Worst day ever. I hate horses. I hate horse people.

Shantara

Shantara

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I lie, of course. I don't hate anyone apart from myself. And Ned...a bit. I beg of you, I am on the verge of a breakdown, if you don't having anything nice to say, don't say anything.
I am fishing for sympathy, I won't lie.


I couldn't believe my eyes when I arrived at the field today.
The extension I'd put on the gate was ripped apart and I was down 1 horse. That's right, Ned had escaped again.

I was in bits. I may have looked calm on the outside, but on the inside I was dying. Thankfully Cookie is fine being left alone, so I called Mum, then the police, then work.

I had a pretty good idea of where he would be, so set off to the old yard. When I got there I said to YM's daughter "Is Ned here?!"
"Yea"
"Why wasn't I called?!"

Then YM herself came out and we came to an agreement that Ned could stay for a few hours, but would have to leave before the end of the day. Which is fair enough.

So we set about fixing the fence with metal, instead of wood.

When we came back, I could no longer see Cookie. My heart sank for the 2nd time. I felt utterly sick and just wanted to cry. I walked around the whole field and couldn't see him anywhere! I was just about to burst into tears, when Mum shouted "There he is!!" I've never been so happy to see his funny little face! He was just blending in far too well and didn't call as usual. Phew!

Anyway, Ned is back in the field and I will not be able to sleep for a while...

Again, please be kind. I am really not up to any sort of "none sugar coated" anything right now.
 
tobiano said:
Oh no! Poor you. Hugs and lots of sugar coating. Brilliant that you found them both so quickly. Ned is a man, thats the problem. :)
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I'm beginning to think I want to take up knitting instead...

And I found myself browsing hobbles on ebay...I have no idea what I'll do if he does it again!
 
Hugs, Chan! Ned is a proper Houdini isn't he? At least you now have him safe back in the field- just gonna have to construct some sort of Ned proof fencing -have you got electric? Maybe a line of electric wire round the perimeter or something......sorry can't be more help.
 
So sorry you were scared half to death and very glad you found them both!
You shouldn't hate yourself - it wasn't your fault, as tobiano says Ned is a man - says it all, lol!
 
Oh poor you - your horse really is a twit isn't he. You need the kind of perimeter fencing they used in Jurassic Park :p
 
I have nothing to offer other than sympathy I can't imagine what a worry it must be to have an escaping horse. Mine is a pain getting through from winter field to summer field but thankfully he hasn't tried to actually get out of the fenced off area!

If its any consolation I have well and truly fallen out with my horse, for no other reason than he's an awkward sod, so he's having a few weeks off while I forgive him!!! I did tell him we'd fallen out but then felt guilty so had to tell him how pretty he was!! Bloomin horses!!!!
 
chin up....you'll solve this some way...hugs

have you tried attaching spooky stuff like strips of colourful ribbon and plastic bags to the topeline of fencing/wire...it might deter him while you work out something more long term.

once again hugs
 
Why Chan?

Think you need to rename Ned Houdini! He is a strange character isn't he - hope he settles soon as in your shoes I would also be close to a nervous breakdown :-( Stallion fencing and 6 foot gates!
 
Thanks guys, I am just so worried about it all and YM isn't helping by being very spiteful about it all. I know he's annoying, but if she needed help, I would put feelings aside and help :(
Mum said to her "It's such a shame, poor Ned, he was just missing his friends" so she swung around and said "He just kicks them all though, doesn't he?!" Mum replied "Well, that's horses" to which she replied "No it isn't"

Grr!!

Sadly no stables and he just jumps out of them too :( no electricity either, but I may look at getting an energizer or something.
 
LittleRocketRider said:
chin up....you'll solve this some way...hugs

have you tried attaching spooky stuff like strips of colourful ribbon and plastic bags to the topeline of fencing/wire...it might deter him while you work out something more long term.

once again hugs
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Thanks :)

Sadly, my bombproofing worked too well...it doesn't bother him :(
 
Blimey, he really is a ******! Hugs to you :(

I can't imagine why anyone would be negative, doesn't sound like you could have done any more for him in this situation! How far is old yard from new yard?
 
Oh no! Naughty Ned. If you've got no electric hotline do a battery run energizer that runs off double d batteries and just hooks on your fence :-) think they're about £70 straight from hotline. I hope you get it sorted and think you should go and enjoy some ice cream and a tipple to calm your nerves. He really is an escape artist!
 
Oh dear what a sod! I can't even imagine how worried you were! It's horrid when you can't find them because they're hiding in a hedge let alone run away. *hugs*
 
Well look on the bright side, you have a narrow area to barricade at least. Perhaps you could get hold of one of those Heras fencing panels to attach over the gate?

Hopefully when Ned gets more attached to Cookie it will get easier
 
He is a naughty little tit isn't he. Totally uncalled for behviour given that he has a friend and plenty og grass.

Poor you, I would hate him a little bit right now were he mine too the so and so!!

Can you put up a second line of fence about three or four feet inside the outer fence to discourage jumping? Often making it wider rather than higher is the thing which stops them
 
Sorry he doesn't seem to be behaving :( I know how it feels having to build fences to keep a rested pony in!

Btw your name change is what my name shortened looks like! Very strange!

Hope ned starts behaving soon!
 
Little monkey, how frustrating for you and worrying too! If it's a small area that he's escaping from could you not 'deer fence' it? If he can jump that then sell the git for loads of dosh as an Olympic prospect!
 
Chan, if the fences and hedge are secure and it's only the gate area get yourself a battery energiser that really packs a punch, they are not cheap I'm afraid but you need him to get the message that it's really not nice getting zapped. Make a pen on the inside of the gate and then around the edge of the pen run three further lines of fencing about six feet apart. Get the tall posts, and 20mm tape. It's unlikely he will try to jump the first fence as he can see that the way is not clear after that. If he tries to barge he needs (I was going to say "you want" but I know that you don't want) him to get a big belt that really makes him think twice about it.You might find that penning him in a small area with a high fence is a good way to start so that he learns quickly that the fence bites hard. I know you won't want him to be hurt but you can't cope with him continually escaping.

The pen on the inside of the gate also means that the gate are won't get poached in the winter and gives you chance to unload "stuff" without horsey assistance.

Finally, remember that if you do end up attaching posts with electric tape to the top of the fence to make an eight foot barrier you will need warning signs wherever the public could come into contact with it.

Not sugar-coated I'm afraid, just practical

edited to add: don't waste your money on a little energiser with torch batteries, you need a serious jobby that uses a proper leisure battery. Leisure batteries are designed to be drained then recharged, don't listen to suggestions of using car batteries which are cheaper but intended to be constantly trickle charged.
 
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