Horse Regularly Jumping 5ft Gate out of field.

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Calico1

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I have a 4 year old Irish Draught mare that I've owned for approx 5 weeks, last week she jumped a 5ft gate out of the field for no apparent reason into an empty field, leaving her field mate and then galloping around before returning to her field. She has now done this 3 times and it's really worrying me as if if she jumps the second field fence then she could end up on the road. Any have any ideas how to stop her?
 
Tape off the gate as above. At least it's only the gate. My neighbours 13hh jumps gates, fences, anything even if there is tape. Fortunately they have a fair bit of land so he usually ends up in the garden on a daily basis.
 
I have a 7 ft fence round my highland mare she is 23 years old and will jump if left on her own or the grass is greener etc. She doesnt like flappy tape so the top row is old tape doesnt carry a current anymore but blows nicely in the wind. She can even jump a standard stallion fence post and rail 6ft from a walk wearing a rug. Sadly she only jumps when she wants too although did win a few workers when she was in the mood. Her daughter on the other hand lives to jump but never jumped the fence
 
People who live near us think I keep giraffes. Our fencing is 6'6. I found I needed to have all external fencing at that height, then have a low fence (3') between 2 fields so he can jump around.

He would be relaxed about jumping, no stress, just pop to one field for the shade, pop back for the water, pop to a third just because.

Once he had a low fence to jump it fulfilled his sense of independence, but kept him contained. At least he stopped jumping the 5 bar gate!

12273673_10205030009773926_307286965488798077_o.jpg
 
Red-1 said:
People who live near us think I keep giraffes. Our fencing is 6'6. I found I needed to have all external fencing at that height, then have a low fence (3') between 2 fields so he can jump around.

He would be relaxed about jumping, no stress, just pop to one field for the shade, pop back for the water, pop to a third just because.

Once he had a low fence to jump it fulfilled his sense of independence, but kept him contained. At least he stopped jumping the 5 bar gate!

12273673_10205030009773926_307286965488798077_o.jpg
Click to expand...

That's a brilliant photo! This thread's really funny. Shouldn't be laughing but totally am at all the delinquent equines out there, giving their owners heart attacks on a daily basis :lol:
 
Red-1 said:
People who live near us think I keep giraffes. Our fencing is 6'6. I found I needed to have all external fencing at that height, then have a low fence (3') between 2 fields so he can jump around.

He would be relaxed about jumping, no stress, just pop to one field for the shade, pop back for the water, pop to a third just because.

Once he had a low fence to jump it fulfilled his sense of independence, but kept him contained. At least he stopped jumping the 5 bar gate!

What a wonderful photo.
Click to expand...
 
Never had one jump out of the field but daughter's eventer jumped in. Naughty boy pulled away from me and took off down the drive to the gate into the field, turned round to come back past me so I put my arms out and the beast popped the five bar gate from standing. Nearly gave me a heart attack as he was in a heavy winter rug and was trailing his lead rope! I'd section off the gate with electric tape and make sure there was always enough grass/hay to keep him happy.
 
When we moved to our current yard, mine was in a little paddock off the main field for a couple of weeks until he settled. On his second day there, a young WB jumped out of his enormous field into the paddock to join him.

They’ve been lovers ever since and will take any opportunity to stop and groom each other. They had to be separated as the WB is a rug-ripper and my horse needs a fly sheet in summer. It’s heartbreaking to stand in the way of romance, but I can’t afford the replacement/repair bill :(
 
My horse used to jump the 5 bar gate for no particular reason. There was no pattern to it, he wasn’t stressed just seemed to like doing as he pleased, he never went far just to a nice patch of grass or his stable. He was stabled overnight in winter and in the day in summer.
He now lives out 24 /7 with access to a bedded shelter and has never jumped out since he has lived out.
 
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Mine has been known to jump out as well. 14.2hh of HW cob isnt what you expect to hop over a 5 bar gate! He does it when hes fed up of being out, or if hes out and feels bullied or scared by the other horses. I'm very careful how and where I keep him and, touch wood! he hasnt done it for ages.
 
Leo Walker said:
Mine has been known to jump out as well. 14.2hh of HW cob isnt what you expect to hop over a 5 bar gate! He does it when hes fed up of being out, or if hes out and feels bullied or scared by the other horses. I'm very careful how and where I keep him and, touch wood! he hasnt done it for ages.
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My NF (who as an adult is 12hh) apparently popped a 5 bar gate as a yearling :D
 
Mine has been known to magically appear the wrong side of fencing looking completely nonchalant! Luckily post and rail seems to have sorted it but both me and the yard staff are totally baffled as to how a 16.3 ID can climb through switched on electric tape without damaging it or himself.

He's such a spanner.
 
Mine does it too - over the five bar gate from a standstill between the parked cars *closes eyes and prays*! Luckily everyone on the yard knows to just grab him
And pop him in his stable. He only does it if he’s lonely or wants to come in. It’s a pain, but we manage!
 
One of our garde A showjumpers always did this....he use to jump some seriously big fences....including the very high stallion paddock rails. We then ran electric inside his fence about 6/7 feet from the inside of the main fence and this stopped him! The only upside was he only ever jumped when he was on a perfect stride, if he wasn't he canter a circle and come around again!
 
Didn't realise there were so many mischievous horses out there! :) My lot are so compliant and never breach a fence so this is new to me. This mare is standing around 17hh at the mo and is 4 in May, she just canters steady and clears the 5 bar gate like it's nothing. The fencing is lower than the gate but she likes to jump it. Think I'll try the electric fencing around 6 feet in front of it.... she's grounded until then.
 
Thanks for the replies, I hadn't realised that this was such a common problem as my lot are so compliant and would never escape or cross a line so the newbie has come as a surprise with her antics.

I moved her to a friends place where she's been stabled but allowed to go out with my friends 2 horses in a small winter field she has. All went well until today.....went to get them in tonight and the metal field gate was on the floor mangled and no sign of the horses. After a frantic search we found them grazing on the moors, when we walked them back my mare appeared a bit stiff and has a split up one front hoof so I'll have to assess in the morning and farrier is coming Tuesday.
 
Oh gosh, how traumatic :( hope she's not too badly injured. It's strange that she's picking the gate to jump rather than just the field fence.

My friend's horse used to jump the gate rather than the fence when she first bought her (at the time we kept our horses together), but she settled and stopped doing it pretty quickly. It was maybe 6 weeks of living out 24/7 with two geldings before she never did it again.

I've know lots that fence hop if stressed or hungry, but the gate jumping is odd unless they are specifically trying to get somewhere
 
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