, do it is easily solved.

 

[meleeka]

Why isn’t the current very strong? I’d start there and then double fence it. Agree with the above, far better to make turnout a more pleasurable experience long term.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

If it is one of those small power pack systems then I am not surprised. Can you upgrade to a more substantial leisure battery operated one, you could always take it with you if you move.

Does he have ad lib hay in the field? If it is just mud then he must be fed roughage to keep his engine going and literally standing about feeling very hungry, no wonder he goes searching for food.

I have a large pleasure battery run electric tape and I get between 8 and 10,000 around 6 acres , our biggest field. I also tie electric tape in a loop under the chest of my mares rug, it loops under her rug, touching her chest. The outer loop doesn't half give a zap if she tries leaning on the fence.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Cross posted with Pearlsasinger....again!

 

[starbucker]

I know its very distressing when I can tell my horse is unhappy, its raining today so suspect will be kept in all day poor thing as YO only happy to turn out naked which not ideal in feb. The only other option is an individual paddock which I dont want for them to have no friends at all . I've tried to explain (and other liveries hinted) that Ive found fence not on after its clicked off from being touched and it unfortunately falls on flat ears. It would be a shame to move as they liveries are lovely and hacking is amazing but not sure what else I can do at this point.

 

[starbucker]

Could maybe see if open to stronger power pack but putting hay logically but not an option as YO doesnt want hay in fields

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I would not turn a clipped horse out naked at this time of year. YO needs to cop on.

 

[meleeka]

Is there no grass? I think, on balance, your horse might be happier with individual turnout as at least he wouldn’t be cold and hungry!

 

[starbucker]

I know argeably adds another reason to want to bring themselves in! I suspect if breaks fences on the individual pen (also electric fencing) wont be an option for long. YO had suggested a bigger amount of tape but it fell off as was too heavy for the rug to hold it.

 

[Love]

Coming from purely the electric fencing POV - as soon as mine starts his Houdini routine into the rested part of his field (his section has more than enough in there plus hay .... horses!) I know there is a problem with the fencing. When it is on and working properly he will not go anywhere near it. I added a totally separate strand of fencing around my field and hooked up a solar energiser just to that - that way if the yard's electric that powers the other strands goes weak or wobbly, I know I still have mine. Its worked wonders.

Agree with the others that maybe he's not settled where he is and you may find playing around with his setup solves your issues anyway?

 

[Wishfilly]

I would try individual turnout? If it doesn't work, then fair enough, but I think it's nicer than allowing a horse to be bullied, or turning a clipped horse out naked at this time of year. If he's unhappy, spending a lot of time in the stable won't necessarily help, either?

 

[starbucker]

I will ask tonight about trying the individual paddock, but these are technically starvation paddocks for the laminitics. Ive been told by other liveries the indivivual paddock fences are on mains. Back up is move to friends yard but worry about just unsettling the horse more. Larger fields with more grass with hedge boarders and double 9' gates, facilities limited but enough. They get no escapees there.

 

[meleeka]

YO had suggested a bigger amount of tape but it fell off as was too heavy for the rug to hold it.

I’m not sure what you mean by this. Do you mean attaching tape to his rug? When I’ve needed to I’ve tied it around the front buckles so there’s a bow on the front and a good length tucked inside the rug, next to the skin. That does work, depending on if he’s going through chest first or head first.

 

[starbucker]

I’m not sure what you mean by this. Do you mean attaching tape to his rug? When I’ve needed to I’ve tied it around the front buckles so there’s a bow on the front and a good length tucked inside the rug, next to the skin. That does work, depending on if he’s going through chest first or head first.

I had four strips that stayed on went down front of rug and in so touched chest. Got told was not enough as was still happening. Definitely barging with chest until stretches and can step over or snaps.

 

[Arzada]

I will ask tonight about trying the individual paddock, but these are technically starvation paddocks for the laminitics. Ive been told by other liveries the indivivual paddock fences are on mains. Back up is move to friends yard but worry about just unsettling the horse more. Larger fields with more grass with hedge boarders and double 9' gates, facilities limited but enough. They get no escapees there.

