TB Biting the Fence and wood???

[Clipperdown]

Hi all just would like some advice??

My 10 year old tb has recently in the past month started biting and chewing at wood and the fence rails. He is not sucking up air he is just eating the splinters of wood. Today i went to see him to find his mouth covered in blood??? It looks like he has cut the inside of his mouth biting at the fence.

His only change in diet is he is now out on grass, where as before he had haylage thoughout the winter, he is turned out 24/7 all year round.

He seems to do a lot more when I tie him up in the school? Although I saw him pick a branch off a tree up and begin biting it in the field the other day. but this may be due to me only seeing him at these times.

I have tried a lick it for when he is tied up and also a hay net and he still seems to want to bite the wood.

I have been reading that it can be due to a lack of vitamins and minerals in the diet???

Just wondering if anyone knows of anything I can do before he gets any worse or injures himself any more.

Any help gratefully received.......

 

[JoBird]

I think I can solve this for you very cheaply! Leave out a pile of straw or some tree branches. Grass is just so waterey and he just needs more coarse fibre. Mine have been eating a lot of straw out of choice after being out on good grass. I am sure that will solve the problem. I am sure the grass has more than adequate nutrients they just need the variety of substance!
x

 

[BSJAlove]

or if you can, put electric fencing at the top of the posts.

 

[Ali27]

My mare started chewing fence posts at my old yard but stopped as soon as I started feeding her a balancer!

 

[Clipperdown]

Thanks for the suggestion, will give them a try? Was going to buy something to put on the fence to try and stop him. I think it may be down to boardom while he is being groomed, tacked up ect... iv been giving him a hay net recentley to try and distract him.. Is their any other toys ect i could give a try as reallly want to try and stop this?