Mare escaping every time I try to block her escape routes!!!

[chooniecat]

I have a 15 1/2 hand 11 yo mare(she was chubby last fall but w/lack of hay this year shes normal now) and she keeps escaping her pasture. Yes, I know, should fix the fencing but can NOT currently. Discovered old roll of barbed wire I put up years ago and it has been a blessing with trying to restrain her. But she got through some boards last night and I put her in "her" stall this morning thinking she'd be restrained until I got home from applying for a job(to get money to fix fence-seriously-LOL) and she is NOT in the stall. there is a 36" x 38" opening(should be pic below w/40lb. k9 posed by it) that I would never have thought a horse could contort thru but.... More fun!! barbed wire for stall hole now. And will have to buy more barbedwire for more places that are falling apart.

 

[Eggsoteric]

Barbed wire and horses is an accident waiting to happen. Look on Freecycle and Craigslist for free wood; board up the hole and you might just avoid a vet bill.

 

[chooniecat]

CL is wonderful for some things but I don't have the money to drive the world looking for decent wood(seems like its always 60 miles away) but I will try to get wood up in that stall hole instead. and I know barbedwire can be horrific. Fortunately I have some of the reflective orange tape on any of the barbedwire I have put up(bought that yrs. ago and it has helped too!) Its more of an issue if she makes it into the busy street in front of my close to the road house. The horse fencing is #1 priority if job comes thru.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Agree with others. Barbed wire doesn't teach them not to go through fences. In my experience, if they are used to getting out, they will go through whatever you have to keep them in. Electric fencing works well, and wire fencing (If strung properly on a fence line - meaning tight and with enough strands) can be a cheaper alternative. Additionally, pallets make great temporary fixes, and I've even seen people chop thin trees on their property to use as fencing. It is much safer to use than barbed wire.

If you don't have money for proper fencing, you wont be too happy with the money you may have to spend on for vet bills from the damage barbed wire can cause! It may even be a better alternative to keep her on someone else's property with proper fencing while you work and save enough to properly fence her area.