Stabled Yearling

[clairec1154]

My yearling gelding (19 months) is being stabled for the first time this winter and he is the dirtest horse I have ever seen!

I have tried deep bed, and minimal bed on rubber mats and he just trashes the bed. He has windows between the stable and can see my other 2 geldings, ad lib haylage and stable toys. He sleeps alot as he is always "green" and covered in bedding in the morning yet he walks the bed around the stable.

Can anyone give me some advice on managing his stable. Is this typical yearling gelding behaviour and will he grow out of it?

 

[splash30]

It could just be the change in routine he will prob settle down, as he is used to walking in the field to be suddenly restricted will take him some time to adjust, my youngster thinks banks are for digging esp if he is one second late to go out to play

 

[V1NN]

my 18month has got used to his new routine now but to start with he wasnt happy, i semi deep litter him a thin layer of deep litter and then a massive clean bed on top and its right to the door i give up with bankings coz he just pulls them to the ground he has a boredom breaker, and a munch station in the corner x

 

[Gooby]

Could you put him on rubber matting with just a thin layer of shavings so you can just take it all out in the morning. Only effective way I've found to deal with the messy boys I've had otherwise Id be going through about 4 bags of shavings a week.

 

[Theresa_F]

Stinky was first stabled at 16 months overnight and he was the same - hay dragged into the bed, crapped everywhere, tipped water buckets over, peed everywhere - hence how he got his name.

The following winter, having been out all summer he was a different little horse, poo at the back, pee in one spot, water stayed put and yes, he still likes to drag hay, is not as bad. He is now very easy to do, and has kept with his new "tidy" mode.

On his first filthy winter, I changed from shavings to megazorb to soak up the water, pee and let the bed set hard so poo could be lifted off the top - he was still a little troll, but life was easier.

This year I have started with wood pellets, and have to say that so far I have been delighted with them, though the real test will be when Farra runs out of megazorb and goes onto them. Unfortunately she is just a big dirty mare - pees a galleon at a time, on ad lib hay with the consequence results.

Hopefully he will improve, and not be like Farra - she was stabled for the first time last year as a 4 year old, and this year as a 5 year old is still as horrible.

 

[clairec1154]

Thanks for the support and advice.

I have to say I changed from wood pellets to megazorb in september. I did wood pellets for 6 horses last year (the yearling was turned out with his mother) and during the summer when they came in during the day. The bed got very dusty and never looked clean. One of the big boys ended up with a eye infection which we thought was down to the bedding as he always seemed to have it stuck in his eyes after a good sleep!

I will keep my fingers crossed that the dirty yearling will improve and hopefully next year I won't be bankrupt from the cost of bedding and I will stop smelling like the mens public loos!!