Foal mane chewing?

[Dry Rot]

I've a foal about six weeks old that has taken to chewing manes and tails, so everyone (including me!) now stinks of Cribox!

The strange thing is his full brother, who he has had no contact with at all, did exactly the same thing last year. Not a large enough sample to conclude that it's genetic but it sounds suspiciously like it, doesn't it? The mare and foal are in with another mare and the chewer's half brother who doesn't seem to chew manes. All are kept in exactly the same way so I don't think there are any environmental or stress factors. In fact, it's only these two brothers who have ever given me these problems.

Any ideas how to stop the habit, other than the above? Cribox is horribly messy stuff to apply and I don't think it lasts long.

 

[mutley75]

fairy liquid works a treat!

 

[supagran]

Our colt foal started this last year using mum's tail, so we used the spray Cribox (or something similar) on her tail - and it worked a treat. He doesn't do it now at all, and we can also leave rugs on his stable door and he leaves them alone! A filly foal we had last year at another yard chewed the companion pony's tail (no Cribox stuff) and he now looks a bit weird, but didn't do it to her dam's tail - but she's stopped doing it now. I think it could be a phase they go through.

 

[Dry Rot]

Thanks, I'll try Fairy Liquid!

I didn't know they did a spray on Cribox. The gel is horrible stuff!

It's really annoying because the mother of these foals had a lovely mane and I was wondering if I should trim he tail as the last 2 or 3 inches were dragging on the ground. Now she looks as if the moths have got at her!

 

[oldywoldy]

They say that the reason they do it as they are lacking in their vits and mins. Are you feeding the mare any stud diet? There is another very good product to put on manes and tails Forans No Bite which is much more civilised to use than Cribox!