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RE: [RC] question on electric portable corrals and blanketed horses? - heidiI've never been a fan of using electric fence as a primary
containment at rides, and this is just one of the many, many reasons
why. I've had to hunt for (and stitch up) far too many loose
horses that either broke out of their electric pens under duress or
were "liberated" from them by a loose horse running amok in camp and
taking the pens out. Had a loose horse "liberate" about 10 horses
in one ride camp alone during a windstorm in the dark of
night by running through their electric pens--some of the horses
were severely injured by things they encountered outside (barbed wire
fences primarily) and a couple of them stayed lost throughout the
entire duration of the ride and were only located on Sunday
morning. That was the worst one, but have seen countless problems
with electric pens--absolutely would not leave a horse loose in one if I
were not right there with him, no matter how well trained he himself
might be to it.
FWIW, some of these new panel systems are so flimsy that one is
beginning to see the same problems. My advice would be to either
tie your horse (hi-tie of some sort or tie to the trailer, with
equipment that will not break) or to get pens of sufficient strength
that they will hold up to horses running into them. We actually
use 12' livestock panels--they are heavy and a bugger to put up and
take down, but they are worth every ounce of the effort for the safety
of my horses (not only from getting out but from having other horses
get in) and for my peace of mind. I've only seen a few brands of
panels on the market that come close.
Heidi
i was recently filling out a registration form for a ride held in
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