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Vik1
Platinum Member
1711 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Feb 2013 : 09:50:12 AM
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Is there certain types of wood that horses just cant control themselves with??
My 2 are in a 7 acre field to themselves. There are 2 gates, one at either end. I oonly ever use the bottom gate to bring them in. I had noticed that as soon as they come up storm instantly grabs a bite off the top rail of the fence next to the gate. Hes the same if I turn him loose in the outdoor school. I have to watch him like a hawk. Turn my back for a split second and theres a chunk out the gate.
Yo had mentioned that hed been chewing the fence at the top gate of the field but I hadnt looked. Driving past yesterday, the fresh wood from been gnawed at stuck out like a sore thumb. The top rail is almost gone in some places!
Hes not interested in the wood in the walls of his stable or the indoor school. He also gets fed a general supplement in his feed so hes shouldnt be lacking mins. I know hes young but dentist said all his teeth are through with no problems.
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martha615
Gold Member
England
1053 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2013 : 10:18:11 AM
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Apparently, this is kind of normal for wild horses. They like chewing things! So, while it may be that you hate that he's chosen the gate, it doesn't necessarily mean there is anything "wrong" with him, or even that he is lacking in vitamins/minerals. They have a great need to forage and chew, and perhaps he would like really stalky, woody stuff to chew on right now, who knows? Jaime Jackson reports in his book "Paddock Paradise" that wild horses will actually pry open ground with their hooves to unearth calcium deposits. They like to CHEW them, not lick them!
So, I wouldn't worry he is lacking anything. Maybe you can give him something more difficult to chew in his haynet? |
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Vik1
Platinum Member
1711 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2013 : 10:29:47 AM
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| Im not so much concerned about him lacking anything. Its the yo moaning her face off about it. I know and she knows horses chew as part of their need, esp youngsters but I just wondered if there was type of wood that they are inclined to chew more. So when the rail is replaced we can do it with a different type. |
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martha615
Gold Member
England
1053 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2013 : 11:24:15 AM
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| I am sure you can paint on some taste retardants -- I don't know any off the top of my head but there will be something. |
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glo
Gold Member
England
1297 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2013 : 12:20:55 PM
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| Mine are chewing the fence, but then they have been in for the winter!! I just replace and fix every thing over the summer. |
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Mrs Vlacq
Platinum Member
Wales
3776 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2013 : 12:50:21 PM
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| Its the time of year, indoor and outdoor horses are all doing a little bit of bark stripping at the moment when the opportunity arises. And some just like to do it more than others. Horses getting insufficient fibre do it; horses getting a good quality protein do it. If you don't have hedges they are likely using it as 'browsing' which is really important but people tend to fence of hedges to look pretty and save on rug damages. Don't panic unless he's really fixating or you have reason so suspect ulcer etc. Hopefully he will stop as spring progresses |
    
- V Khazad - V Calacirya & V Sulime - Quarida(L) - V Boogie Knights - V Hamra Tofiq |
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saddlebred
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
1706 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2013 : 1:14:13 PM
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| Diva doesn't usually chew but she actually ate through a rail last week. She was teething and stopped once offending tooth removed. I've notice it tend to be softer rails that she targets - that are starting to age/rot. I've replaced rails and creosoted and she leaves it alone now. Paint on bribes works as well |
Based Bewdley Worcs |
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Sharea
Silver Member
United Kingdom
289 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2013 : 2:36:54 PM
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Sharea did this to the door frame in her stable when she first arrived, I suddenly noticed that the door was hanging on by a thread! I bought some Cribox you can get it in any horsey place and plastered it on the remaining wood which stopped her. I've also painted on mustard solution to the fence rails which sounds horrible but then I can't afford to replace them every year!
Perhaps if you try some deterrent and also give them a substitute to chew on you'll stop the habit? |
Edited by - Sharea on 16 Feb 2013 3:05:12 PM |
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Pashon2001
Platinum Member
3575 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2013 : 3:24:15 PM
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| My horses are part Beaver! I use any of the Jamaican Hot Sauces (scotch bonnet is best) and paint it on. Its cheaper than cribox (which is useless) and if you go to the ethnic section of your supermarket is usually half the price of the 'british' brands!! |
     
