I have had a Percheron/Paint cross for about 5 months now. He is a pain and it's a really good thing he's such a good horse. When I first got him, he went across the creek in the back five acres where I board like it wasn't even there-water is nothing to him hence his nickname Water Buffalo. There was fencing on the other side but not strong enough for a draft cross so I paid to have it made stronger. So I thought no problems now. WRONG! The owner of the barn gets a call from the neighbor who lives behind them. They let her know that there was a big black horse in their yard. He was brought back. He had gone down the middle of the creek where there is no fencing as it stops on both banks. We put up a heavy ribbon across the creek and that was enough of a deterent. So again, everything is cool right? WRONG! We get a call from the neighbor to the right. Captain kangaroo (yes new nickname but let's keep the old as well) has jumped the four foot fence as her horses ate breakfast later than ours did and he wanted to share with them. He stayed in there riding arena until we got home from work and went to get him. The neighbor now keeps her riding ring gate closed so if he jumps back over that's what he'll end up in. We put him back in his small pasture with hotwire for awhile but he can't stay there as there is basically not a whole lot of grass and 3 weeks after I got him he was in the hospital for sand colic for five days. We put him back out on the five acres and he now comes around the fence by way of creek on the front side of the pasture (pasture surrounded on two sides by creek). We thought no problem as we'll put the ribbon up again and it will deter him not realizing that he's only letting us think that we've got him. He went down the bank at a trot, into the creek, pushing the ribbon up with his head and limboed under looking oh so pretty as he trots up the other side and stands at the top of the berm looking over his kingdom and at the stupid peasants who can't contain him. WE put a third ribbon up-doesn't matter. Then we came up with a turbidity screen which the barn owner happened to have. It's heavy, floats, has rubber around it, along with a rubber apron. We've got it! Right? Nope! At a trot down the bank, into the water, he hesitates for maybe two seconds and from belly deep in the water jumps over it canters up the berm and stands at the top-yes he's laughing at us.
So, what the heck do we do???? The barn owner suggests hotwire across the creek that pulses. She says if it pulsed he can't electrocute himself. I worry because when he touches it, he'll be belly deep in water or at least knee deep. I'm not sure this is a good idea. If it isn't does anyone else have any ideas?? We will not attempt to do this until we talk to the people who make the fence and get any other ideas. I don't want to roast my horse. He started out at me buying him for $2500. 3 weeks after he doubled in price with his vet bill that was $2500 and I haven't been keeping track of fencing, ribbon, posts, etc.
Please, Please, Please give me some ideas!!!
Amanda
So, what the heck do we do???? The barn owner suggests hotwire across the creek that pulses. She says if it pulsed he can't electrocute himself. I worry because when he touches it, he'll be belly deep in water or at least knee deep. I'm not sure this is a good idea. If it isn't does anyone else have any ideas?? We will not attempt to do this until we talk to the people who make the fence and get any other ideas. I don't want to roast my horse. He started out at me buying him for $2500. 3 weeks after he doubled in price with his vet bill that was $2500 and I haven't been keeping track of fencing, ribbon, posts, etc.
Please, Please, Please give me some ideas!!!
Amanda