Horse impervious to electric fence

[enjoytheride]

My barn has a frustrating issue with one of their younger horses constantly slipping through the 3 strands of electric tape fence onto another property (electric company free space so thankfully nobody cares). As soon as the herd moves away she slips back through and thankfully leaves everything intact so far. Can’t really figure out if she’s getting out in a certain area, and she’s a two year old and pretty small. About 13 hands right now.

However, ARGGGHHHHHHH

The fence is hot, and is powered by an electric 5 mile charger and when tested each strand is kicking out at least 6,000 volts.

Any suggestions? BM bought a solar charger and thought about tying it in to see if it kicks the fence out hotter. Also thought about just running hotwire in the middle to see if that worked.

[sorrelfilly721]

I have a Houdini who does the same thing. I thought the fence had to be off, so tested it myself. Not so much. The only thing that contains her is pipe rail with carabiner clips on the gate latches. If I put her out in the pasture, I have to assume she will be running loose on the property soon after.

[Guilherme]

Build a “lighting pen” for Houdini. Make it 60’x60’ or so. Use the same fence material and pattern you regularly use. Charge it with THE most powerful fence charger you can lay your hands on. I’ll bet money that Houdini won’t be immune anymore.

Been there, done that, worked as advertised.

G.

[enjoytheride]

Is 6,000 volts not enough? That’s as high as the tester goes.

[halt]

are you sure nothing is interfering, any plants, felled areas?

6,000 would be more than enough that a horse would notice it. it doesn’t feel good.

our filly has learned if she ducks out under the strands and goes quickly enough, she won’t get shocked at all… it may be plenty hot, but your youngling might be like ours and learned that it only shocks every 5 seconds or so.

[hosspuller]

Teach the horse about electric fence. Trick her into touching the fence with her nose. A treat held close to the wire from across the fence is my trick. (Make sure you’re across the fence for your safety. Horse is likely to back away from fence at warp speed) Also make sure the ground rods are working and the ground is damp. Is the mare shod or unshod ? Metal shoes make for a better ground connection to the horse.

Like a chain, the electric fence is only as good as the weakest link, be it grounding, fencer, or hairy coat.

Reminder, electric fences are only as good as the impression it has in the horse’s mind. Just a tingle to the flank is like the crop in your boot. A shock to the nose is the chain yanked across the nose.

[luvmyhackney]

At 13 hands depending on how far apart your strands are they can sneak through if they want. Could be jumping it as well. How hairy is your 2 y/o? Mines around that size and he can get out if the strands are too far apart.

[Mango20]

I’ve used a flimsy fence of step-in posts with two strands of electric tape to divide a board-fenced pasture for rotation. Usually, this works okay for the first week or two, then the 12 hand pony figures out that he can put his nose below the bottom strand, flip his head up and go right under, with the wires only touching his thick mane. I’m guessing he feels nothing at all, or it’s a minimal shock that’s totally worth it to get to the better grass on the other side.

[walktrot]

When I first met my BO she was at a leased facility temporarily before moving to her new farm. The place was okay, but needed a lot of maintenance which the owner (a kid’s camp organization) didn’t do. She had a Haflinger gelding who could care less about electric fencing. He went through the back side of one three times one afternoon when there was a couple of feet of accumulated snow. I retrieved him 3 times, fixed the fence, and told her the ball was in her court. Fortunately she found him a good home in the spring.

[Romany]

I can’t really help you, but I had one of those horses who wilfully ignored the electric fencing … she literally behaved as if there was no fencing around the fields at all. I gave her away, with relish, as I reckoned she was costing us more in fence repairs and my blood pressure than she was worth.

[SuzieQNutter]

The tape is useless. You need to test at the end of the fence. If there is a break in the middle that you can’t see there is electricity up to the break and none afterwards. Grab some tie wire and wrap it around the tape at the break. You are better off replacing with wire than having tape with wire in it in places.

Yes it is mean hose the horse. Leave wet. Put a bale of hay on the other side of the fence.

Yes a middle strand is better. It slows them down. If they go through quick they can get through without being zapped. Slow them down, it makes a big difference. Add 2 or 3 strands if able.