how to keep horse in a feild

[clive]

can anyone offer any suggestions on how to keep my horse in his own field. At present he goes out about an hour before he decides he's had enough and jumps out and comes to the yard. Ive tried lifting the fence height(4ft) but he still jumps out even with a rug on. He is not out on his own and is never last in of first out.

[nikki]

Hi Clive,

I don't how large your field is but would it be possible to put a strip of electric fencing about 1 metre inside the perimeter fence?

Also, is there enough grass? If not, a large pile of hay might keep him occupied.

Has he bonded with any of his companions or is he being pushed out of the herd? It might be an idea to find one horse/pony that he really gets on with and give them a chance to bond on there own before turning them both back out with the herd.

Good luck!

[Lucy]

Hi,
I'm not sure I am going to be of any help but I used to have a similar problem. y horse would just jump out of his fiels (and many were tested) as and when he wanted... I never found out why but when I settled and my home became his home it stopped... I also had a system whereby I fed him outside and made sure I was never late in bringing him in! but then he was out during the day and in at night time.

[Abi]

What a nightmare!?!

I'd say go for the electric fence, he might be less inclined to jump a 4ft high, 4ft spread??? Although I have known horses that still would!

Sorry I can't be of more help. let us know how you get on and what works/ doesn't work.

[Liz]

I bought a young horse last October who is a real star BUT he did have problems settling. At the first yard, he repeatedly broke through electric fencing, whether or not he was wearing a rug, and I was gently asked to leave the yard, a small private place where he was with a big, boisterous and bossy 17.2hh TBgelding, a 2 yo TB filly and a small pony mare. I moved to an NH type trainer's yard and was turned out in a mixed field. Again, he broke through some fencing, as opposed to jumping out - although only 16hh, he is big and powerful! On one occasion, he destroyed 50 metres of post and wire fencing, so I am told (Idid not see it happen). He was banned from going out by the landowner and so I moved him to a very nice small yard I have used before and the change in him was remarkable. After the intial hurtling up and down beside the dividing electric fence, he was let in with the other boys and has never attempted to leave the field.

The only difference in this latter yard is that he is out only with boys. The mares are in the next field but he does not take a lot of notice. He is the youngest of the geldings and seems to be somewhere near the bottom of the pile, but seems to accept his place in the small herd. He has palled up with a couple of the younger boys and they indulge in a lot of horseplay! He often has marks where he has been nipped and banged but he is happy!

Very complex, these horse problems!

[horse4uaka clive]

Getting somewhere slowly, 4hrs today.

[duncs]

My pony is the same, although i havent raised the fence, i just bring him in when he wants to come in and therefore he doesnt jump the fence.