Tartine is either stupid or very clever!

My Shetland foal, Tartine, has decided she needs to be on the other side of the electric fence, and has learned how to get underneath it by lifting both strands of ribbon up with her nose and almost 'crawling' under it. She does this even when the fence is on full current and it must hurt her - I got a jolt off it the other day. The first time I saw her on the wrong side I blamed the builders who had been in the field rescuing a plank they wanted from the far side, but then a day later I saw her there again and then I watched her do it. Now she just goes back and forth whenever she wants. Right now, it doesn't matter much because the electric fence is only 6 feet from the barbed wire so she has a strip of extra grazing, but later in the spring when I have to control their intake of fresh grass it could cause problems. Those fences are supposed to control cows - how can a tiny Shetland pony ignore them?

To master an art like that Jenny i'd say she was very clever

I can just imagine your surprise seeing Tartine on the other side of the fence, Jenny! It certainly sounds like a clever job on Tartine's part - the grass is obviously much greener!

Hmmm.... I wonder if she is using her mane to block it so she can crawl through? Maybe it's never touching her skin???

Clever girl indeed.

It sounds like she just likes the grass on the other side to me too. Might just hafta move the fence

I watched her do it and she starts with her nose, so she must feel it. I wouldn't like an electric shock up my nose! I normally keep the fence on very low current, so they can sense it but it won't hurt them. But when I discovered this behaviour I turned it up. It doesn't stop her, though. I must try and get a picture - but it might mean hanging about for a long time.

What a smart little horse!!!