I am caring for two horses that are boarded on the property I live on. There’s a big concrete water tank out in the field, past the hay shelters, that rarely freezes as it has running water through it. Then there’s auto waterers in the sheds attached to the feed/tack room. Yesterday I noticed the water was dirty in the auto waterer on these horses’ side, so I dumped it out, and it didn’t refill. My neighbor said that one wasn’t working, he needs a new part for it, but he keeps it filled. So I refill it by hand.
Not 30 minutes later, I watch one of the horses walk up to it, put his nose down, and jerk it up violently and jump sideways. Now, this horse is somewhat spooky, but he didn’t take off out of the shed, just shook his head. So…I thought it may be shocking him. Not unheard of, right? Horse is wearing shoes, I’m wearing rubber boots. So neighbor and I fill a heated water bucket and hang it next to the waterer.
I mention it to my landlord, he says that it must have just been too hot. Um, okay. This is the same guy that said they were just being lazy by not walking to the concrete waterer out in the field. Its the middle of a blizzard and there’s over 2 feet of snow…
So is there any way to convince this guy, IF it is shocking the horses?
I also don’t want to get in the middle of it, as they’re not my horses, and I live here.
Thoughts? Not worth pursuing?
Thanks.
Take your boots off and stick your hand in and see what happens. 
that’s usually how I test my electric fence if I can’t get it to shock me with my boots on.
Ha-ha lol. Well, I guess worth a try… I also forgot to mention that they drank down the heated bucket last night…
There is a micro testing device, that will measure the tiny amount of current that is there, if it is there. But if the horse says it is there, horses don’t lie about these things, or make it up. So it is likely there.
Often, it seems that the problem can be related to an improper grounding SOMEWHERE, either at the waterer itself, OR in the barn, at the fuse box. Make sure that grounding has been done CORRECTLY, eg, with a long metal rod made for the purpose. Sometimes someone just uses some bare copper wire for this, and it deteriorates over time until it no longer works. If these are not your horses, or your property, and what you can do is limited (other than make helpful suggestions), horses can and will eat snow if it is available and fresh and clean, which will keep them alive adequately in most cases, until this problem can be addressed. Some horses prefer to eat snow rather than heated water, or any water. Though this solution is not the recommended solution long term, nor is it recommended in horse care books, it is true that feral and wild horses have successfully survived on the plains for millennia in this manner. The problem becomes severe in an absence of snow.
We had one in our tank, it seemed fine. Till I took off my glove and tested it with my hand. I had a small cut on it and WOW, did I feel it then!!! Didn’t feel it anywhere else but that cut tingled!
You can buy a tester like the above poster said. That would be the safest way.
[QUOTE=fordtraktor;8499318]
Take your boots off and stick your hand in and see what happens. that’s usually how I test my electric fence if I can’t get it to shock me with my boots on.[/QUOTE]
That explains a lot about you LOL!!!
My hubby was going to touch the electric fence to see if it was working and I got out my phone to video it. He chickened out and went to Home Depot and bought fence testers.
LOL, you’ve got to be kidding! It’s just an electric fence! I mean, it tingles a little but I live on a farm. I do something that hurts more than that to myself almost daily! and not on purpose! hahaha.
I must admit I climb over the electric fence/step in posts every day to do hay because it saves me having to walk around the barn. I’d rather chance getting shocked than walk another 500 feet. And sometimes I do. Worth it when you, say, get shocked one out of every 20 times. that’s one measly shock for 10,000 steps and probably half an hour saved! it’s all about the cost/benefit analysis. :lol: The tape on the step in posts is very old and not particularly a good conductor any more so it’s not a very strong hit anyway.
But I’ve lived on a farm my whole life, playing games with the electric fence seems to be a farm kid pastime. I lost my fear of them a long time ago. The one I have now is plenty strong but it isn’t dangerous. I don’t recommend sticking your finger in sockets or anything dumb. This waterer, she changed it yesterday without getting shocked so I don’t think it’s going to hurt her to touch it.
If it still didn’t register then I’d get the tool that tests very mild currents but I wouldn’t spend the money for that without trying the barefoot method first. Especially for someone else’s property.
You should definitely provide water in the meantime of course which you are already doing.
Also, I forgot to mention if you want the precise Fordtraktor Time-Tested fence testing method, you should probably know I take my shoes off, then get a nice blade of thick lush grass like fescue (conducts well). Quite a short piece. Touch the grass to the electric fence. You’ll usually get a nice tingle that way without lighting yourself up too much. If you ever get the urge to try it. My dad taught me to do this, I’d imagine it’s not unique amongst old farmers. If it doesn’t come through the grass you can up the ante but it probably isn’t a very good current and you have a problem anyway, grounding it out somewhere. or your ground is bad or you need a second ground.
[QUOTE=fordtraktor;8499318]
Take your boots off and stick your hand in and see what happens. that’s usually how I test my electric fence if I can’t get it to shock me with my boots on.[/QUOTE]
This is what I do. You may only feel a slight tingle. Or use your tongue:lol:
This is a very simple way of testing for Stray Voltage.
Purchase or borrow a voltage meter. They can generally be found for less than $20 at most automotive parts or hardware stores, Walmart etc.
Turn the voltage type selector to “120 AC Voltage”.
Insert the tip of the black probe into the third or “grounding” hole in an electrical outlet. If the outlet is too far from the tank use an extension cord.
Insert the metal tip of the red probe into the tank water.
Watch the meter needle for any movement. Any needle movement indicates a voltage leak in your system.
This is a simple tester to use around the barn and house to check for proper wiring and grounding. IMO every barn should have one. They can be bought at Lowes, Home Depot etc.
