Horses can sense electric - Really?!

[Turks]

I'd like to pick brains please for no real reason...

I was told by a professional of sorts that horses along with many other animals can "sense" electric as evidenced by their behaviour with electric fences. I have personally never witnessed anything to support this in horses or other animals. I gather possibly in Bees.

Anyone beg to differ?

 

[Moomin1]

I think it's probably more to do with an acute sense of hearing, though I imagine a lot more study would need to be done.

 

[Holzdweaver]

Iv heard that in passing before, and wondered if there is any truth in it.
My clever old mare seemed to know exactly when the electric fencing was switched off and would walk through it, even if it was on 99% of the time, she would walk over it the remaining 1%. Thought she was magic or something as none of the others seemed to do it, until i caught her lightly brushing her whiskers on the fencing on more than one occasion. she must have got a tingle or something when it was on. I miss that mare, she kept me on my toes

My gelding on the other hand just leans over it, if he gets a belt he doesnt go near that particular stretch again, even when iv forgot to flick the switch he still doesnt go close. He has to repeat it into every new field though haha

 

[OldNag]

Well I had one that could sense dragons, completely invisible to humans, but very definitely lurking in the corner of the arena.

So it wouldn't surprise me! ;-)

 

[HaffiesRock]

Both my ponies seem to test the fence with their whiskers.

 

[Echo Bravo]

Whiskers and hearing. Their whiskers are very senstive, which is why you should never trim them. You would never do that to a cat or dog so why horses.

 

[OldNag]

Whiskers and hearing. Their whiskers are very senstive, which is why you should never trim them. You would never do that to a cat or dog so why horses.

^^^ This. Pet hate, trimmed whiskers.

 

[Petalpoos]

Well I had one that could sense dragons, completely invisible to humans, but very definitely lurking in the corner of the arena.

So it wouldn't surprise me! ;-)

This forum so needs a 'Like' button

 

[shortstuff99]

Well lots of animals can sense electrics fields, very common in fish, sharks and insects. With the sensitivity of horse's whiskers I wouldn't be surprised if they could sense it.

 

[fburton]

I beg to differ. Sensing electric fields under water is fairly straightforward because water (particularly salt water) conducts electricity, and there are good reasons for sharks and other fish to be able to do this. The knowledge that some insects can do it is relatively recent: the Science paper by Bristol researchers showing the first example of insects (bumblebees) being able to do this came out only last year, although I'm sure there will be more examples of insects doing this in due course.

However, I don't think it's necessary to suppose that horses are using anything beyond the normal mammalian sense of hearing and, in some cases, picking up electric currents flowing through whiskers (not sure what sense you'd call that because it amounts to direct nerve stimulation). If horses have the ability to sense electric fields, one has to wonder for what purpose that has evolved, given that there weren't electric fences before humans appeared on the scene. (There are thunderstorms, yes, but what advantage would a developed electric-field sense confer?)

Would it be rude to ask what sort of "professional of sorts" said this?

 

[Dave's Mam]

I frequently pass under HUGE pylons, you can hear the buzzing from them. Horses don't bother, perhaps because we have one over our field?

 

[Goldenstar]

They certainly hear if the fence is working
My blind mare flicked her ears in time to the pulse of the fence .
She loved electric fences. They helped her navigate her world .

 

[AdorableAlice]

They didn't sense it prior to be killed at Newbury.

 

[Dave's Mam]

Oh Alice, is that when the ground was live?

 

[PollyP99]

They are hyper sensitive to its effects though aren't they, as in the above humans were not affected but two horses went down. My mare went up and knocked me straight in the face last week (totally out of character) I now realise when I wear a certain top I give her static shock, I touched her as I had her head collar at her ears and she freaked. I am now much more careful!

 

[NOISYGIRL]

Mine knew when it was on and when it wasn't, he used to listen for the clicking I think

 

[Dave's Mam]

I remember a horrible incident a lot of years ago when 2 horses were killed walking through a "Live" puddle. Their riders were saved as they were on the ground & wearing rubber boots. Polly, my mare's fly sheet makes horrible static, but it doesn't bother her. Makes my hair stand on end though!

 

[AdorableAlice]

Yes, there was a live cable in the paddock. The horses were plated.

 

[Dave's Mam]

I remember it, they went down like stones.

 

[Ibblebibble]

years ago we used to test the goat fencing by holding a piece of grass on it, you'd get a slight tingle rather than a shock, perhaps it's similar for horses using their whiskers ?.

 

[Moomin1]

years ago we used to test the goat fencing by holding a piece of grass on it, you'd get a slight tingle rather than a shock, perhaps it's similar for horses using their whiskers ?.

I seriously misread that as you 'used to test the goat on the fencing'.....

 

[Dave's Mam]

The thing at Newbury was horrible. They fell, shaking.

 

[Turks]

Well, from what everyone says it seems that they might hear it or sense it through their whiskers directly but no other special magic involved. That would make sense to me. Nice to think my horses aren't especially thick then when it comes to the leccy!

 

[FubsyMog]

Both OH and I can 'sense' electricity - that is, we can tell if something electric is switched on by holding a hand/arm close to it but not touching. He is much more sensitive to it than me though. There is a definite vibration that can be felt close to things that are electrified - some more than others obviously. If you have an electric blanket, try this - turn it on and get someone to lie on the bed. Sort of float the palm of your hand, or your bare arm, over their bare skin, a couple of millimetres away. You can feel a kind of buzzing - the person on the bed may be able to feel it too. It's actually quite weird!

My knowledge of electricity is limited to GCSE Physics but I presume that you can feel it because it is being transmitted via the tiny hairs on your body. (In the case of the electric blanket experiment, your hairless palm is lightly touching the other person's body hairs) Horse (or other animals) whiskers are much longer, therefore they should be able to feel the electricity from further away.

I suspect there may also be hearing aspect to it, or other sensitivity to waves being transmitted - OH can tell if a TV is on standby in another room, though he says this 'skill' has noticeably diminished as he has become older. His hearing is still excellent though - both of us can hear those sonic cat deterrent things!

 

[Old Bat]

I had a 12hh sec A who was so sensitive that she could get through 4 strands of tape on tall stakes with the bottom one about a foot off the ground without moving anything in the process. And no, she couldn't jump that high.

 

[AdorableAlice]

I had a 12hh sec A who was so sensitive that she could get through 4 strands of tape on tall stakes with the bottom one about a foot off the ground without moving anything in the process. And no, she couldn't jump that high.

and be found eating the neighbours prize roses ?

 

[Goldenstar]

Switch Fattys fence off and he goes under on his side in minutes it's a two strand fence on tall poles it's an inpressive feat for an ID with a very impressive tummy .

 

[3OldPonies]

Both my ponies seem to test the fence with their whiskers.

One of mine does this, the other waits for the result of the test and the tester to walk through the fence before getting into mischief!

 

[Old Bat]

and be found eating the neighbours prize roses ?

anything!

 

[Ibblebibble]

I seriously misread that as you 'used to test the goat on the fencing'.....

lol now that would have been amusing......... but naughty