Youngsters and fencing....

debsflo

debsflo

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Is it possible to keep youngsters with good electric fencing as oppose to post and rail.. Am contemplating a youngster next year and preparing.. i have kept horses for 20 years with current set up including a mini but interested to hear..Boundary has wooden posts and several runs of thick tape.
 
My last youngster (some time ago now!) was only kept in by two parallel fences separated by a space of a few feet. The inner one was electric. With only one fence he would regularly jump it or misjudge his braking power and slide into the fence, sometimes ending up on his side half under it and wrecking it in the process. It all depends on the youngster but mine probably would not be alive now if he had not had double fencing. He has however grown up to be very steady and respectful of boundaries. I prefer to have all electric fencing backed up by a solid fence anyway at least on the outer perimeter of the fields.
 
Are foals safe with electric fencing? As I saw on fb that a 2week old foal had got caught up in the fence and died :-( it got me wondering how many people use electric safely with foals especially
 
I didn't mean u specifically, we've used it for a 4yr old but just a musing really about it being safe for foals, sorry to hijack but I saw this thread and thought it would be silly to start a new one x
 
Not sure. think i will get the boundary done with posts,stock fencing and a top rail if possible. She will be approx 14hh and stud said she has been turned out with electric but mine is not mains and i will only worry.. have 2 others so would hope they are a good influence.
 
Yes, but you will have to teach them what it is. If you don't they can try and run through it rather than backing off. It sounds a bit mean but the best way I have found is to reverse them towards it so that when it touches their bum they will go forwards away from it. Once they have learned what it 'does' they should stay clear. I'm another one recommending the mains - battery just doesn't seem to have enough whack to keep them off it.
 
I had post & rail & tornado fencing on the field boundaries then I did round posts and three lines of electric line to split from cows. My yearling did jump over these lines once but was found in a barn eating rolled barley. Its was a very tense 24hrs to see if she would get sick, we were given the option of tubing her stomach but decided not too, was up through the night checking but all ok I was very lucky. I think keep in mind youngsters can do daft things, I wouldn't like to see a youngster with the plastic white posts as I think they could get wrapped up very easily.
 
I got mine when he was a yearling and he was fine with electric fencing. Caught himself a couple of times on it but he quickly learnt to stay away from it!
 
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