Two horses got out and killed at my barn

[TWH_Girl]

My sweet 14 yr old gelding is field boarded at an old cow barn. The owner is not super horse savvy- he’s a retired UPS driver with land and has always liked having a few horses around to mow the lawn.
I knew when I moved there 3 years ago it was a bit iffy. But, for the most part it’s been fine- he’s a great person, easy to deal with, grows his own hay, has automatic waterers and does a good job overall. He did have a tendency to take in way too many horses which is fine in summer when he can put them on separate pastures, but can be an issue when they are crowded into the winter paddock and cow barn.

There were two issues in the past few months that gave me pause. And although BO is not taking any new horses (TG), he still has 6 there including my guy.

First situation was over the summer- he took a horse from a rescue in with no health certificate. Horse had obvious and active strangles. The owner of horse is a piece and has been in/out of many places and is a trouble maker. She previously left but sweet talked her way back when she needed a place for said rescue horse. BO felt bad and took horse in.
It was a disaster! My farrier called to tell me about a horse w strangles being there and helped BO quarantine things off. The boarder got into an argument with BO and called Sheriff Dept. Ugh too much Jerry Springer show for my liking. But my horse is fine, never gets sick, other horse heals up and leaves. Things quiet down.

Until today- a friend who lives nearby where i keep my gelding messaged me that two horses got out and were hit by a car this morning. Wasn’t sure they belonged to my barn or not. I immediately called BO. I could tell he was distraught so knew right away it was our barn. He said he was woken up by the sheriff department at 630am and learned two horses got out and were hit by a car. They needed to be put down at the scene. Apparently the one bully horse cornered the other one, knocking down a gate and then running off. The following is the knocked down gate:

My horse was in that open yard along with a few others and didn’t take off (again, TG). However Ive grown a bit leery of keeping my guy there given some of the issues with poor fencing and safety in general.
BO is a wonderful person and I know he tries. He was very upset by what happened this morning. He called his insurance agent and os waiting to hear how that plays out.

Just looking for feedback in general about this situation and if anyone has boarded other people’s horses were an accident like this occurred, did it lead to future issues boarding horses?
My gut says I should probably look for another spot for my guy.
So awful all around.

[luvmyhackney]

As scary as that is, unless you have perimeter fencing horses are going to do dumb things, break fences and get out. That small area should be closed off as that’s the perfect place for a horse to get trapped. But even experienced barns have places where horses could get trapped, etc.

I boarded at a fancy place with perfectly maintained fences and they had a horse that would decide grass is greener down the road and jump out and take a stroll down the road. Shit happens.

I would have looked for another place after bringing the rescue horse with strangles as the fencing doesn’t look terrible from your picture.

[LCDR]

@TWH_Girl

However Ive grown a bit leery of keeping my guy there given some of the issues with poor fencing and safety in general.

I would be more than a bit leery. Owner may be a saint but if the living situation for horse safety sucks then move to a better (safer) place!

[ChocoMare]

As my mother taught me: “When In doubt, don’t.”

You already have lotsa doubts… tis time to move.

[Texarkana]

I am so sorry about the horses at your barn.

Trust your gut.

@luvmyhackney

I boarded at a fancy place with perfectly maintained fences and they had a horse that would decide grass is greener down the road and jump out and take a stroll down the road. Shit happens.

This made me think about the time my landlord’s 34 year old TB jumped the fence and took off for absolutely no reason whatsoever. And me, 8 months pregnant, chasing after him. Horses!

[Simkie]

Horses getting loose, off the property, and onto a busy road is my worst nightmare. I’m so sorry that happened at your barn, what a tragedy.

While no one can prevent everything, there are a lot of things that can be done to mitigate risk. Like not having a small trappy area that multiple horses can access. Like having horse safe fencing. Like having gates that are properly hung. Like investing in perimeter fence.

There’s a lot to be concerned about in the set up you’ve shown here, that made what happened more likely to happen. I would absolutely find somewhere else to board.

[anonevent]

Unless this is a major wake up call for the property owner, I’d leave.

[trubandloki]

How scary and stressful.

I tend to agree with @luvmyhackney’s post above.

This horrible tragic situation might be the straw that broke the camels back, but this fencing, that gate, horses breaking the gate… it happens even in great set-ups.

I personally can not think of a single horse facility near me that has secondary containment of a full perimeter fencing.

