Ridecamp: [RC] electric fences (fairly long)

It appears that I need to clarify my earlier post.

To all those whom seek to teach me how to train this horse, please stop.
This is not a misbehaving horse.

To all those that seek to teach me how to tie this horse, please stop.  This
is not a strengh issue.

We have a 24-25 year old horse, a grade, mostly appoloosa (very strong
willed when he wants to be, but well behaved).  He ia close to 16hh about
1300-1400 lbs.  very strong for an old guy.

This problem has really become more often as he gets older, and we attribute
some of it to he worsening eysight, he shies easier and easier, and we feel
that he may be getting suprised more and more.

This horse may stand tied to a trailer, post, barn etc for days or he may
only be there a minute.

Something sets him off and he will most likely be free.

Ususally all that sets him of is he appears to forget that he is tied and
when the line comes tight, because he started to nod off and his head
droped, or he truned to see something or he jumped a little because of being
startled, and being a flight animal he, for a split second, is paniced about
being tied.  That is all this lasts, a slit second.  If the line stops him,
we tell him to step ahead and all is well again.  Usually when a horse that
big and stong plants on a line, something gives, and I am not about to over
power this horse with a chain.  We have double tied with a second line and
that has worked.  He has also moved a 26 foot steel goosneck trailer a few
inches.

He has pulled the throat latch out of halters, straightened clasps, broke
clasps, snapped lines and bent the tie rings on three trailers.  He is big
and he is strong !!!

As I stated in my original post, this is actually quite humerous. (please
don't shoot me for this comment, it is not as redneck as it sounds).  I have
seen him sit down with all the determination in the world, then when either
Chrissy or myself walks up and tells him to step ahead, he does and goes
back to being fully relaxed, but you should see the determination in him for
that few seconds.

He never goes anywhere when he gets loose, he just wants to be unrestrained
from the tie.  He just stands there, or goes for a little jont for about 10
feet to calm down.  He doesn't race through camp and has never endangered
anyone or anything.

We have had a lot of horses, dogs and other animals.  We are constantly
praised for the level of training and respect our animals have.  This horse
came to us with a few issues, and he is much better now than he was, except
for this item.

I should also state that this horse only goes to one or two CTR's a year now
and this happens on the odd occasion, but with his age and impending
retirement, I am not going to spend a lot of time training a horse for
something that is most likely not required in his future.

Anyhow, my original comment was only to say that no one solution works for
every horse.  I agree that tieing is probably the most secure there is, but
the trade off against the horses ablility to graze and walk may not be
enough for some of us.

I thank everyone for trying to solve my horses problem, but I think many
have underestimated or overestimated what it is.  Its just a thing an old
war hero does.

By the way this horse has almost 5000 miles and 400 miles is a big season
here.  He has only pulled from one start in his life, and that was his only
attempt at a day 100 mile ride in Vermont.  And that was at about 17 years
old.  He wasn't ready for it, mentally.  He had never gone more that 75
miles at once and mostly done 25 - 40 miles all his life.  He just shut down
at about 60 miles.   He is a trooper and we love him dearly, and we would
let him have pasture for the rest of his days before we would bother him
with the fact that we don't want him to shy occasionally.

At the risk of getting slapped for advertising, our equine related business
was named after this horse.  He is feature on our website.

Roy Drinnan



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