Dealing with a tail ripper

[Highmileagecob]

Had a horse move onto our yard last summer who systematically pulled out the top half of three horses' tails by the roots. He is picking on the oldies who can't turn round quickly, and takes no notice of any kicks he receives. We plastered tails in vaseline and hot chilli powder, which stops the continued attack, but does not prevent the first bite - the next day he simply goes for them again. Has anyone got any suggestions for a repellent that would make him swerve away and not even think about the first bite? We have considered Vicks, or a strong menthol compound, but any suggestions welcome. Owner is useless and thinks he is playing.

 

[Coblover63]

I've had success with Dettol or TCP. Cribstop didn't work.

 

[HashRouge]

I would not accept my elderly horse being bullied like this. What does the YO say? I would be asking for the horse to be moved to a different herd, or for the herd to be split.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Unfortunately we only have one field, the yard owner is not a horse person, and has never got involved in disputes unless they involve non payment of rent. As my horse is one of the bullied, and 50% of his beautiful piebald tail was ripped out at the roots last summer, to say I am livid is to put it mildly. I could go after this horse with intent...

 

[HashRouge]

Unfortunately we only have one field, the yard owner is not a horse person, and has never got involved in disputes unless they involve non payment of rent. As my horse is one of the bullied, and 50% of his beautiful piebald tail was ripped out at the roots last summer, to say I am livid is to put it mildly. I could go after this horse with intent...

Hmmm, this would really, really annoy me! Unfortunately I really don't think you are going to stop this horse's behaviour by putting stuff on tails etc.

I would probably try the following:
1. Explain the situation to the YO and ask their permission to split the field with electric tape, so that you can have an "oldie's" paddock.
2. Explain to the YO that one of the older horses is going to get hurt and that you don't think this horse/ livery suit the yard set up. This is tricky to do with a disinterested YO and might be more effective if you aren't the only one complaining!
3. Move.

Non-horsey YOs are an absolute nightmare in situations like this. I really sympathise with you!

 

[AmyMay]

I would not accept my elderly horse being bullied like this. What does the YO say? I would be asking for the horse to be moved to a different herd, or for the herd to be split.

This.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Put a grazing muzzle on the offender.....

 

[Highmileagecob]

We did issue an ultimatum to the owner that she should either muzzle him or move. She laughed. We are a nice little yard, with a non confrontational approach, and we have never come across this before. I have been there twenty years and don't feel that I should be the one to uproot a 27yo. I can see the non confrontation approach is going to be abandoned soon!

 

[Arzada]

Neem oil would be my go to because I happen to have some! First test patch you horse and if all OK I would lather as much of the tail as you think he will bite with the neem oil. Horses don't like the bitter taste and apparently it jams the biting mechanism of midges so if he isn't deterred by the smell and does bite hopefully it will stick to his teeth and lips and he won't try again. I'd also give him a whiff of the bottle to gauge his reaction to it.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Thank you - I have some neem mixed with petroleum jelly so I will give that a try.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

If the owner is laughing about it then I’d separate her horse from the rest with a different paddock. He will still be able to see the other horses but not do any damage. I’d warn her you are going to do it and give her the chance to help sort this out but make it clear that any vet bills or physio checks that might be required going forwards you will be claiming from her. Get the other liveries on board. Make it clear if she lets him out he will be put back in.

I can’t stand owners like this.

 

[MagicMelon]

I would also group with the other liveries and demand the owner splits the horse off from the rest (tape off a corner of the field so its still right beside them). Totally unacceptable and I dont see why you all have to go to the expense and hassle of dousing your horses tails in nasty chemicals ALL the time to try and stop it. Sounds like its bullying as it's a habit and will surely continue trying to do it often even if it tastes horrible and its put off just for a short time. What a horrid owner to laugh.

 

[littleshetland]

We did issue an ultimatum to the owner that she should either muzzle him or move. She laughed. We are a nice little yard, with a non confrontational approach, and we have never come across this before. I have been there twenty years and don't feel that I should be the one to uproot a 27yo. I can see the non confrontation approach is going to be abandoned soon!

Separate the field with electric fencing, put the biting horse on one side of it. When the owner complains......just laugh.

Perhaps she'll stop laughing if you present her with the bill for various chemicals/vaseline/chilli etc that you have been forced to purchase because of her attitude.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Not to mention the rugs with tail flaps ripped off.... Think things are going to come to a head pretty soon, as he has taken chunks out of the tail of my friend's horse just as it was starting to grow back. Our YO absolutely will not allow separating horses, but I agree that is the best solution. We feel so angry, it is like your child being bullied.

 

[Gloi]

Get together with the other liveries and go and see the yard owner as a group and make your point together, strongly.

 

[Nasicus]

Our YO absolutely will not allow separating horses, but I agree that is the best solution.

So your YO is unhorsey enough to not understand that horses having their tails ripped out and generally bullied is a bad thing.
But thinks they know enough to not allow horses to be separated?
Bloody hell, I feel for you OP!

Perhaps you could all go to the YO and explain that until YO either does something about the issue, or allows you to handle the issue, you'll be subtracting the costs of treatment, preventatives and rug repairs etc replacements out of your livery?

