Keeping a shitland in place

[poiuytrewq]

This is Bubbles! Bubbles is a shitland In the highest sense of the term.
Over the years we have had periods of escape, generally we can find a weak point in the fencing, a broken bit or where the electric is shorting out. It can be fixed and we are all good again for a while.
Currently though it’s constant. Every night he’s out. He’s been on the road and across the farm fields. Luckily he doesn’t wander far and when he hears me come out generally comes in for his breakfast!
Obviously this can’t carry on though. So he’s currently confined to barracks until I can sort things out.
We have 4 strands of electric fencing. Mains one field and battery the other. (Currently in the mains one)
He rarely breaks it, it’s head down and flat out charge.
So I can either add another strand of rope between the bottom and mid strings.
Or zig zag up and down between isolators creating a X pattern, maybe providing a more visual block?
Or OH says sheep netting, is this safe?
I’d also prefer not to spend a fortune if possible.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

Awww so cute ? A Shetland that doesn't respect electric will never be consistently kept in by it so I'd say sheep netting is the way to go, make sure it's properly tensioned. I'd then run some strands of electric along the inside of sheep netting at Shetland bum height and hock height so the little love is dissuaded from itching his bum on said sheep netting ? Also clip the little dear so it can't use its insulation to help with electric zap dispersal

Elle, veteran owner of sneaky fluff houdinis ?

 

[Gloi]

What about electric netting.

 

[quizzie]

....I now can't get the mental image out of my mind, of a small fluffy white pony running headfirst into (electric/elastic) netting, and rebounding back into the field with an annoyed look on his face!

 

[Equi]

I would put sheep netting up. Electric tape just isn’t a suitable fence for most shetlands.

 

[meleeka]

Mine has a strand about 5 inches from the floor and another at his chest height. If there’s no lower one he’ll go under. His mane is a good insulator apparently ?. The worst thing about mine is when he finds a weakness, he’s not silly enough to let me know, so gets out but always makes sure he’s back in the field before I arrive! Eventually he makes the mistake of having a poo and then I know. He’s just recovered from laminitis which I’m fairly sure was caused by his escaping antics, although as yet I have no proof.

 

[poiuytrewq]

....I now can't get the mental image out of my mind, of a small fluffy white pony running headfirst into (electric/elastic) netting, and rebounding back into the field with an annoyed look on his face!

I’ll try and film that for you when it first happens… it will happen!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I had one which levitated through 5 or even 6 strands on boost if it was put out to divide a paddock..... sadly lost her last year tho.
I'd never ever keep mini ponies behind just electric fence though
However she would - and my other one will stay behind permanent fence bars, I just back up with a couple of strands of tape to save rubbing on it.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Ok. So I’ll allow the sheep netting idea. I wasn’t keen as I worried about legs going though but I guess it comes in different sizes?
Not his leg of course, his would just pull out again easily and calmly but one of the others who’d tear theirs off.
I did actually clip his chest out one year, forgot that so that’s something I can do again.
Meleeka, he did that too for a while ? he was only “escaping” into another of my own fields so it wasn’t a problem and I figured as he put himself back each morning what I didn’t know wouldn’t hurt me! I think now he’s getting to more interesting foody places he just prefers to stay out!
I generally don’t even bother catching him, I bring the others in and he appears in his stable/shed a few minutes later for breakfast and a little lie down.

 

[Shilasdair]

There is nothing that will keep a Shetland from doing exactly what it wants.

Nothing.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I had one which levitated through 5 or even 6 strands on boost if it was put out to divide a paddock..... sadly lost her last year tho.
I'd never ever keep mini ponies behind just electric fence though
However she would - and my other one will stay behind permanent fence bars, I just back up with a couple of strands of tape to save rubbing on it.

When you say fence bars you mean wooden as in post and tail?

The main issue here is that the actual perimeter used to be secure, thick hedges and often stone walls but the gamekeeper has made lots of entrances to avoid him constantly unlocking gates so I used to be safe in that if he got out he couldn’t get far or on the road. Now he has perfect little exits everywhere.

 

[poiuytrewq]

There is nothing that will keep a Shetland from doing exactly what it wants.

Nothing.

I fear this is true.
I have seen him charge at and bust through a wooden post and tail fence once. He was on a diet at the time ?

 

[The Xmas Furry]

When you say fence bars you mean wooden as in post and tail?

The main issue here is that the actual perimeter used to be secure, thick hedges and often stone walls but the gamekeeper has made lots of entrances to avoid him constantly unlocking gates so I used to be safe in that if he got out he couldn’t get far or on the road. Now he has perfect little exits everywhere.

Yes.
I have Tornado fencing on 2 perimeter edges of my land (does a fab job!) and the other 2 sides are very secure,
Internal fencing is 2 rail post and rail (with 2 strands of tape (one below bottom rail and 1 between the 2 rails).

 

[poiuytrewq]

Yes.
I have Tornado fencing on 2 perimeter edges of my land (does a fab job!) and the other 2 sides are very secure,
Internal fencing is 2 rail post and rail (with 2 strands of tape (one below bottom rail and 1 between the 2 rails).

Sounds perfect. This isn’t our land so I loathe to spend a fortune.
I’ll probably waste a fortune first on cheaper alternatives ?‍

 

[SEL]

I saw the title of this thread and just giggled.

He is cute

Good luck!!!!!!!

 

[welshwizzard]

force field!
Cute pony, butter wouldn't melt eh

 

[poiuytrewq]

Haha! Thank you both.
He is a seriously lovely little horse to be fair.
You could shut a small child in a box with him and know 100% if they put their arm in his mouth he will politely not close until it’s removed.
You can do anything at all to him or with him he just loves the attention.
I may give up and move him into the house!

 

[hollyandivy123]

 

[Errin Paddywack]

A friend of mine worked for a time for a lady who had a team of Shetlands who pulled a Cinderella coach in pantomimes. She told me about watching one lying down and sliding on his side to get under the fence.

 

[poiuytrewq]

A friend of mine worked for a time for a lady who had a team of Shetlands who pulled a Cinderella coach in pantomimes. She told me about watching one lying down and sliding on his side to get under the fence.

When I first got Bubbles I was asked if he was from Fairytale Farm or something similar as they had a team that pulled Cinderella coaches and such like and apparently he was very much like them. He used to be grey and white with a huge forelock.
Wonder if it’s the same place?

 

[poiuytrewq]

View attachment 82460

*shudders at the thought of that many ??

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Wonder if it’s the same place?

This was back in the late 60's. Somewhere in Northants. The ponies were all white I think.