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sam72431

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Bit of a rant: basically I have just had a call from someone at the yard because apparently my horse has chewed some of the fence posts and one of them has dropped off and is beginning to look poor, I have put both of them on a pre-spring diet, one is a 5yo hano that I'm trying to sell ( lack of money and time (which people at the yard are aware of)) and 16.2 14 yo Dutch warmblood, they are living out on pretty good grass (they moved onto current field a couple of weeks ago and it hadn't been grazed in a few months) they are having two big sections of hay each a day as well as conditioning cubes and chaff, they have both dropped off slightly but you can still only just feel there ribs, is it so bad to put them on a pre-spring diet?! Does anyone else do this? They have kept there weight really well over the winter but of course when I feed them they are hungry because it's there routine! My friend went up slightly earlier (around 3 rather than my usual 6) and they were completely un-interested in there food! Surely if they were so hungry they would be hungry all the time?! Also knowing someone is at there wits end with money and other worries would you then add to them?! If I'm wrong please tell me!
 
sam72431 said:
Bit of a rant: basically I have just had a call from someone at the yard because apparently my horse has chewed some of the fence posts and one of them has dropped off and is beginning to look poor, I have put both of them on a pre-spring diet, one is a 5yo hano that I'm trying to sell ( lack of money and time (which people at the yard are aware of)) and 16.2 14 yo Dutch warmblood, they are living out on pretty good grass (they moved onto current field a couple of weeks ago and it hadn't been grazed in a few months) they are having two big sections of hay each a day as well as conditioning cubes and chaff, they have both dropped off slightly but you can still only just feel there ribs, is it so bad to put them on a pre-spring diet?! Does anyone else do this? They have kept there weight really well over the winter but of course when I feed them they are hungry because it's there routine! My friend went up slightly earlier (around 3 rather than my usual 6) and they were completely un-interested in there food! Surely if they were so hungry they would be hungry all the time?! Also knowing someone is at there wits end with money and other worries would you then add to them?! If I'm wrong please tell me!
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As a yard owner, chewing the fence posts is a really annoying habit that some horses have. It is not in any way related to the amount of food they have as the worst culprit at our yard is the one on the most feed! The ones on a diet don't do it.
 
If there was a problem with one of my horses then I would want to know.
Chewing wood is a problem.
I dont "diet" my horses....if they have dropped weight slightly over winter then thats generally enough once the grass comes through and exercise is increased.
You may have to put up some electric fencing to stop them eating the posts.
 
IMHO I wouldn't ignore these comment, unless the person responsible is the yard bitch.

I am assuming the chewing is new, if so, then that combined with weight loss would suggest that something is wrong.

Perhaps a little investigation now might save time and money in the long run.

Perhaps some before and after pics might help the experts on here decide.
 
I see no problem with making sure horsesare not overweight going into spring. You see too many horses going in fat, and then having problems. I worried about mine when I was on a yard, and even had a chat to my vet, who told me mine were fiine, but that the majority of the horses on the yard were overweight.
As to the fence posts, if possible I would fence them off.
Good luck with selling one of them, hopefully as spring arrives, horses will start to sell.
 
He is a bit of a chewer mainly because he is a baby and I know full well that he is bored because he isn't doing anything, that's why he is for sale as I simply don't have time for him, I'll get some pics later on but basically I go by the old way of you should be able to feel the ribs but not see them, you can only just feel his ribs with a bit of prodding! So don't really see the issue that's why I have put them on a diet because they didn't drop off over the winter as they should of and I don't want them ending up laminitic come summer
 
Chewing the posts would count as a vice if you are selling him.

Might be worth trying to break the habit now. Paint the post in Cribbox perhaps?
 
Whether the posts are creosoted or not (mine certainly have never been other than a non toxic wood preservative) your horse/s have been seen to eat the fencing.
Now by your own admission the horse is a baby and bored, so its your lack of time thats causing the problem not the untreated wood!
You have two options IMO.
Find the time to do something with the youngster and keep him occupied (if he is broken maybe get a sharer until he is sold)
Or/and put up electric fencing to keep him away from the fence panels.
If I had a livery eating my post and rail and they did nohing to stop it I would be billing them.
 
Feel your pain, my pony ate 8 rails in less than a week two winters ago. I could have killed her - though thankfully we're on our own yard.

Nothing but nothing has stopped her doing it - and now she's losing some teeth again, she's going full strength again!

I hang stuff up that she CAN chew in the stable - like leadropes, jolly balls, swedes etc. Good luck.
 
Joenne sorry but you know nothing about my circumstances really don't need a lecture from you! I got made redundant last September I had to take a lower paid job and I also have to work evenings and weekends, so funnily enough don't have time that is why he is being sold! This way I can quit my evening job and have time for my other horse. Thanks everyone else, I have actually had an apology from yard as there are other fields that it's happened in so we are suspected deers handiwork, he does chew things as he is quite mouthy but not a cribber if that makes sense he just seems to like having something in his mouth. Also it was quite funny as the person at the yard had found it necessary to give my horses hay and they hadn't eaten any of it so my point was proved that are having enough food, also the person that thinks they are thin is an older lady that used to do showing so think it says it all really. I'm now planning on taking a sheet of body condition scores on to see if it shuts her up as both of mine are most definitely of the right weight if not overweight I also have asked about four other people and they all agreed with me.
 
Errrr where did I lecture you?
You circumstances are irrelevent TBH.....you said your horse was eaing wood, I gave you two suggestions as to possibly stop it.
Work him (and a sharer would also help cover the cots you are struggling with)
Tape off the fence.
If its deer then its deer and you have nothing to be concerned about!
 
You weren't lecturing Joeanne, you were being condescending and arrogant. You're entitled to your opinion, just tone it down and don't take these things so personally.
 
Well they do make a supplement, in America for horses that chew wood. Something in the wood they like. So yeah boredom plays a part but I don't think it's the only reason. Put up electric fencing if you have to and replace rails. A woman had to do that here recently because her horse was indeed a chewer. I fenced off my fields when I moved here with wood poles and electric fencing so if they chew a pole it's not a big deal. But if I was at a livery I would be forking out for electric fencing provided they were my fields. Just much simpler.

Terri
 
Electric fence it, I think its a vice chewing posts and probably an unhappy horse somewhere in the mix. Neighbours horse devoured a brand new gate and posts etc but was living alone. Since company has stopped I know yours has company. I think you said young horses guessing probably bored.

I wouldnt have a problem if a horse chews my fence but I would if it wasnt replaced pronto!

Thats horses. Too many people think its someone else to pick up the pieces(not saying this is you by the way). Its warm here so mine is more dozey in the day, if they are not in work they have probably lost condition(muscle) so shape change.
 
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