Little intro and a warning about sheep fencing!

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Tobiano

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Hello! My RI took this lovely pic of daughter, puppy, new horse and me yesterday and I had to share.

PollyPipBilboampmejan14_zpsce359724.jpg


The horse is Bilbo - he is on trial with me at the moment but loving him so hope will be keeping!

He has been ever so good so far but we had a bit of a scare this morning (not his fault) - was riding out with a friend who was on my daughter's horse Harry. Harry spooked and plunged through a bit of sheep fence (he couldnt see it & luckily it was not switched on) - this scared Bilbo who took off with me across the fence and half way across a field before I could stop him. Only the 3rd time I have ridden him and I am a scaredy cat but felt v pleased that I stayed on and he stopped before any damage done. (No sheep in the actual field). He didnt buck or rear or anything else but his speed did surprise me. I am not letting it put me off as I think he would have had to be more or less made of wood for it not to have spooked him. Fingers crossed for our future excursions together!

We did ask if the sheep fence could be made more visible - horrible to think of what may have happened if it was switched on - but its coming down in a week or 2 so we will just avoid until then. Worth being aware of though if you are riding near any.
 
Congrats on your new chum :)

How did Harry manage to end up in the fence? (The actual mechanism of the spook!). it sounds like bilbo coped admirably given the circumstances!
 
Thanks hnmisty! The fence is only about 2 ft high, we were hacking along about a 10ft wide track next to it and Harry 'thought' he saw something on the other side so he leaped about 8 feet across the track and spun, which took him straight into the fence. It was just 3 strands of thin electric rope on plastic posts so he made mincemeat of it. Just so glad it wasnt on or he would have gone into orbit and goodness knows what would have happened to my friend!
 
Ouch! That is horrible khalswitz. Was your horse OK after? Perhaps this was a different kind of fence, it wasnt the kind like big chicken wire just these paltry little bits of electric. Could still have been nasty though.
 
tobiano said:
Ouch! That is horrible khalswitz. Was your horse OK after? Perhaps this was a different kind of fence, it wasnt the kind like big chicken wire just these paltry little bits of electric. Could still have been nasty though.
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Oh right, I thought you meant like livestock proof fencing. That's what we have for the sheep.

Yeah, it was horrible... lots of box rest. Then about a month after turnout he took the same heel off again... repeat cycle. Did heal completely but I insisted on the inner ring of electric fence being electrified at all times after that... (which was up at the time, but not electric, so they barged through it and got up to the fence...)
 
I've noticed this type of fence becoming more prevalent, it's a very low electric fence that's hard to see as its clear-ish wire in three strands. Nasty, I found myself riding between two runs with a 4 ft track between didn't see it until was on the route it only would have taken one spook to step on it and it Was on. I avoid it if I see it now as the large drums of wire cause horses to spook alone without the volts!
 
khalswitz said:
Oh right, I thought you meant like livestock proof fencing. That's what we have for the sheep.

Yeah, it was horrible... lots of box rest. Then about a month after turnout he took the same heel off again... repeat cycle. Did heal completely but I insisted on the inner ring of electric fence being electrified at all times after that... (which was up at the time, but not electric, so they barged through it and got up to the fence...)
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Glad he got better.... both times! x
 
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