Chewing leadrope - is this normal?

[Caramac71]

I've noticed our horse chews her leadrope (if it's in reach) after eating; she seems to use it like dental floss and pull out bits of food!

Previously she was always only field fed so didn't have access to do this - however we've been giving her extra feed (to give supplements) and she's started this habit.

I don't have a problem with it at all, but as she is under investigation for ridden issues that haven't been able to be diagnosed yet, I just wondered if this may be relevant and indicative of dental problems? She doesn't appear to have any problems eating, or being bothered by anything in her mouth, and her last dental check was in February. I just don't want to overlook any little thing that may be relevant.

I have left a random message with her dentist but I just wondered if anyone else had experience of this?

 

[dianchi]

Yep mine does this when she comes in from the field before i tack up.
Shes an older girl (21) and the vet and dentist have said this is a behaviour shes learnt to make her more comfy in her mouth.
Generally its only grass that she does this with and doesnt do it from the stable

 

[Pinkvboots]

Both of my Arabs do it in fact they chew on anything that is hanging when they are tied up, caught one of them grabbing hold of the other ones head collar when he was tied outside the stable a few days ago.

 

[Merrymoles]

Mine is a mouthy so-and-so and always wants something in his mouth so chews anything within reach (including my hair and clothing, which gets him a reprimand) and sees lead ropes as fair game. However, fieldmate only ever does it after a feed on the yard - we always say he is flossing his teeth. He grabs the lead rope and runs it through his mouth.

ETA - neither have dental problems

 

[Embo]

My old horse would chew his rope when I was leading him. He would try to grab it whilst you were putting on the headcollar. Literally chewed through the rope after a time so I had to have lots of spares!

Current horse like to chew on anything and everything. One of his favourites is taking a chunk out of shavings bags. He doesn't bite, though.

 

[alsxx]

Well one of mine does, but its more in an attempt to untie himself. Which he is very good at doing in record time when my back is turned.....

He will also walk along with you and hold the end of the lead rope in his mouth if you give it to him. Have a brilliant picture of him somewhere doing this. Weird horse!

 

[Caramac71]

Thanks all, good to know she is (relatively) normal then!

 

[Northern Hare]

My horse does this occasionally but only when he is hungry - or in need of roughage when he is out during the summer. He is not particularly food driven so I always take notice when he does it and give him a small feed of dampened alfa a and maybe a few Nuts. He's 24 tb x wb in full work.

 

[dollyanna]

My old girl started doing it after having half a tooth removed, leaving a gap between tooth and cheek. She worked out how to pull the whole rope into her mouth, chomp a few times and pull back as she let go which seemed to clear the build up of food in the gap, just like dental floss.