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Im going to jump out my window.

12K views 115 replies 22 participants last post by  farmpony84 
#1 ·
I went to VA on friday morning to adopt a mustang from the blm, drove 7 hours, and got approved to have a horse. I've talked to the BLM on the phone 10 times explaining what I was doing with the fencing - it was fine. As long as its 5' high (its a bit over that) my coated steel braided wire is just fine. I talked to the person approving applications and explained it. It was fine. So awesome, I buy my horse and a volunteer for the blm who live in my state is trailering my horse home for me on sunday. So I'm at home, put out hay and water and my horse pulls in. The woman gets out and looks decussated and says "no he'll go right through that. He'll get hurt." NUMBER 1 It's steel braided wire. It holds telephone poles up. There are 4 strands of it with no more than a 1 ft gap. Just like the blm requires. Then she tells me he wont see it. Ok, that's fair he might not see it when the sun is rising and setting, that was my fault I should have put 1x1s in between the gaps. So I gave her $60 for gas and she takes my horse back to her place until "i can get 2x6" planks up in-between the gaps. I cant afford that. I'm getting 1x1s in the morning and thats it. He will be able to see it and the wire will hold him in. My horse has been in captivity for a year it's not like hes fresh off the range. It's very nice of her to take my horse back to her place, but I didn't ask. Shes charging me for whatever he eats. It's fair but I was approved the the blm, it's my horse, i paid for it, its in my name. I paid her to trailer my horse back, not to take him home. Am I out of my mind wrong? I want whats best for the horse which is why i didnt object when she took him home, but ill have the 1x1s up tomorrow and I expect my horse on Tuesday, Wednesday latest. BTW my horse is a yearling.
 
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#2 ·
There are strict regulations on these things for a reason. I hate wire as fencing. It's hard enough for humans to see, and that's with us knowing that it's there. She's right, some horses don't see it. Or they do see it, but when they panic, they forget it's there, and get tangled in it. Wire cuts very easily. Even if he doesn't go 'right throuh' it, part of him will, and you're left with a nasty vet bill to sew him back together. Add to that the fact that your horse is a BLM and has probably never been put on pasture with wire, it sounds like a giant vet bill waiting to happen.
If I remember correctly, this is your first horse, right? It might be a good idea to pick this woman's brain about BLM mustang care, she seems to know what she's talking about, and she also seems kind enough to explain things. Does your horse have a pasture-mate?
 
#5 ·
Here are the requirements, as per the BLM website:

"Fencing material should be 2x6 inch wooden planks spaced no more than one foot apart, rounded pipes, poles, or similar materials that do not pose a hazard to the animal. Small mesh, heavy gauge, woven wire fencing with a 2x6 inch board along the top, center and bottom is acceptable"
https://www.blm.gov/adoptahorse/requirements.php

1 row of 1x1s won't be adequate. It sounds like you need at LEAST 3 rows of 2x6 boards.
 
#7 ·
Stop!! Please don't jump!
I think I would ask the lady to come by without the horse next time, to spare the horse the hauling. That way she can "pre approve" your fence first.
I wonder if putting some bright colored flags on the wire would help too. I have 5 strand barb-less wire on a 7 acre pasture. I have never had an injury from it. I've gotten more boo-boos from my pipe horse panels and webbed elect. fencing.
 
#10 ·
Does he have a pasture mate?
Mustangs, even ones that have been in captivity for a year, are still fairly wild. There are reasons for the BLM's regulations. They require planked fences for good reason.
Horses that have been on wire, or understand wire, do ok with it. Horses that have no concept of even really good fencing? Wire is a very poor choice.
 
#14 ·
yes, I know what it says on the website. I told the BLM many times I'm not doing that and they said ok. What's the difference between 1x1's and 2x6s? He's going to see the wood either way and there is wire up. Meaning there's no way he can get through and he will see the wood and wont smash into it. Unless there's a good reason, other than "that's what they require" 1x1s seem fine.
 
#88 ·
What's the difference between 1x1's and 2x6s? He's going to see the wood either way and there is wire up. Meaning there's no way he can get through and he will see the wood and wont smash into it. Unless there's a good reason, other than "that's what they require" 1x1s seem fine.
The difference is that my 3 yo child could break a 1x1. A 2x6 is much much stronger. If your horse tries to break through the fence a busted 1x1 will become a spear and may do considerable damage. After reading more of the posts on this thread I think you should turn the horse back to the BLM and buy a box set of Saddle Club DVD's.
 
