Digging!

eatmyshorts

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 November 2010
Messages
657
Visit site
My retired horse has a habit of pawing the ground in his Summer field, which creates a bare patch. He doesn't do it loads but i need to stop him doing it. There are maybe 3 or 4 patches about the size of a saddle, not deep, just surface grass scraped back to mud, in his couple of acres. I honestly have no idea how to stop him, it's just something he does. If i fence off the area he has done it, he will just move somewhere else. Help! Any suggestions?
 
Last edited:

Fiona

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 July 2001
Messages
10,150
Location
N. Ireland
Visit site
Mine digs in the all weather turnout, so hubby doesn't allow him in it any longer :( Right through the topping and through the membrane......

Funny enough he doesn't do it in the field, there must be more to occupy him there.

Could you get some safe (ie non toxic) branches for him to nibble in the field..... Willow or something.

Fiona
 

eatmyshorts

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 November 2010
Messages
657
Visit site
Thanks Ester, I know it's normal, but unfortunately it's not up to me & the concern is that it's damaging the grazing, so I've been asked to try to resolve it. That's a pretty good idea Fiona ... he is naturally a nibbly kind of character ... I'll have to see if I can find some!
 

ester

Not slacking multitasking
Joined
31 December 2008
Messages
60,198
Location
Cambridge
Visit site
I wonder if moving him off it is making it worse though rather than it just being in one area that you can reseed later on?
 

eatmyshorts

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 November 2010
Messages
657
Visit site
Yes, I agree ... he'll just make more patches elsewhere, he doesn't seem very fussy about location. It makes sense to just let him do it then reseed it while the field is resting (approx 6months per year).
 

Leam_Carrie

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 August 2012
Messages
928
Location
Leamington Spa
Visit site
our two have well established dig patches... they usually use them for soil licking too- or in frank's case biting at it. Why do you need to stop him, I'd consider it normal behaviour for most horses.

Is soil licking normal? My horse was doing it the other day and I assumed it meant she was mineral deficient- so added salt to her feed.

No help with stopping digging - mine has made quite a hole!
 
Joined
28 February 2011
Messages
16,451
Visit site
Your lucky to have bald patches! I have 2 giant craters in my field that fit rather large TB's in when they decide to splash in the puddle and roll in it!

I have just learnt to jump out of the way when they start their splashing!
 

tallyho!

Following a strict mediterranean diet...
Joined
8 July 2010
Messages
14,951
Visit site
Your horse is probably lacking something in the diet so they dig for minerals. Make sure you feed a decent mineral balancer.
 

WandaMare

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 August 2009
Messages
3,559
Visit site
Mine digs in the all weather turnout, so hubby doesn't allow him in it any longer :( Right through the topping and through the membrane......

Funny enough he doesn't do it in the field, there must be more to occupy him there.

Could you get some safe (ie non toxic) branches for him to nibble in the field..... Willow or something.

Fiona

I have one who is a nightmare in the arena, she has damaged the membrane quite a few times has also now been banned. She doesn't do it in the field either but I it occurred to me that she is probably 'moving' the surface aside to get to the grazing beneath. It makes sense that they would look for food. I have now made a gravel pen for her for any time she can't be in the field and she doesn't do it in there either, but there are plenty of bits of weeds and sparse grass patches to occupy her.
 

ester

Not slacking multitasking
Joined
31 December 2008
Messages
60,198
Location
Cambridge
Visit site
Is soil licking normal? My horse was doing it the other day and I assumed it meant she was mineral deficient- so added salt to her feed.

No help with stopping digging - mine has made quite a hole!
It is IME, mine's been fed minerals based on forage analysis for the last 7 years, he still does it!
 

Fransurrey

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 April 2004
Messages
6,503
Location
Surrey
Visit site
our two have well established dig patches... they usually use them for soil licking too- or in frank's case biting at it. Why do you need to stop him, I'd consider it normal behaviour for most horses.
This. It would be better to just let him have the original patches and reseed if necessary (although I've always found it isn't). Mine have patches out hacking that they like to lick too, especially where natural springs come up (they do have salt licks). As long as they aren't gobbling mouthfuls of dirt, it's fine.
 

Fiona

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 July 2001
Messages
10,150
Location
N. Ireland
Visit site
I have one who is a nightmare in the arena, she has damaged the membrane quite a few times has also now been banned. She doesn't do it in the field either but I it occurred to me that she is probably 'moving' the surface aside to get to the grazing beneath. It makes sense that they would look for food. I have now made a gravel pen for her for any time she can't be in the field and she doesn't do it in there either, but there are plenty of bits of weeds and sparse grass patches to occupy her.

I'm sure you're right, and he's only doing it to 'look' for grass under the stones lol.....

Silly daft Connemara...

Fiona
 
Top