Horse digging big hole in field - what is he doing??

[little_flea]

My horse is currently busy on a big project which appears to involve digging a very large hole in the middle of his field...

What is this all about? Does anyone elses horse do this? I have never seen this extreme form of digging before - he does enjoy a little root around normally, but this is a proper hole...

I would imagine it would be easier to jump out of the field than dig an escape tunnel...

Answers on a postcard please!

 

[jordanross]

Hi little flea. I had a horse for 6 months on loan and i remember he did the same... dig big holes! I dont know the answer myself but maybe he just like the feel of the soil? lol or maybe hes bored? sorry i cant be anymore help. Im sure it wont do him any harm though! just make cleaning harder work for you lol x

 

[Annagain]

Mine digs himself mud wallows to make sure he gets maximum mud coverage - is he rolling in it?

 

[Kenzo]

Depends how big the hole is....he's conjuring up a plan to bury you in it lol.....I'd be sleeping with one eye open

 

[little_flea]

That is very hippopotamic-like behaviour!

I don't think he rolls in it - it is pretty deep and he might get stuck...

 

[little_flea]

Either that, or he has been reading Jules Verne's Journey to the centre of the earth. It is a French horse after all, it could be on his reading list...

 

[brighteyes]

Can you show us a picture?

 

[Twix001]

horses dig holes in the ground and lick the soil when they are lacking in some kind of nutrients or minerals, poss salt...so maybe try and put a salt lick out in his field or something

If thats not it then.....you have one strange horse :L

 

[SaffronWelshDragon]

Sorry but this has me LOL'ing in the office! Sorry I can't be of any help, but it made me giggle anyway

 

[little_flea]

Haha - it looks a bit like what I imagine a very small UFO landing site would look like - maybe I need to check for radiation...

He has a saltlick, so he probably is just very strange! Maybe he is trying to trip me up when coming to bring him in...

 

[BBH]

My horse dug a huge hole at his gate one year and I got onto the yard to hear the owner say he had been filling in the hole that he had dug and I laughed and said Oh you've been busy with your spade then and he said no JCB

The mares in the gate opposite were being tarts and he was liking them a bit too much.

 

[mickey]

My horse regularly digs holes in the field and either rolls in them or stands up and rears in them!!!
It's not that amusing however as I am spending my time filling them in with soil so he doesn't fall down any.
I dunno why he does it. He has a balanced diet with benevit supplement and a salt lick. Never touches the soil with his mouth. It is a pain in the backside though......

 

[scotsmare]

PMSL

Attach shovels to his feet and hire him out as a gardener

Sorry - that was no help

 

[Storminateacup]

Needs a mineral lick perhaps?

 

[mickey]

My horse has been named the 'JCB' ---- yes, I think I might hire him out so he can pay for his livery fees!!!

 

[little_flea]

The devil makes work for idle hooves, obviously.

 

[pepperandoran]

My horse does this too! I have my field split in two and there is a great big hole in each side! He used to roll in it - but now its got too deep so he rolls beside it!

Wierd behaviour!

 

[leno289]

my lad does this - regardless of what area i put him in - i have decided that he just wants his own en suite as when we get heavy rain it fills - he then stands there pawing at it making himself rather wet and muddy -also seen him use ut as a drinking trough rather than walk up the paddock
he has salt lick, mineral licks, the works - still does it now resigned myself to the fact that he a mole in disguise

 

[Angua2]

I did google this and it chucked up reams of stuff.

I was wondering if it could be a form of amusement for your boy since he is such a playful soul and currently out on his own to prevent further injury, you could always try leaving him something to play with - a paddock toy. A flattened foot ball or a jolly ball for instance. give me a yell if you want to try a jolly ball as I have one somewhere that you could use

 

[Cuffey]

My pony digs holes but they are definitely for rolling in to get as dirty as only a grey knows how to do.

 

[Marchtime]

Jesper used to dig but he finally seems to have grown out of it. He once dug a knee deep knee in one day. No reason why. Didn't do his feet any favours though. My yard owner wasn't a huge fan either. I used to worry he'd fall down the holes but in the end I decided he created them so he must know best!
Oh and he always used to roll next to them but never in them, to be honest they were too deep to roll in.

 

[little_flea]

He is VERY playful isn't he... he has a jollyball in his stable, might bring it into the field...

Nice siggy btw, G. x

 

[Annagain]

[ QUOTE ]
That is very hippopotamic-like behaviour!

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm convinced he's IDxhippo.

He's grey too, you expect a bit of extra work with a grey, but I've never known a horse get so dirty! After digging his mud wallow he has dirty hooves, (which for some reason is the only part of him that he doesn't like to be dirty) so as he's mid roll on his back, he rubs his hooves on his tummy!

 

[LeneHorse]

is this a boy thing? Everyone that's replied saying their horse does this seems to be talking about geldings.

 

[Tnavas]

Maybe he's making plans to visit my horses in New Zealand!

Mine do it too - it becomes a favorite rolling place - gets very muddy in winter.

In summer it becomes very dusty and they roll in it to get covered in dust - think it keeps the midges and flies from biting.