Shetland proof fencing

ladywiththebaby

ladywiththebaby

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Mar 6, 2007
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I've mentioned before that my friend recently purchased a fairly young Shetland X. I've been looking after her this week while my friend was away and she really does need to learn a lot of things! She's into everything, chews everything, picks things up and runs off with them (including my shoes!!) and I've mentioned before about her new trick - rearing in hand. Well I didn't have to see that as in the end, my friend wanted her left in the corral bit outside the stables as her horse is on box rest, and little'un needs to lose a bit of weight.

But instead the problem was that I couldn't keep her in the b****y thing! Day one - she's pushed the wood off its nails one end (post and rail fence). Pony in grass. So I put her back in and hammered wood back on thinking perhaps it was loose. Day 2 - wood pushed nails both ends. Pony in grass. Hubby came up field to do a better job and put more nails in. Day 3 - wood pushed off both ends. Pony in grass. Hubby came up and screwed wood on. Day 4 - wood snapped in two. Pony in grass. :banghead: After that, pony was very unhappy confined to stable!!

It turns out that every time our neighbour had driven passed to see her horses, she'd put her back in too, so god knows how many times she'd actually got out!

We feel like we have tried everything - electric fence she just goes through. We tried making really high fences and she still rears up against them and tries to get over the top.

What works for other Shettie owners?! My friend is getting totally fed up and I'd like to be able to give her some suggestions as she's pulling her hair out!!
 
sounds as if you have a real character there - ours was never that bad - after first couple of times the electric did the trick 3 strands starting at 9" then 18" then 3ft that stopped him- have to make sure ther is a good current though - summer not too bad but with winter coat he didn't feel it if it was not strong enough - hes fine now - really don't know what to suggest for this one.
 
Sounds like a tough one.

Maybe get the screw in insulators and fix tape inside of post & rail, with one row on top of posts. Don't know what sort of energiser you are using but need one that packs a punch.
 
ladywiththebaby said:
Day one - she's pushed the wood off its nails one end (post and rail fence). Pony in grass. So I put her back in and hammered wood back on thinking perhaps it was loose. Day 2 - wood pushed nails both ends. Pony in grass. Hubby came up field to do a better job and put more nails in. Day 3 - wood pushed off both ends. Pony in grass. Hubby came up and screwed wood on. Day 4 - wood snapped in two. Pony in grass. :banghead:
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She sounds like a right little mare, but still, ROFL! :giggle:

May we see a picture of this little minx?
 
I'm lucky that our shettie is petrified of electric fencing so when he sees the tape go up he stays well clear!
 
What daft person built the fence with the rails nailed to the outside of the posts? ;)

WE use sheep net, mainly because it's the only kind of fencing suitable for the conditions here, it keep sheep out......sometimes but it keeps ponies in.

Top and bottom wire, kept tight and a strand of electric at bottom rubbing height.

You cannot see the electric strand but it's about half way up the fence. The gate is a good solid one that keeps even lambs in.
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I was going to suggest good leccy fencing that delivers a proper zap. I'd go for rope or wire and the best energiser and battery she can afford, making sure it's well earthed and recharge the battery before it starts loosing it's potency so the pony doesn't feel the need to test it. I'd have offset insulators to keep him well back but wouldn't put it on top of the fence but would put it it at shettie level.

Great time to get them leccy trained too. Hopefully they learn about the hazards of electric before the winter coat comes in.
 
I had this problem with my young Welsh D and electric fencing. We ended up borrowing a stronger electric unit and upping the current. We watched him take one hit, which just made him twitch his nose. Another- which didn't stop him trying to climb over. So kept upping it, it was as if he liked the little shocks and wanted more. Eventually it was strong enough to send him flying round the field and I haven't seen him near it since, have since dropped the current to not drain the battery. Although this morning I got a call to say my other 2 had got out (wind and leccy tape not great) he had stayed in so has obviously learnt. Unlike Rhia who tests it every day :banghead:
 
We can't really use the tape here, it's far too windy, there's too much windage with the tape.
 
I have just been through this with my daughters shetland :banghead:

we even went through the stages of tethering just so she wouldnt be confined to the stable 24/7

We have 5 really close rows of electric rope and it really does work. before she would go straight through the tape as it gives way and flaps etc.. but the rope is so much more secure and tighter.. and tbh even if she decided tht she wanted to charge through it she wouldnt get very far as the strands are too close and defintly do not move... shetland coming or not :giggle:

We have put the odd row of tape inbetween just to close the gaps abit but they aint electric.

I was pulling my hair out even so to the point where i was really considering selling her. but since we have used the rope she hasnt been out once..

1 to us i think :wink:
 
Not a shettie but as a young Dartmoor Piccolo was excellent at escaping too. She doesn't anymore but when she was very little the only thing that would keep her in was wooden posts in the ground with three strands of electric tape (or electric wire) put on high from a mains battery. She never had a rug on either as she wouldn't care if she had one on and go through the fence!

Even now if she knows the fence is off she'll pick the tape up in her mouth and play with it but it does keep her in now!
 
Thanks guys - some really useful tips here.

ladyluxor said:
We even went through the stages of tethering just so she wouldnt be confined to the stable 24/7
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My friend called the ponys old owner. She told her that she used to tether her - but only because she wanted certain patches eaten down. Hmmmmm.......

I have been out and done a load more electric fence, using rope this time and we're going to try it out tomorrow morning. Wish us luck!! :frown:
 
Good luck for tomorrow.

One of my shetlands used to drive me nuts trashing fences, one of his party tricks used to ripping the wires off of the energiser with his teeth:eek::stomp:

His name is Surprise, favourite game used to be "Surprise" I'm not where you left me.

Think I have him sussed at the moment, probably thinking up a cunning plan as I type.:redcarded:
 
My fingers are still crossed :giggle:

How did it go????

I also like you contacted the previous owner and strangly she never had this problem :frown:

i think i might have been told a little porky there :giggle::giggle:
 
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