@Simkie

Like not having a small trappy area that multiple horses can access.

This is what I think of every time people talk about how amazing a track system is. Before you own/board/care for a horse that randomly, with out warning likes to corner and kick other critters, small trappy areas might seem like no big deal. But clearly they work great for lots of people, so who am I to say they are evil. I just know that I can not have them, and this spot would not have worked for my horses.

[TWH_Girl]

Yeah, I know. Probably have for a while. This summer I just couldn’t deal with the thought of a new barn with my husband’s illness so i put it im the back of my mind until today.
I have a message into my friend who is very close to my other barn. My horse was there a few years ago so hopefully she is able to take him again.

[4horses]

Tracks are fine for an established herd. My track is quite narrow so I limit it to 2 horses so no one gets trapped in between the boss mares. If I had a wider track, I could put more horses out on it. The bonus of the track system is that I can move everyone into the middle pasture and have the benefit of double fencing. Trees can take down your perimeter fence.

Thankfully most of my neighbors have an enclosed pasture so if the fence comes down, I have the benefit of their fencing and at worst the cattle and horses will be in together in the same pasture.

Horses can take down gates quite easily. Gates can also fall off the hinges if a horse leans on them. I had one horse put her head through the top of the gate, lift it off the hinges and push it open. Now all my gates either have hot wire or boards across the top so no one can put their head in the gate.

I would talk to the owner and ask if he is willing to run another fence and gate on that property to prevent horses from getting out and let him know you are considering leaving.

Some horses don’t challenge the fencing. My friend has a preserve behind her house and her gate sits on a rock and is not chained or anything. There’s no way I could do that with my horses. Someone would scratch their rump or neck on that gate and push it open.

Good fencing keeps animals in. But all it takes is a tree to come down or a horse to crash through the fence by mistake for animals to get out.

[trubandloki]

@4horses

Tracks are fine for an established herd.

Tracks are fine for an established herd that does not have a horse that randomly is a jerk.

I have an established herd. 14 years of establishment. Track would not work with my horses.
It is less about established and more about the individual horses.
Just like some people have no problem with open stalls that all the horses can come and go from all day.

BTW, I am not anti-track at all. I just think of this exact situation when people talk about them, because I life with a horse it would not work for.

[TWH_Girl]

I doubt owner is going to put up a perimeter fence, thats a huge expense. My board is cheap and although we get along well, I don’t feel comfortable asking him to go through that expense.
Just hope my horse is safe and in one piece until I can figure things out for him.
Dollar is the best.

[cayuse]

I’d leave. The universe gave you a sign. Trust your gut.
Lovely pic of you both!

[NaturallyHappy]

@TWH_Girl

Yeah, I know. Probably have for a while. This summer I just couldn’t deal with the thought of a new barn with my husband’s illness so i put it im the back of my mind until today.
I have a message into my friend who is very close to my other barn. My horse was there a few years ago so hopefully she is able to take him again.

When I started reading this heartbreaking story, I immediately thought of your husband. You certainly don’t need more things to worry about. I hope your friend has room.

[GraceLikeRain]

If that barn covered in holes is inside the pasture and the boards are mounted on the outside of fence posts I’d be so nervous that your next phone call would be a degloved leg or that a horse pushed out the fence boards. Strangles would have been a one and done move for me but I get everyone has a different tolerance for risk.

[TWH_Girl]

I couldn’t move during an active strangles case. No one wants that in their barn. So i had to wait that one out anyhow.

And no, the above picture with me and Dollar is the cow barn. No horses use that “shelter”. There’s obviously not much to it.

[TWH_Girl]

This better shows the cow barn. With Dollar looking straight at the camera

[PaddockWood]

You both are adorable. I’m so sorry to hear about the horses getting out and hit on the road. I cannot imagine that trauma. I’ve known of at least a dozen stories and even literally where I boarded in the past. Ugh. Finding a good boarding place with lots of turnout is hard and getting harder. It sounds like your owner cares and tries.

My husband gave me grief for the $20k I spent to fence in our whole place but I have not regretted one moment doing it.

[endlessclimb]

@4horses

put her head through the top of the gate, lift it off the hinges

Your gate is installed incorrectly if the horse can do this…

[TWH_Girl]

Reached out to both boarders who lost their horses. They seem to be doing better than I would be under the circumstances. At least via text message. Probably both still in shock as BO is yet.