Scraping teeth across stable door

[SEL]

Baby cob is only in his stable for 30 mins either end of the day and he's got food in there. Tonight while I was rugging up his field mate I heard a scraping sound and it was his teeth on the metal bar across the stable door Horrible noise.

I've always thought that was a boredom behaviour, but he hadn't even finished his hay net.

Why's he doing that? Just impatient youngster? Rather he didn't trash his teeth.

 

[Horseysheepy]

My mare does this if I'm too slow getting her haynet! She knows my routine and if I sway away from this routine, as in yesterday taking in a parcel for a neighbour en route to getting her net, I hear that cringy sound of teeth grinding across her door!
Im thinking it's an anticipation thing.
But she's basically my boss!

 

[HappyHollyDays]

DP does it when he’s being impatient and B does it when he sees a rug coming his way. Its their way of expressing their feelings but as I can’t stand the noise either a growl from me usually stops them.

 

[paddy555]

one of mine still does this. He is 18 so you have a way to go yet!!

he does it out of stress. Hates being stabled, never got the hang of it. He was like this at 4 when he came.

Mine was stabled for only 5 mins when their teeth were done. That 5 min delay was because vet had to get his gear out. Teeth were scraping all the time.

He started life living in a field and big barn with a friend wandering. Even with other horses he could never adapt to normal stabling. He now has a run in with a yard and a pony next to him for company. That's all that works.

 

[SEL]

I guess it's probably impatience - he's got the attention span of a toddler in a sweet shop. I think I'm going to get something nasty to put on that door because the noise makes my ears hurt!

He might be teething again. Everything ends up in his mouth at the moment. Need a giant pacifier

 

[Denali]

I know several horses who do this if people aren’t moving fast enough for them. It’s usually from boredom or wanting your attention. Or wanting you to hurry up!

 

[SEL]

I know several horses who do this if people aren’t moving fast enough for them. It’s usually from boredom or wanting your attention. Or wanting you to hurry up!

I was getting ready to turnout so wanting me to hurry up is very likely!

 

[j1ffy]

I agree with the others - it’s usually an attention thing. My 6yo will rub his teeth against the metal bars between stables if I do anything with his older Uncle P next door!

My trainer in Spain has bars on all the stable doors and the horses quickly learn to rub them if they want attention (particularly if they hear English voices as we can’t resist a cuddle ).

 

[tda]

Yes I have two youngsters, sisters who both do it, with them it's definitely attention, maybe low level anxiety

 

[Horseysheepy]

I know several horses who do this if people aren’t moving fast enough for them. It’s usually from boredom or wanting your attention. Or wanting you to hurry up!

I think this is the case with my mare! I'm just not quick enough in her opinion
She'll often scrape her teeth to make me look at her, and she gives me that stare that goes straight through you!!!.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

My Grace used to do it in the mornings if she has been in all night, I can see my stables from my bedroom window and I used to hear her when I was still in bed, it was easier to just get up and chuck her out so I could get back to bed.

She chewed a hole through through the door when on box rest once and the hole is still there and its Louis stable now and he will often have a chew on it as well

 

[Hallo2012]

attention/anxiety-both mine do it when they want to go out asap in the AM and they think I am being slow changing rugs!

 

[clairebearfur1]

My horse done it and took the pain of the door! Made me feel sick lol now there is no paint hes ruined the door!

 

[Tiddlypom]

I feel your pain. The otherwise saintly 17yo IDx gets hangry and impatient at mealtimes or when she's expecting to be turned out to more grazing/hay. She loves her stable otherwise.

The anti weave grid is there purely to reduce her range, but she can still reach a fair way . All that protective anti chew metalwork and she's still made a right mess.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I tried attaching a piece of wood over it to try and stop her doing it and she just ripped it off, she did absolutely hate being in and let you know about it.

 

[Hackback]

He might be teething again. Everything ends up in his mouth at the moment. Need a giant pacifier

I've often thought there would be a market for a horse-sized baby activity center. I'm sure some horses would be occupied for hours - might be a bit noisy though!

 

[SEL]

You're all making me feel a lot better!! They were in overnight for about 10 days when we had that really wet spell and he was no bother. I think it is boredom tbh and just wanting me to hurry up with getting rugs on the girls and turning out. Obviously now he's found something that gets my attention its all very entertaining. I'm going to have to suck up the horrible noise and ignore him until he finds something else.

I've often thought there would be a market for a horse-sized baby activity center. I'm sure some horses would be occupied for hours - might be a bit noisy though!

I think my mares would leave home. They already give me 'a look' sometimes when they've had enough of babysitting!!

 

[Tiddlypom]

The IDx's breeder apparently used a super soaker from a distance to dissuade teeth scrapers/door bangers . I'd be too worried that a horse would injure itself jumping backwards.

 

[Sealine]

We used to have a windsucker on the yard and he had large blue plastic pipe over the top of his door that was too wide for him to get his mouth around. I don't know if that makes sense but unfortunately I don't have a picture. That might work if you wanted to prevent him doing it.

 

[onemoretime]

My mare does this if I'm too slow getting her haynet! She knows my routine and if I sway away from this routine, as in yesterday taking in a parcel for a neighbour en route to getting her net, I hear that cringy sound of teeth grinding across her door!
Im thinking it's an anticipation thing.
But she's basically my boss!

Ive got one like that, very very bossy!