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 Fluffy Tuffy
Posts: 10343
      Location: New Sharon, IA | I posted a few weeks ago about a horse spooking at her own shadow. The more I am watching her behavior I am realizing that she is only doing this near buried electrical wires. She does it at home only where there are buried electrical wires, a local horse arena each time she has to cross the path they just buried electrical wires and any facility we go to that we hook up the trailer she does it right where the electrical box is that we are plugged in to. Anyone ever heard of a horse developing a heightened sensitivity to electricity? She is scared to death of storms and if it even sprinkles she heads to her barn. She will tremble all over when it is storming as well. |
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  Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
     Location: In a happy place | I have no idea but can't wait to see if someone has any suggestions. |
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 Guys Just Wanna Have Fun
Posts: 5530
   Location: OH | Yep---I have had it happen. Where our stud field is, under the gate is where the wire is to feed the electric fence, spring of the year and the ground was real wet--for a couple days when I went to turn the one stud out he'd lose his mind. Couldn't figure it out, then by coincidence I had the fence off--he walked through fine. I thought I must have had a small cut in my underground wire so I dug it up and replaced it----still did it but just when the ground is real wet. Once it is dry he is fine---so I just turn the fence off when turning him out. You do not have a solution so easy. Also, it never affected our other stallion while turning him out. |
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 Fluffy Tuffy
Posts: 10343
      Location: New Sharon, IA | Mighty Broke - 2014-07-28 2:48 PM Yep---I have had it happen. Where our stud field is, under the gate is where the wire is to feed the electric fence, spring of the year and the ground was real wet--for a couple days when I went to turn the one stud out he'd lose his mind. Couldn't figure it out, then by coincidence I had the fence off--he walked through fine. I thought I must have had a small cut in my underground wire so I dug it up and replaced it----still did it but just when the ground is real wet. Once it is dry he is fine---so I just turn the fence off when turning him out. You do not have a solution so easy. Also, it never affected our other stallion while turning him out.
This is happening everywhere there are electrical wires underground or when it is storming out and it doesnt seem to matter how wet the ground is either. I wish I knew how to fix this :( |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
     
| Try getting him hoof boots for all 4, they say horses feet are good electrical conductors, so cover the feet with "rubber boots" easy boot old macs etc and see if the problem goes away |
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 Fluffy Tuffy
Posts: 10343
      Location: New Sharon, IA | This is also a sudden thing. This horse has never done this until this spring. |
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
   Location: SE Louisiana | I know cattle are very sensitive to electricity... Just a tiny amount of stray voltage in a dairy barn can cause unbelievable amounts of problems. I'm not surprised that horses, which are just as well grounded, can feel it. I wonder if rubber shoes would help..
Edited by komet. 2014-07-28 3:26 PM
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 Fluffy Tuffy
Posts: 10343
      Location: New Sharon, IA | I know horses have a heightened sensitivity to electricity anyway but this spooking at places where wires are buried has just started happening. I have had this mare 2 years and she never did this before this spring. |
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