Could you help me solve this issue please?

[Berkeley]

Ok here's a problem for you.

I have a feeding time issue with my mare. The normal routine is that I put her feed in the feed bucket and then put it on the floor in her stable. I have been doing this for yrs.

Recently she has been very agressive with her method of eating. Bascially she puts her nose in the bucket ready to eat, then she violently, and I mean WITH FORCE, pushes the bucket with her nose so it goes flying across the stable. As a result she loses half her feed into the straw bedding. I bought her one of those feed buckets that hangs over the stable door today. This morning she was a bit confused by it so ate nicely. This afternoon she was back to being agressive again and pushed it so hard the feed spilled out in a wave all over the floor.

I told the YO who I pay to look after my mare during the week and she says my mare never does this with her. This doesn't help me. She also said what she loses she doesn't get, and she'll learn, simple. This doesn't help me either. Bare in mind I only feed my mare on the weekends, not during the week. I am not sure whether YO has been watching close enough to notice.

As a result of this behaviour my mare has lost weight as she is not getting enough feed. Its also costing me money having to refill the bucket again.

What's going on?!

 

[phoebeast]

could there be anything triggering this behaviour such as boredom? could you try feeding her in a different place?

 

[spike123]

What about getting one of the feedbuckets that sits in a tyre.She won't be able to shove that one about. Also try putting a big rock in her feed to slow her down a little.It could just be excitement.Is your YO is giving her hard feed through the week too? If not then this may be part of the problem.

 

[Berkeley]

[QUOTE Is your YO is giving her hard feed through the week too? If not then this may be part of the problem.[/QUOTE]

Hi there. Nothing changes with her feed during the week whatsoever.

 

[Shilasdair]

It could be that she doesn't like the feed; I find one of mine does similar if there's something wrong with her feed. I suspect it is because she's all geared up to eat something, then is frustrated when it is 'inedible'.
Methods to stop her would include putting her bucket in a tyre, adding a large stone to the bucket, or feeding her on the floor in a clear part of the box.
S

 

[touchstone]

The tyre is a good idea, might be worth checking that her teeth aren't bothering her too.

 

[Sol]

Just tip her feed out onto the floor where there's no bedding?? We used to do this with Danny as he used to throw his buckets around.

 

[Berkeley]

Just tip her feed out onto the floor where there's no bedding?? We used to do this with Danny as he used to throw his buckets around.

that's exactly what I did today in the end. Its quite upsetting when you see her doing this and losing weight as a result.

 

[Berkeley]

It could be that she doesn't like the feed; I find one of mine does similar if there's something wrong with her feed. I suspect it is because she's all geared up to eat something, then is frustrated when it is 'inedible'.

Yes this could be a reason. Its Allen and Page Weight gain which I thought was quite nice (for her). As its only started happening could her pallet change so quickly? She has apple chaff too. Maybe she has gone off it.

 

[Shilasdair]

that's exactly what I did today in the end. Its quite upsetting when you see her doing this and losing weight as a result.

Guesstimate how much she's wasting, and feed her extra to make up for it?
S

 

[Shilasdair]

Yes this could be a reason. Its Allen and Page Weight gain which I thought was quite nice (for her). As its only started happening could her pallet change so quickly? She has apple chaff too. Maybe she has gone off it.

I fed one of mine Allen and Page - she hated it and would throw her feed round trying to pick out the sugar beet. You could always try her with different feeds to see which she prefers - do a feed 'pie chart' with little piles of each to see which she likes and which she leaves. Or feed her apple chaff and her mix in two different buckets to see which one she eats first?
S

 

[Shysmum]

I don't know if this is of any help, but my boy absolutely hates sugar beet. I couldn't work out why he flung his bucket around, so put his healthy hooves in one, and the beet in the other - voila - beet untouched ! sm x

 

[Berkeley]

Guesstimate how much she's wasting, and feed her extra to make up for it?
S

Yes this is what I had to do today which isn't ideal in terms of trying to be cost effective. She's so spoilt - I swear its her way of saying 'ummm human, I require a side salad with this meal please'

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Could it be that one bag of feed had 'gone off'? I would follow Shils' suggestion and separate her feed out into different buckets and see which she likes and which she leaves. It certainly sounds to me as though she is disappointed with the feed she is given.

 

[eggs]

I'm guessing she doesn't like the feed. If she did like it she would most likely root through the straw to finish it up. Most of mine have been fine with A&P Weight Gain but one simply would not eat it.

Does your YO give her something different?

 

[teddyt]

One of mine does one big shove when you first give him his feed. In his case i think its excitement. In your case ditto the tyre idea or a corner manger.

 

[Ziggy_]

I'd agree with those who say it sounds like she doesn't like the feed. Mine is very picky and can go off things overnight and when she does she chucks her bucket around in the manner you describe. These days I add a splash of apple juice to her feed each day and this seems to go down fairly well, touch wood...

 

[Berkeley]

One of mine does one big shove when you first give him his feed. In his case i think its excitement. In your case ditto the tyre idea or a corner manger.

this is exactly what happens.

 

[Jericho]

Bit annoying but maybe put a tiny amount in one bucket so she gets it out of her system and then give her another bucket with the rest of her feed in about a minute later. It may just be excitement / hunger thats making her snatch at the food. Mine does it in a much milder way.... and I found that he only did it for the first few mouthfuls in his eagerness!

 

[Clannad48]

Not so much a help but I have fond???? memories of giving daughter's pony her feed in a bucket in a tyre - unfortunately she hated the tyre and it came flying out of the stable at me after she had taken out the bucket. It gave other people on the yard a great laugh and had to be seen to be believed. Luckily she missed me and it just rolled down the yard.