By all means it could backfire, but you've been there a long time, and they're unlikely to want to cut their nose off and chuck all of you established, dependable tenants off to accommodate one aggressive horse and useless owner.

(In a fantasy land, you'd ideally go up to the owner and rip a good chunk of her hair out and tell her you're just playing, but in the real world that would land you in hot water with an assault charge!)

 

[Highmileagecob]

(In a fantasy land, you'd ideally go up to the owner and rip a good chunk of her hair out and tell her you're just playing, but in the real world that would land you in hot water with an assault charge!)

Hmmm language she may understand!!
Our YO takes the attitude that you pays your money you takes your choice - and if it doesn't suit the f*** off elsewhere. It works to a point, we make our own yard rules and he stays out of our hair. We would like some back up with this, but I can't see him getting involved.

 

[PurBee]

If the biter is a young horse in a field of oldies, the coltish behaviour is evidently too much for the oldies, understandably. It sounds like he needs company that is fit enough and will challenge/socialise him, another young colt/gelding or bolshy lead herd mare…can you advertise for someone to join the field with such a horse?

If there’s already a mix of ages and he’s just picking on the oldies, then he really should be separated at this point. Sounds like quite extreme behaviour to be literally ripping out chunks of tails.

My gelding when young was soon put in his place by a 10yr old lead herd mare.

 

[Highmileagecob]

He's about seven or eight we think, has been hand reared and kept as a pet. Has no manners, gets regularly thumped by the boss mare, and goes back for more. Gets regularly pushed out of the herd, and kicked from horses his own age, and goes back for more. We have a mixed age herd that in the main are very settled. Until Denis the Menace moved on. He really needs to move to another yard, or be given a lot of work to do, but unfortunately, until then we have to find a repellent that will make him back off.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Plait one of these into the top of your horses tail (dog collar) - fight fire with fire

 

[PurBee]

Then might is right has to be applied. If the whole of the other liveries of the herd approach YO and say the situation is intolerable, rent wont be paid - if their pocket stings im sure they’ll be more pro-active about solutions.

Applying any creams that are so off-putting to him to actually work, its feasible that such offensive creams applied daily will irritate the tail skin. Im thinking of cayenne pepper or hoof tar/used engine oil…really foul stuff. Not good for him or the bullied horses really. Essential oils are strong smelling and off putting - but applied daily could affect tail skin/ make it sore.

It sounds like you need knucke-dusters wrapped around their tails -some kind of armour!

 

[Highmileagecob]

Think you must have been speaking to AShetlandBitMeOnce!
Thanks for all your suggestions. I'll keep you posted, and hope we can find a solution.

 

[Rainey75]

I have had this - and it was my new boy who was the offender when I first got him last spring ( ah the shame.... I was mortified ) Bitter apple spray applied to the tails that were tempting him - but made sure he got a smell and a taste of it before he was set loose with them . He then Recognised the smell & remembered what it would taste like. Did this for a week and hasnt been an issue since his buddies have tails again and I can show my face in the yard

 

[Northern Hare]

In the past, I've used Naf Crib Stop Spray which worked well to deter tail chewing on the field (by horses and heifers!). You'd definitely want to do a patch test, but it's a clear, water-based spray.
Alternatively, if your horse wears a rug, could you attach a long tail guard / flap to protect his tail?

 

[Highmileagecob]

Yes, he has been rugged. I have a collection of tail flaps that Denis the Menace has removed...
We have found a number of things that stop the continued ripping, but he doesn't learn and tomorrow will be like Groundhog Day. We need to find something that will stop the first bite and make him turn away before the taste puts him off. If today's neem mix has not worked, then I might try stockholm tar. Very messy, but if it works I don't care.

 

[Carrottom]

Nettex anti crib gel on the tail flap and over the quarters helped my old boy.

 

[asmp]

I would suggest you show the livery a pic of our spotty’s mouth where he is missing a front tooth after being booted by my oldie as he kept nipping him but I’m sorry to say it didn’t stop him ?.

She’s very lucky that her horse hasn’t been booted badly (speaking as someone who ended up with a £2000 vets bill after her quiet horse was kicked on the hock)

 

[HBB]

This was the only product that broke the habit of a determined tail and rug ripper/chewer that was causing havoc and distress. It is vile tasting, much worse than the naf products that failed to work. Make sure the tail gets a really good covering of the spray and repeat every other day for a week, then every 2 days for the next week and so on. You have to keep applying it regularly for at least a month to break the habit, it can be done! Good luck x

https://www.discount-equestrian.co.uk/eqyss-mcnasty-anti-chew-spray-946ml.html

 

[Highmileagecob]

Thanks HBB. We are persevering with nasty tastes and the blasted animal still takes a chunk out the following day before remembering that it tastes bad. My lad has come in tonight with no fresh bites, since being plastered with neem and vaseline this morning. He is out for the first time overnight without a rug, so fingers crossed. Friend's cob has one fresh bite and two bald patches, so she has used the neem too. If our two are on their own at the bottom of the field tomorrow, then I guess it's a sort of success - they do pong!

 

[Highmileagecob]

Update
Day 2 of plastering in neem oil and vaseline, and he has come in with no new bites! Thank you Arzada, brilliant suggestion.