Biters.............how do you handle it? (horses biting other horses)

[JadeWisc]

I am speaking of horses chewing on other horses.


If you had horses in together and one was covered in bite marks would you seperate them?

I remember when I boarded Chester at a large stables. He was always COVERED in bite marks and it really upset me. I am sure he was in no major distress, but it looked horrible!

Well Chester is now that horse that likes to bite other horses. He is not a kicker thankfully, but he will always want to assume the lead role and loves taking out chunks with every opportunity given.

Tex has numerous bite marks and I seperated them (right beside eachother) , the problem is that Tex is such an insecure horse that he will bust through anything to get to Chester.
The last thing he needs is another injury so I have put him back with Chester and have a large round pen purchased to move him into when it arrives next week.
When they are in the large field I have little problems but since Tex's injury they have spent the summer in the smaller corral. (about an acre big)
I am wondering if you all think that seperation is better than having one horse bit even if that bitten horse would far prefer to be in the pen with the evil doer.


I am suprised that Chester does not cough up hairballs

 

[cazza]

Whilst you are waiting for the round pen to arrive, can you put a grazing muzzle on the biter?

 

[JadeWisc]

I don't have one but that is a good idea.
The problem is that he mainly does this at feeding times when they are given morning and evening hay. I spread two piles FAR apart to give him his own space to eat but the problem is thet the "bitten" one refuses to eat in his own pile and always hoards in on Chesters pile. He is constantly up his rear end tbh.
Chester could easilly be alone and may not like all of the company I assume.

I will just have to move them apart and force Tex to get used to it. He will have fun trying to get out of my round pen. He is Houdini though and I may just find him out one day

 

[Shilasdair]

I think you need to leave them alone to either sort it out...or the bitten horse will learn to eat his own hay pile.
Maybe if you put the piles closer together...then Tex might eat his own to stay out of the range of the nippy one.
If the bites aren't serious, I wouldn't worry. Do they break the skin?
S
PS Maybe they want furniture?

 

[JadeWisc]

Some have bled a teeny bit but for sure they are stripping the hair. I just cannot stand how a bitten up horse looks! I hate the bite marks and they can grow back in white. he is de valued enough with the scar from his injury and he is intended to be sold once he is fully healed.

Just want him looking his best and I do not mean that in a superficial way, just a practical one.

He will never learn this horse...not about fence respect and not about horse respect I imagine. He is just sort of a no brain and I wonder if he may have a lack of pain recpetors .

He truly seems not to "feel" anything! Is that even possible!?

I know that people can be born with a lack of sensation and nerve endings.

 

[JadeWisc]

just read that vback and it sounds very insensitive

I care a great deal for Tex and do think alot of him.

If he really wanted to get away and stay away he has ample room to do so. It is just horse politics I suppose but I guess I have some control over stopping it. May not do any of them any favors though. Just make the marks go away.

If I were showing him I would be VERY concerned and not hesitate

 

[Shilasdair]

I have a few solutions, but none absolute.
If the bites aren't going through the skin, even if they bleed a little, the hair won't grow back in white (although they may grow winter coat earlier).
Have you thought of rugging him - I don't know how hot it is with you at the moment, but even a fly sheet can break the 'grip' of the teeth, if you see what I mean?
If your horse was worried by the nips (assuming he has pain receptors!) I'm sure he'd move away.
And I don't think anyone will think you've been biting him

S

 

[PapaFrita]

Can you spray him with tabasco sauce? Might make him a bit less tasty?

Failing that something like cribbox (the spray on stuff, not the gooey horrible stuff) or that stuff you can put on rugs to stop horses chewing them.

 

[JadeWisc]

Putting a fly sheet on him was one of my first thoughts.


PF....That just may work! lol
I will add the tobasco to my flyspray in the morning! lol

I know the horses tired to pull out and eat my Jabanero pepper plants in my garden once and it was not a favorite! lol