Thank you gumtree for that information.
[QUOTE=Palm Beach;8499658]
That explains a lot about you LOL!!!
My hubby was going to touch the electric fence to see if it was working and I got out my phone to video it. He chickened out and went to Home Depot and bought fence testers.[/QUOTE]
I was much more concerned with the part of the suggestion that would result in freezing cold feet at this time of year, than the part that would result in a little shock. Guess that shows I’m in the “taken a few electric hits” club too…
To be fair, while I have hit the electric fence and shocked myself dozens of times and know intellectually that it’s not a huge deal-- there is a big difference between doing it by accident and doing it deliberately! I would have gotten the testers too 
Electric fences should not be grounded near watered. That can cause stray voltage.
[QUOTE=Palm Beach;8499658]
That explains a lot about you LOL!!!
My hubby was going to touch the electric fence to see if it was working and I got out my phone to video it. He chickened out and went to Home Depot and bought fence testers.[/QUOTE]
Yup, I chicken out too. It’s like Highflyer said “there is a big difference between doing it by accident and doing it deliberately!”
Not all of our paddocks have a hot wire on them. We have non-horse friends visit from time to time. Of course they like to walk around the farm and check out the different horses. Depending on how well I know them and or if alcohol is involved I may not tell them/explain the hot wire.
We always go to the paddocks without a hot wire first. They almost always hang on the fence grabbing the top rail. So they always do the same at the paddock with the hot wire. If there is a group of us I may pull a friend or two a side and tell them what to watch for. It is too funny. Everybody has a different reaction and body languish.
I don’t carry my phone with me as a rule so I never seem to have it when the time is right. Gonna make a point the next time.
Your welcome.
Your comments are like mine. We like to go into detail. Mine tend to be long-winded at times, a lot of times. As most would agree who have read a few of my ‘novellas’
A few months/year ago I posted a short comment. I forget who quoted and don’t remember the exact comment to it. Something like “this is by far your shortest comment to date”. It really cracked me up. Still makes me chuckle.
Your short comment reminded me of this. Good for another chuckle. Thanks
[QUOTE=kcmel;8499710]
This is what I do. You may only feel a slight tingle. Or use your tongue:lol:[/QUOTE]
Nah…you use you tongue to see if a metal gate is electrified in the winter. :winkgrin:
To clarify my comment a bit. If using a real cheap voltage meter, analog with a needle instead of a digital with a number read out. Make sure you are holding the meter very steady. It only takes a wee bit of stray voltage for a horse to back off. No different that ‘testing’ a 9 volt battery. Touch the 2 terminals to your finger and you fell nothing. Touch them to you tongue or wet lips different story.
So when checking with a voltage tester if there is any stray voltage it will most likely be a very small ‘reading’ On an analog tester the needle may just barely move. So if you are not holding it steady you may get a false reading.
If you get a ‘reading’ the first thing to check is the outlet and make sure it is wired/grounded correctly. The inexpensive tester I linked to will tell you this by just plugging it in and look at the read out LEDs.
If the ground is not present check to make sure the ground wire is properly attached to the outlet. If is a ‘dedicated’ line meaning the wire runs directly from the circuit breaker to the outlet then the ground wire at the panel has come loose. I’ve had this happen. The ground wire was ‘in’ the grounding clamp on the panel but the screw was loose and the wire was ‘floating’ in it. Tighten the screw, retest,. fixed.
BUT, if the wire (aka run) has other outlets, other things ‘attached’ to it you have to do some detective work. The amount of time needed is cut down substantially if you know what is attracted to the wire/run. In this case you back trace from the defective outlet. Plug in the tester at each until you find one that tests correctly. If all of the outlets test correctly there is a good chance the ground wire on the first outlet from the tank has come loose.
Turn off the circuit breaker take the outlet out and check to make sure the ground wire is secured. This should solve the problem.
If the ground is good at the tank 99.9% of the time the heater has a small ‘breach’ in the wire at the heat or somewhere along the submerged wire.
Buy a new one toss it in and check the meter again. If good throw out the old one.
If you still have a reading which would be very out of the usual. There could be a few other things. Too long to go into. The are lots of good Samaritan internet sites that go into great detail about lots of stuff in laymen’s languish.
If using a metal tank try switching to a plastic one. Or just take a plastic bucket toss the heater in it and check your meter. No reading buy a plastic/rubber one.
If the Breaker Panel circuits are not marked there are inexpensive circuit locators to be hand. They have 2 ‘parts’. One you plug into an outlet and it sends a ‘signal’ to the Breaker Panel. Take the locator prob and hold it next to each breaker. It will beep at the breaker the wire is attached to. You can write on the panel door what each breaker handles.
On the off chance the waterer is not electrified: you said the horse was spooky - the auto waterers don’t have a huge bowl and will start to fill when the horse is still drinking. It whooshes and the bowl might clank as at balances and the water starts moving. Ask my scare-di-cat mare about how much she liked the waterer the first few times she tried it. Not at all.
When your noticed your horse jumping away, how long had their snout been in the waterer. If it was instant? then keep investigating the shock possibilities, If it was a few seconds, then they could have been reacting to the refilling.
And for all of you who think electric fencing is “not so bad” either I am exceptionally sensitive, or I have a lot of elephant fencing. I find electric shocks to be intensely painful. I would rather have the horse bite me or step on my foot than touch that fence! There are some chargers that are not very strong, but they don’t keep the animals in, so I don’t use those.
And if you really want to test the fence, be kneeling on all fours when you touch it. Yowza.
Blanket static maybe? Just stick your hand in quick and figure it out
