Horse ignoring electric fence and breaking boards!

[Kafen]

Hello hello!

I seeded my pasture and am letting it rest. As a result, my boy is in a dry lot for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately this paddock is right next to some very tempting grass. I thought my fence wasn’t working because he had climbed partially through to get to the grass and he was definitely touching it (and bend the insulators out of shape while he was at it). But I tested my fence and it’s putting out 6000 volts. The only other explanation was that he was just standing there, taking the hits, all in the name of grass. He’s been in this fence for 2 years. Kept in a different electric pasture for 3, he has always respected it historically. Here’s what my fence looks like:

He also broke a board on my 4 board fence pushing through another side. And was desperately trying to get at the dock along the walkway, which is had just been sprayed with RoundUp! It’s dock. Most horses don’t like that?!

He has free access to hay 24/7 in a slow feeder, but how can that compare to come juicy green shoots?

So I put a garden fence up (see below) along where the dock is because I absolutely do not want him ingesting RoundUp. It’s not pretty but it does the job:

Now I need to go fix the broken board and figure out what to do there. That’s where I was looking for some ideas. I was originally thinking electric, but if he’s lost respect for the fence, I’m not sure that will work anymore.

I love my other fence (2x4 no climb):

But this stuff is not really worth it along the other side because of how many stops and starts there are. I’d have to have a dozen brace assemblies just for 120’ of fencing. Hence why I went with board. Would you put up welded wire panels? More garden fencing?

The front of the paddock is along the road so I’d like to keep it looking presentable. But this little chunker is determined to go off his diet. Here’s the troublemaker for perspective (he’s 12.3hh):

His diet is all good with his vet. He’s not in any sort of distress. He just wants the grass.

[lenapesadie]

Have you considered body clipping him? I had and have seen some success with clipping ponies to improve the effectiveness of a hot fence.

[4horses]

Maybe buy a stronger electric fence box? How often does it pulse?

I once had a 17 hand buckskin named Buck. He would lean on the fence and crack the top rails. Right now, my mare named Harmony is the one who smashes fences around here. She tends to double barrel the fence with both back feet. And no board, stands a chance. The only thing she respects is the hot wire.

I agree with clipping his hair. My Cocker spaniel can go right under a hot wire without getting shocked with that nice thick haircoat.

If they press their mane against the hotwire, they can slip right under (and little ponies are the worst escape artists).

[lenapesadie]

@4horses

under (and little ponies are the worst escape artists).

Agree!

[clanter]

Your electric fence is it bi-polar or standard using a grounding rod?

The soil appears to be sandy and dry? Sand is a very poor electrical conductor. If you have grounding rods, you may want to add one or two more to the system. Or water the area where the horse is breaking through

[wsmoak]

I don’t like welded wire panels for horses because if they get hit hard, they tend to break at the welds, and then you have very pointy ends sticking out.

I have the same issue with stops and starts, but I have 2x4" non-climb surrounding my horse fortress. I do have a top board on it because otherwise they will lean over the top and ruin it. (It doesn’t look like your pony can reach up that far though!)

I’m not doing any more board fencing. The maintenance is just awful. Non-climb and a vinyl top rail. This does mean the corners have to be concreted and braced really well because both the wire and the top ‘rail’ are under tension.

If the ‘garden fence’ (is it plastic?) keeps him out, great. Otherwise I might tack on a length of non-climb just pulled hand-tight if it’s temporary, with a vertical board covering the ends.

[BrendaJane]

Pure innocence!

Water the fenceline really well, make sure the wires are grounded.
and disconnect any fence that isn’t needed. Shorter span, bigger pop.
Pony is a 4 letter word!

[trubandloki]

I had to add a couple of strands of electric to my board fencing to keep them from breaking the boards to get to the grass on the other side when on dry lot.

I third the advice to check the grounding of your fence and add water along the fence line so you are sure to get a good shock off the fence.

[EssexFells]

Looks like a fairly arid climate. To keep the water from just evaporating or disappearing into the dry soil instantly, try putting down a 3’ wide strip of poly film in front of the fenceline, covered by a few inches of mulch. Then water that mulch strip regularly.

[baybrio]

@Kafen

was just standing there, taking the hits, all in the name of grass. He’s been in this fence for 2 year

I’m agreeing with others up-post:
If the fence is losing it’s punch due to ground conditions you could try the Bi-Polar fence tape system from Horseguard. Bi-Polar works without a grounding system so it’s good in arid/frozen areas. I’ve used the regular Mono-Polar Horseguard system for years I’ve found it durable safe and works well. Other electric tape I don’t like.

If that innocent face is just so furry the current can’t reach through his fuzzyness, well, this won’t help.