#16 ·
That's what I think. I know she's right about the needing some wood, but I think with the coated wire its perfectly fine with 1x1s. I'm dying to have him home and not so thrilled about having to pay her when I didn't ask for this. But anything for the horse....haha
 
#18 ·
I have not talked to them since, or about the 1x1s. I remember someone saying a 1x1 along the top would be good but didnt really matter. She is just a volunteer as far as I know. I feel bad about saying all this because she is being nice, I just think it's ridiculous.
 
#21 ·
Just so I understand... 1x1 would be one inch by one foot? I think one inch is pretty easy to break. What is the price difference between the boards?

I have the plastic coated wire fencing. I got it from RAMM fencing. It's pretty safe but I will admit, when Riley was younger, he went right through it. It's thick so it doesn't break but it gives enough that he was able to walk right through it to the other paddock. I think mine is more like 2 feet apart though....
 
#23 ·
Considering he's not really ever seen fencing too much, yep, I bet he will.

Why are you so determined to cut corners? They make these regulations for a reason. I did dog rescue for many years and I had strict stipulations. If those stipulations weren't met, the adoption was canceled or I repo'd the dog if I'd already placed it and they changed the living conditions (such as removing a fence and placing the dog on a chain).

If you want this horse so bad, stop cutting corners and do what they ask. It's in the horses best interest.
 
#24 ·
I think this is something you should discuss with an inspector from the BLM. They have regulations for a reason. Mustangs don't know what fencing is, and so wire is the most dangerous type of fencing to keep them on. In my opinion, it's a giant vet bill waiting to happen, especially since you don't have a buddy there for him.
1x1 wood is not big enough, and it will only serve to be a visual aid. It is 1" deep by 1" wide, by however long you want. It is not enough. He might try and go through the fence regardless, that is why the BLM says that at minimum, you must have a three-plank row fence, with wire in between if needed.
I think, GuitarChump, that you need to think about this a little more. Will you be able to afford a vet bill if he gets tangled in the wire? Spending the money on good, BLM approved fencing might just save you money and heartache. Again, the BLM has regulations for a reason, they know the ways of the Mustang, and what they might try to escape. I'm actually surprised that they only require 5' fences.
 
#25 ·
If you want to cut corners, don't adopt a mustang. He will go through that with ease. If you can't afford a few $8 planks I'd be concerned. Yes he will run through it easily. It's a simple fix. The BLM can take back the horse if you do not provide the housing they require. They require it for the safety of the horse.
1x1s wouldnt keep my qh in if he wanted out let alone a mustang who is just learning about fencing and being moved to a new location.
 
#27 ·
It's going to cost me over 600 bucks when I just paid for all my fencing that should have been fine. It's ******* me off.
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The vet bill to put him back together after he goes through the fence will be more than $600.

Why do you want to spend money to do it wrong when you can spend a little more and do it right?

Why take the risk? Is this horse's well being not important enough to spend the money and buy the ring thing?
 
#28 ·
I realize your frustration, but safety is important. I've seen horses go through 2x6 boards seperated with hot wire, horses are large strong willed animals and a BLM is a wild version of the domestics we are used to. Safety is worth any cost, and better to do it now than pay a vet bill or have him get out and them take him back. Do you have a saw mill near you? Price boards there and see about rough cut boards.
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#29 ·
Perhaps if you can't afford the whole area you can fence of a smaller area until he settles in/gets used to the wire? I don't really know how Mustangs work.

I can understand your frustration. If you have been speaking to the BLM about fencing and they were fine with your wire fencing, and approved it, then it would be really frustrating to have someone tell you its not right, when you have been trying to do the right thing. Especially when the person who told you it wasn't right was not even an official member/inspector officer thingy.

Really, if it is as inappropriate as people are saying it is, then they shouldn't have approved you.

I'd talk to the BLM asap and sort out what is going on - is this woman even allowed to take your horse? You might have to fork out the extra if you want the horse, which sucks. Horses are a huge money drain.
 
#30 ·
Approving an individual for adoption isn't the same thing as approving their fencing choices. Which is why they require an onsite inspection before they'll leave the horse.

Guitar, you knew what the BLM requirements were for your fencing, so I'm unsure as to why you didn't follow them.

Safe, good fencing is expensive, even for domestic horses who won't challenge it. A feral horse who isn't used to fencing just ratchets up the odds of the animal testing it.

If the BLM disapproves your fencing, then the horse will go back. That's not unfair. After all, their first responsibility is to the animal.
 
#32 ·
Maybe i didnt explain myself right. They saw a diagram of the fencing. I described it perfectly to several people. It was FINE. If they told me right off the bat when I called to ask if wood or coated wire would make much of a difference, I would have gotten the wood. They said no, wire is fine. It saved me 100 bucks but now is costing me an extra $350
 
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