Good point.
If there’s any sort of ground fault in the vicinity, there could be low levels of current noticeable by the horse.
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Holy shit!
Okay. Read the article, and am editing to add:
I see that it’s probably not an electric fence, but am stumped as to how to diagnose the problem beyond that. Apparently I’m supposed to call in some kind of stray voltage expert, of which there are “several” in the US?
Ghazzu may be on to something. Years ago we had a gelding that suddenly refused to eat from his metal feeder and was clearly unhappy in his stall. Fine when out all day, under saddle etc. Turned out that a mouse chewed wire outside of his stall was sending “stray voltage” through the very dry wood wall, through a nail into his feeder. We couldn’t feel it with our rubber soled shoes. He, having metal shoes, definitely did. Fixed the wire, fixed the horse.
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Could you put him in a different stall to see if he’s still upset? If you don’t have an extra stall, swap him with a neighbor? I’d hate to make another horse react if it’s an electrical thing, but that’d certainly give you your answer! If another horse is upset in the stall ( you don’t have to put them in there all night long if you see an immediate reaction), then maybe put the horse out at night with water/hay if the weather allows? Until the issue is resolved.
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Actually, @Lusoluv, I tried putting the mini in there earlier today, just to see what would happen. He was perfectly fine until I started testing the fuses, at which point he did a little snorty thing (!) and then settled down immediately once I unplugged the heater entirely.
So I’m betting that’s it, though, for the life of me, I can’t figure out the mechanics of all this.
Now I’m just impatient to bring them in to see what happens!
You guys have been SO helpful. I would never in a million years have thought of any of this on my own.
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Alright! That’s it! I couldn’t wait any longer, so I brought the horses in early, just because curiosity was killing me.
[Drumroll, please!]
My gelding is now in his stall, quietly eating supper, just like nothing ever happened.
You guys are GENIUSES. That is all.
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Red barn simeone who wasn’t wearing LLBean boots went in there, touched the feeder and felt a tingle. Then it was a matter of finding the source. Tick pens are great little aids for stuff like that!
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Take a look at this;
Holy cow! Thanks, @Equibrit!
This actually makes perfect sense in terms of my barn - all the way down to blowing a fuse.
I’m guessing the coil around the water pump was damaged, so electricity could travel down the metal pipe to the cement floor. My gelding’s stall is right across the aisle, so yeah - it makes PERFECT sense.
Thanks so, so much! It looks like all I need is a new heating coil. 
You need an electrician who can diagnose what’s happening exactly, and fix it 
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Do you really think so? Rats.
Agree with Equibrit, don’t mess around with electrical problems. That’s WHY barns burn down.
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You’re both right. Thanks for being sensible.
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But in the meantime, please unplug the heating coil. Safety first!
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I had a trough heater go bad and I couldn’t feel the stray voltage at all. A voltmeter showed 20 volts or thereabouts. Horses wouldn’t go near it.
Definitely unplug anything you can for now.
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Oh, yes! I did that yesterday, and flipped the fuse off as well. I know exactly nothing about electricity, but it does seem obvious that there’s something wrong with one or the other.
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Great thread! Love the power of the COTH hive mind. Well done.
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It may not cost as much as you fear and would be well worth it for peace of mind in knowing it was fixed properly.
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