www.jarvastud.com http://hocon.webs.com/ |
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FreyaG
Bronze Member
England
98 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2013 : 4:31:00 PM
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I have found that ' No Bite' rug spray can work and my mare is not keen on Criboc treated wood.
Thanks for the hot sauce idea - will try to make up something with soaked chillies to paint on - this was recommended to keep squirrels off the spring flower bulbs in planters and seems to have worked- just poured some on top of compost to stop them digging up bulbs.
My young mare prefers old soft wood , a picnic table left out and going green with algae was her favourite wood to chew at if I was not vigilant in the yard.
When she attacked the yard gate we repaired it with an inverted plastic gutter; this worked well and prevented splinters which were a problem if gloveless.
Maybe we should provide old branches - friut wood , like old plum or apple trees , to enrich their enviroment.
Or will that just encourage the habit ? |
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TAE
Bronze Member
232 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2013 : 10:23:55 PM
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My fat hairy one started eating wood last spring. I tried the crib stop, he quite liked that, so then tried painting with chilli as suggested here.
He had a good lick of the chilli and then spent the next 20 min walking round with his mouth as wide as he could get it. I was getting more and more worried starting to think OMG how am I going to explain this one to the vet, when he returned for another lick!!
Turns out pony has masachistic tendancies and really likes hot chilli even if he then can't close his mouth for ages. By the time he had removed all traces of chilli there were large chunks of the barn missing.
I eventually found one thing that did stop him, he hated the wood when painted with neat disinfectant, I think it was more the smell than the taste.
At least I managed to stop him whilst the barn was still repairable. |
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natntaz
Platinum Member
England
2919 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2013 : 10:30:47 PM
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Most of ours at are yard as soon as turned out in ménage are chewing, like other s
Have always found it happens this time of year  |
   
Natalie Pix. Essex. Tariq ibn Radfan and Taroub |
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Alyth Long
Bronze Member
New Zealand
88 Posts |
Posted - 16 Feb 2013 : 06:53:58 AM
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| I have found that when my ponies are short on copper they start chewing wood.....so I then start feeding the Pat Coleby mix - copper sulphate + dolomite + sulphur.....this also seems to stop them getting rain scald and mud fever....but I don't feed it year round, only when required.... |
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proctorclaire
Silver Member
437 Posts |
Posted - 16 Feb 2013 : 6:11:40 PM
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| Horses at my yard eat the fencing all the time. 1 post is ready for snapping in half. I have put all the crib products on and still doesn't make a difference. I am going to try mustard or I seen somewhere else. Cover wood in horse pooh! |
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leiat8
Gold Member
590 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2013 : 09:47:20 AM
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| Fargo is terrible for it, even in summer!!! a couple of years ago yard owner had to creosote everything(fencing, shelter, TREES!!) to stop him. i'm forever replacing bloody rails.....swine!! |
     
Casper, Hannah, Hector, Bracken, Fargo |
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pinkvboots
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3290 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2013 : 7:23:52 PM
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| My mare has been chewing the wooden fence noticed loads of it today will go out to buy somthing to paint it with tomorrow, think its more of a boredom thng with her. |
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debs
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2013 : 8:54:03 PM
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Ali and Mica always chew, in the field and on the yard.... but not when tied outside the stable!
Our post and rail is a right mess little monkeys! |
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Honeyb060674
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4301 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2013 : 11:30:24 PM
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The only place Sunny doesn't chew is in his own stable. Can't leave him unattended in the arena or he starts 'customising' and the odd occasion he goes in a different box it looks like a herd of monster termites have been on the rampage..norty bugger  |
      
Claire & Sunny x
http://sunnyandclaire.blogspot.com/ |
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wood chewing
