Mischievous clever ponies

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LHIS

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My pony, a 5yo WelshX, is a clever little sod. I've never come across a pony with quite so much about them as him. Sometimes I'm sure I can hear the cogs whirring away in his head as he works out how to reach that bit of hay/duck under the chain across his stable/undo the latch on his stable door/take his field mates rugs off/break into parts of the field that have been penned off.

His current favourite trick is working out whether the electric fencing is on, and if it isn't, he's through it. At the moment the fence isn't on (battery dead, yard owner on holiday - I'm looking after the menagerie for 2 weeks) and yesterday evening he went through the fence 4 times in a row. I'm quite sure, having re-built it all this morning again, he'll be through it right now, grazing at the field gate.

I do my best to occupy his mind, the more work he does the more content and less mischievous he is, but some weekday evenings I don't have time to ride (some of you may have read my thread about husband horse jealousy). But I'd really like some advice really on how to try and teach him respect the fencing and stay out, and other ways that I can keep his mind occupied and not plotting something.

I took this photo last night upon arriving at the field - as you can see he's through the fencing and at the gate. His field mates are dutifully on the right side of fencing, despite it being down.

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Bless him, first of all, get rid of the jealous husband!

and secondly, pop down to a local scrap yard and pick up a 2nd hand battery! I got one from my local place for £25, I understand there are other places that do them cheaper! but I can't fault it!! I asked for the biggest one possble.

I got it in dec and the charge finally ran out in June! I'm used to having to rechange batteries every week, so this has been a god send! Its very heavy though!!

The sooner he learns that the fence is always on the better! my boy used to test his fence all the time, but now that its always on, he's been fine, he was out for a week in a small patch, which had one side not electrified and he didn't break out once!
 
Our miniatures keep a little ear out for the energiser clicking......when it stops, they are THROUGH!!!!! It never used to bother them when it was on but they have had a few shocks which helps them respect it more. New trick wait for battery to go or for me to unplug it when I go and catch one of the big ones!! Gits!
 
That's exactly what my little monkey does, literally turns an ear to the fence and waits for the click, no click and he'll test it gingerly with his chin, if successful he'll test it with his lip. Then he squares up the fence, leans on it as one final test, then skips straight through it, looking extremely pleased with himself.
 
I, too, think that you should just get a replacement battery, wet your boys nose and let him learn that fences, have to be respected, for his own safety.

I have a swing gate that self-closes leading from the house to the paddock, usually there is a wire strung up in front of it (fortunately mine respect wire - if the energiser is clicking) if the wire across the gate isn't up my smallest mare quite happily pushes through the gate leaving her buddies on the other side of it, they haven't figured out that they can just push through.

I graze my lawns (the sit on mower has died, and anyway why waste almost 2 acres of decent grass eh? ;) ) and a dummy wire goes across the front of the porch, Estrella is frequently found standing ON the porch looking in the windows. I also have to have clips on all bolts and gate chains because she will undo anything.
 
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My ponies are cheeky too. Very clever chaps although think my mini Shetlands a few sandwiches' short of a picnic at times!! They know if my fence had died or not giving out as much coming to the end. I too use a car battery with a solar panel. Makes life much easier. The biggest mistake I once made was putting all the fence back up and getting them in before id brought the battery over. They waited untill I was the other side of the field and went right through!! It was like a plot. Let her do all the hard work wait untill she's got her back turned and lets go!!! Sparky even learnt how to open a spring lock gate!!! I honestly thought some random person was letting my horses out untill I laid in wait for hours watching!!! He also likes undoing quick release knots after watching me many a time!!
 
Another with a pony who knows when the electric is on or not!

If it's off, he'll be straight through (and even if it's on, he'll chance it from time to time...)

I find the best thing is just to make sure they're tired/worked. Read/commented on your husband thread - is there any way you can do something with pony in the morning? I try to do this from time to time. OH doesn't notice if I'm in bed or not in the mornings, so tend to do a lot with mine before work.

Like Enfys said, you could also try the nose on wire trick. A friend (also with lots of cheeky welshies) suggested this to me - basically make them zap their nose on live electric fencing a few times, and they'll soon start respecting it!

Easiest option is just to replace the battery - I bought a hefty one off ebay for £20-ish (and no P&P). Worked wonders as it means I can always have one on charge, ready to replace.
 
When the eletric works , if his rug is on , then i he might not feel the eletricicty through it , altough if it is not working then you need a distraction . You could try likit products and play balls like i use on my cheeky 5 year old . I also quite enjoy to see him sharing his toys and being ... Well ... A foal again !!! My pony is also quite head strong and brakes through fencing so i doubled it off , so that he had to get through it twice . I also invested in some simple white tape stuff , it is not sticky so it is very good ! The horses are more wary of it as it is thicker than eletric fencing and you may also find the eletric fencing is quite flimsy , so it may or may not work dependant on your horse , good luck with him x
 
Thanks everyone - yard owner back next week so as soon as she is we'll get the fence sorted. I will do the wet nose and wire thing with him - he does need to learn.

He doesn't wear a rug at all - because of this fence issue. He knows if he has his rug on then he thinks he's invincible, so to speak.

And yes, I've been trying to get there before work to hubby doesn't notice too much - like yours he's dead to the world in the morning and doesn't notice if I'm there or not.

Just got back from the yard - I was right, found him and friends through the fencing again grazing in front of the gate. Took them all out, repaired the fence, and left. As I was driving away he trotted round to the same place and pushed through the fence again. Roll on next week when I can get this sorted! (Because I have no idea how to set up an electric fence!)
 
Sounds just like mine. I caught him in the act a few weeks ago, very casually just halfway through the fence. Will also think nothing of bulldozing post a rail fencing down - snaps posts and all! Never hurts himself so is clearly a pro! He is such a sod. Will not go anywhere near if its electrified though!
 
Glad I'm not the only one with a cheeky pony!

Found the fence down again this morning - when I was putting it back up he was stood with me watching, so I took the opportunity to pretend it was electrified, and flicked my fingernails together to mimic the sound - he looked most alarmed! We'll see if my plan has worked later.. :D
 
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