Thick maned horse and electric fencing

[4horses]

Any thoughts on how to get the thick maned horse to respect electric fencing?
I recently replaced the polytape because I noticed one of my mares was pushing up against the fencing and thought maybe the old tape wasn’t holding enough charge. But I noticed today, she was right up against the new tape and pushing against it with her thick mane. I don’t think she can get shocked through all that hair? Any suggestions other than shaving off her beautiful mane?

Somehow my other long maned horse, has not learned this and stays respectfully away from the hot tape.

I could run a second wire, but I’m thinking she will just push her hair against it and not get shocked. If she touched it with her nose, I’m sure it would work.

[trubandloki]

Have you tested your fence to make sure it actually has a good charge?

[clanter]

Maybe wet brush the mane OFTEN to improve the conductivity ?

[Warmblood1]

How many joules is your electric fence?

[alfonsina]

Maybe braid her mane?

[NancyM]

If you have one who knows about the potential shock, but accepts that as the price of going through the fence, it doesn’t matter what you do, or how thick the mane is. They know the price, the shock, and they know the reward… going through the fence. And the make the decision that it’s worth the cost. That type don’t stay behind an electric fence. I have one.

[Bonnie2]

I had one that figured out he could chest the hot wire with his blanket on. He also would listen to check if the fence was on. Don’t miss him. The current residents respect a single strand of tape, even off. You could try a second wire (or tape might be safer) a foot off the ground.

[foggybok]

@NancyM

If you have one who knows about the potential shock, but accepts that as the price of going through the fence, it doesn’t matter what you do, or how thick the mane is. They know the price, the shock, and they know the reward… going through the fence. And the make the decision that it’s worth the cost. That type don’t stay behind an electric fence. I have one.

My dear old Fjord used to sneak into the sheep pasture. Better grass.

My DH decided to go buy the strongest charger he could to keep him where he was supposed to be. We set it up on a drizzly western Washington day. Should have been prime conditions. Mr Fjord walked up to the wire, stuck his head under it and lifted it up and proceeded to walk through. His Fjordie mane protected his neck, but when it got to his back, we could hear the snapping far away. The other horses all freaked out and ran to the far corner of the pasture for safety while Mr Fjord, slowly ambled under the fence with 17K volts zapping him every second. Not a care in the world.

The naughty boy