I'd say that's a no brainer. Move

 

[mavandkaz]

I had this recently with my two breaking through their fencing (they turnout together in their own field).
YO fixed fencing and attached a battery and energiser, as there previously had not been enough charge running through.
She asked for them to be turned out naked so they could get zapped. As they are fully clipped, I refused (this was during the freezing cold spell we had!) But did turn out with necks on rugs for 1 day. But, at the end of the day they had broken out as they were hungry. We are not allowed to hay in fields, but I did buy some grass chaff and turned them out with trug tubs of chaff to munch on.
In your shoes, as your horse is being bullied, I would move to individual turnout. Hopefully there will be more grass, and won't be as inclined to escape if not being bullied. If herd dynamics change then you could about joining back with the herd later in the year.

Edit:
Just seen your latest reply. If you have the option to move then I would do that.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Move, as others have said it is a no brainer.

 

[meleeka]

I had four strips that stayed on went down front of rug and in so touched chest. Got told was not enough as was still happening. Definitely barging with chest until stretches and can step over or snaps.

In that case it has to be the lack of power.

 

[Fransurrey]

I will ask tonight about trying the individual paddock, but these are technically starvation paddocks for the laminitics. Ive been told by other liveries the indivivual paddock fences are on mains. Back up is move to friends yard but worry about just unsettling the horse more. Larger fields with more grass with hedge boarders and double 9' gates, facilities limited but enough. They get no escapees there.

This yard sound much nicer than your current one. Hedges to browse are horse heaven. I would use individual paddock for now and use a plasterer's bath or similar to put hay in. I used to know a YM who wouldn't allow hay in fields, either. Horses were always barging out or escaping to get back to stables at this time of year, as they were starving. Bonkers.

 

[starbucker]

Yes imo the fence isnt really up to the job. I have a suspicion its hunger motivated as she only escapes to nearest grass verge. Cant blame her to be honest. I will put some feelers at other yard I know the yard owner a bit but will probably mean waiting a little for a stable to come free (potentially soon as some moving). In the meantime I'll try ask if can put some food in individual paddock as inbetween solution. Feel like it will be a no but can but ask.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Could maybe see if open to stronger power pack but putting hay logically but not an option as YO doesnt want hay in fields

It really isn't difficult to buy a more effective energiser/battery. Your nearest tack shop/feed store will probably stock them. It won't be cheap but it will keep your horse where he's meant to be. However the more you say about this yard/YO, the more I think ' just move".

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

You can't expect horses to be in a bare field with no hay and have grass nearby they can easily access because of no power on the fence.

With yards that have liveries they should really have the fencing from the mains supply it's the only safe way to contain multiple horses in different fields, it's quite easy to do you just buy an energiser that plugs in then run a line to the fence.

I think if the only solution your yo can think of is to take the rug off you have no choice but to find somewhere else

 

[AmyMay]

I will ask tonight about trying the individual paddock, but these are technically starvation paddocks for the laminitics. Ive been told by other liveries the indivivual paddock fences are on mains. Back up is move to friends yard but worry about just unsettling the horse more. Larger fields with more grass with hedge boarders and double 9' gates, facilities limited but enough. They get no escapees there.

Then that’s where I’d be moving to.

 

[Zoeypxo]

I would move to your friends yard
Had this problem for years resulted in so many injuries. Now on large fields with hedges or post and rail hasnt escaped once in over two years

 

[webble]

Your friends yard sounds lovely

 

[lauragreen85]

Electric fence breakers break my heart lol

 

[Bellalily]

I will ask tonight about trying the individual paddock, but these are technically starvation paddocks for the laminitics. Ive been told by other liveries the indivivual paddock fences are on mains. Back up is move to friends yard but worry about just unsettling the horse more. Larger fields with more grass with hedge boarders and double 9' gates, facilities limited but enough. They get no escapees there.

So bizarre that people still think laminitics need starving! I’d definitely move as your YO sounds way too stuck in her old ways. Similar reason to my move too!