stop horse eating reins

fidleyspromise

fidleyspromise

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Hi, any ideas on stopping horse biting his reins? He grabs them by the buckle and chews them.
It is impractical to stand with him all the time to keep him from eating them.
 
fidleyspromise said:
Hi, any ideas on stopping horse biting his reins? He grabs them by the buckle and chews them.
It is impractical to stand with him all the time to keep him from eating them.
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Is he a youngster? My 6 year old mare is a terror for doing this, so I have to either twist them into the throat lash or put a head collar back on over the bridle if she is waiting around before being ridden.
 
StarcatcherWilliam said:
Is he a youngster? My 6 year old mare is a terror for doing this, so I have to either twist them into the throat lash or put a head collar back on over the bridle if she is waiting around before being ridden.
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I always thought it was best to twizzel or knot them anyway to stop them getting them over their heads and standing on them?
 
I guess you've tried the usual ruse of putting them under the stirrup leathers of the saddle on both sides. By the sounds of your description it is the buckle at the bit end that is getting chewed? If so I wonder if a couple of large rubber bit guards would help disuade him/her? Another way of using up rein length is to twist them into a couple of large loops and put back over the head - perhaps held by a neck strap on a martingale or the throat lash as mentioned, but I don't think this will hold them as tight as putting them under the stirrup leathers on the saddle.
 
I'm confused as to when you mean he chews them? If its when he's not being ridden then he shouldn't be able to chew them, either headcollar over & tied up or reins twisted through throatlash. But the only safe way to do it is doing both the above, & tying where there is nothing to catch it on. Even the safest, most well mannered horse can have a quick scratch & either end up stuck on something or stood on them.
 
fidleyspromise said:
Hi, any ideas on stopping horse biting his reins? He grabs them by the buckle and chews them.
It is impractical to stand with him all the time to keep him from eating them.
Click to expand...

Put Cribbox or No chew or something similar on them? Washing up liquid might do the job too. Make it unpleasant for him when he can reach them. (Swap to a cheap or rope set of reins if you think it might ruin yours)

Take his bridle/reins off? Use snap on reins - easy to unclip.
 
Are they reins with a buckle rather than billet hook? If so I can see how even if tied up correctly they could be loose enough at the side of the bit to be got at and chewed by a persistent nibbler - so I'd probably apply cribstop with a sponge over the ends being careful to not get it on the bit and being careful when putting the bridle on and off to avoid getting the cribstop onmy hands/on the bit
 
I think the OP means the buckle at the bit end, instead of billets. I had a horse that did this, it's extremely frustrating. Can't offer any advice though, he still did it when I sold him - sorry!
 
Thanks everyone - sorry been at work so OP was hurried.
Its a friends horse and he's about 12yrs old - so not a baby.

It's when he's stood tied up, as she keeps him tied up while she gets her son sorted on his pony, so they are looped round the stirrups for the two minutes she sorts son, before getting on herself. :)


It is at the bit end (and I'm sure its buckles she's got) Will check and will give her several suggestions from here :) Thanks everyone.

(Quick stop at house - off to ponies now).
 
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