Any ideas how to stop a bed digger?

[asmp]

We have one who a couple of times (at least) a week will dig up his bed, mixing the nice clean bedding with all the wet stuff. Not really sure why he does it but pretty sure he mostly does it in the short time I’m getting his breakfast. I’m usually first up too. He gets loads of haylage at night.

He was on woodchip bedding (Laysoft) but now is on straw as too much Laysoft was being wasted.

Any ideas how to stop him or is there a better bedding that he won’t be so inclined to dig up?

 

[HappyHollyDays]

As soon as you arrive take him out of the box and tie him up outside, then go and get his breakfast.

 

[Red-1]

I would go and check the bed first thing to make sure it is a breakfast related issue, not an overnight colic issue.

 

[HashRouge]

I would go and check the bed first thing to make sure it is a breakfast related issue, not an overnight colic issue.

That, and if it is definitely a breakfast thing then have his feed ready made outside his stable so you can feed straightaway. If it's not that, I'm not sure you can really stop it!

 

[HappyHollyDays]

That, and if it is definitely a breakfast thing then have his feed ready made outside his stable so you can feed straightaway. If it's not that, I'm not sure you can really stop it!

I’m sorry but I wouldn’t have a feed ready to stop him doing it because it is reinforcing a negative behaviour. If either of my horses kick the door for food they get ignored and not fed until it stops and that also applies to going out to the field. I take them one at a time and the one left behind has to wait patiently without creating merry hell or they stay in even longer.

 

[Carrottom]

Or muck out before breakfast ?

 

[nikkimariet]

Pre make feeds so you can pop it over the door. Tie him up as soon as finished. I had to do this with Nova who would dig up an entire stable due to impatience, used to drive me mad! Rooni does it when he's finished so gets tied up if I'm not riding him first thing.

 

[Gloi]

I have a manic digger but he can't do much in the stable as he just has a thin layer of sawdust on rubber mats. His real fun starts in the turnout paddocks where I'm beginning to think he must be half badger as he enthusiastically digs holes, seemingly really enjoying himself as he does it. I think he's partly digging for roots as he sometimes finds and eats one but mainly I think he just enjoys digging.

 

[rabatsa]

I have one at the moment who digs up beds. They are in a barn with open door stables and he still does it. Some nights just one stable others he does both.

 

[ponios]

I have a horse that does this if I am 10+ min late to usual breakfast time. He is kept at home so it inst even that other people arrive or others are fed. He is deep littered so it is a nightmare when he digs!

I suspect you will have trouble stopping the behaviour so I would do as others have suggested and have his feed ready to chuck over the door.

For me it acts as a good incentive to get out of bed and not hit snooze!

 

[Leandy]

Work out exactly when he does it and then go from there. I'm not convinced you can teach him not to do it if it is an established habit. If it is between you arriving and getting his breakfast then it is easy to solve as others have said. If it is in the night sometime then it is harder. If it were me and it wasn't just a "waiting for my breakfast" first thing in the morning thing, I would probably just put up with it, keeping the bed as well skipped out as I could at all times. Or you could try minimal bedding and rubber mats.

 

[Leandy]

I have a horse that does this if I am 10+ min late to usual breakfast time. He is kept at home so it inst even that other people arrive or others are fed. He is deep littered so it is a nightmare when he digs!

I suspect you will have trouble stopping the behaviour so I would do as others have suggested and have his feed ready to chuck over the door.

For me it acts as a good incentive to get out of bed and not hit snooze

This may also be it, how regular is your routine?

 

[Sussexbythesea]

As soon as you arrive take him out of the box and tie him up outside, then go and get his breakfast.

I’d do this, the sooner I can get my old boy out the better. He’s fed by someone else but as soon as I arrive on the yard if I don’t go to him ASAP he’ll start twirling around or disappear and start digging!

 

[Fiona]

I have a manic digger but he can't do much in the stable as he just has a thin layer of sawdust on rubber mats. His real fun starts in the turnout paddocks where I'm beginning to think he must be half badger as he enthusiastically digs holes, seemingly really enjoying himself as he does it. I think he's partly digging for roots as he sometimes finds and eats one but mainly I think he just enjoys digging.

This is my connie to a T

He isn't allowed in our brand new all weather turnout area, as he digs right down through the membrane into the big rocks

Fiona

 

[Auslander]

i've got one who trashes his bed in between breakfast time and turnout - even if he has a fresh net of haylage to occupy him.
I have learned through bitter experience, to turn him out the second he finishes his breakfast, or this happens... this is the bed that his owner said "i was afraid to walk on it, as it looked like a beach in a 6 star holiday resort" about
There wasn't a single bit of unshattered poo in there - took me an hour to get it back up to scratch...

 

[milliepops]

I had one that would trash her bed first thing so I left buckets ready to chuck over the door on arrival, and mucked out while she was eating. nothing left to trash then!