Do TBs self-harm??!

I

itsmyparty

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Our 17'2" Irish TB is always coming in with nicks and scratches (and sometimes worse) on his head, legs, body, you name it. WHY?? I know his feet are a long way from his brain, but really.... He's in a field on his own at the moment as he's recovering from an injury so it's all self-inflicted.
 
They tend to be a bit stupid that way
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mine is 17'1 and does this, he comes in with the most unexplainable nicks and scratches, id say hes just an idiot but hes actually quite clever and has an element of self preservation just seems to self harm!!!!!
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I don't think it is because they are stupid, they just have fine coats and thin skin. My mare is a very itchy person. When she is feeling really bad she rubs herself so hard she tears her skin. You would think a perve had been at her, because she tears her girly bits by rubbing her bum so hard.
 
Mine does anyway, and then gets cellulitis
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My vet says she wouldn't survive at all if she was turned out in a herd. Fortunately our two are at home, and she is turned out in lots of boots so have managed to minimize it recently.

Her best attempt was to kick herself in the field and cut the atery on the inside just below her hock. Fortunately we were at home that day otherwise she would have bled to death v quickly.

Does seem to be getting a tiny bit better with age though (now 8) (touches lots of wood)

Fiona
 
mine is very careful of herself, in 3 years the only injuries she's had have been the occasional time i've put another horse (an unshod youngster fwiw) in with her, and it has kicked and/or bitten her.
of course, saying that is really asking for it, i know... but she's not a self-harmer!
 
Mine has absolutely no concept of the fact he is not a tough pony and hoons around, play fights with the others (lots of bare patches on his head) and dives into a hedge or brambles if he thinks he can see something tasty.
 
Ronnie definitely self-harms
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I have a list longer than you could possibly imagine of self-inflicted injuries. He's probably the only horse on the planet that can do forward rolls down his field...repeatedly
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I think a big brain but little self-awareness is the problem in his case. He's never entirely sure where his legs are.
 
My two TB polo ponies were as tough as anything, never self harmed and generally very sensible.

I think breeding has more to do with it - I've seen plenty of Welton Double Cracker foals self harm as youngsters!
 
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