Teaching a horse to pee in a bucket - have you? How?

[now_loves_mares]

As I have mares (not that you'd guess from my username!) they are quite wet. I use mats and cardboard bedding, but as they seem to semi-pee on a routine, I figure I can catch at least one a day in bucket!

One tends to pee just when she comes in, but usually when my back is turned! The other has a v annoying habit of peeing as she hears me coming across the yard in the morning (they are kept at home). Honestly, could she not wait 5 minutes LOL)

Any tips you can share?

 

[merlinsquest]

I just used to bring merlin in and stand with a bucket poised whilst whistleing......

When he did his duty he got a reward

He will now pee on command.... but its of limited use as he lives out all year round

But at least we can do it

Cant say I would fancy catching mares pee though... its not a nice thin stream like a gelding.... more like Niagra Falls !!!

 

[hellybelly6]

I deliberately got my horse used to peeing in a bucket, just in case one day I needed a sample. The day I needed a sample, it paid off.

My horse usually pees on a clean bed, so I had the bucket ready and a good book. When he did his wee stance, I quickly, but not suddenly stood up, got the bucket and put it underneath the business end and voila. He then got a treat and has been fine ever since.

If your horse is shy, try collecting droppings in a bucket first to ahem, break the ice.

I also do it because once I have mucked out and he goes and christens his bed, he can have a nice clean bed for a bit longer.

Yes, I am mad and deranged, but at least I am happy!!

 

[Booboos]

Also you can teach the horse to pee on command. Every time you see her pee, say your word for pee, e.g. "toilet", eventually she will associate the two (I had to teach R to encourage him to pee BEFORE dressage tests and not AFTER, otherwise he spent the whole test groaning!).

Put some bedding in the bucket so that the pee does not splash and make a sound, or else she might be put off.

 

[Honeybee]

WHY???? Why? Why? would you like to do this

 

[Chico Mio]

Agree with MQ - wear a mac and sou'wester if you are thinking of catching mare's pee

My FB always pees before he eats - so when he sees his food bucket coming across the yard. I bet I could clicker train him to go on command if I wanted to.

 

[now_loves_mares]

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WHY???? Why? Why? would you like to do this

[/ QUOTE ]

Well obviously it's not the kind of thing a normal, well adusted (never been near a horse!) person would do, but I like the idea of saving money on bedding

 

[Honeybee]

Have two horses and love saving money!!
I’m not being mean but they are horses not circus animals.. Well we are all different.....

 

[now_loves_mares]

[ QUOTE ]
Agree with MQ - wear a mac and sou'wester if you are thinking of catching mare's pee

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL well I spend half my life in waterproofs anyway, so I reckon I'm safe

 

[now_loves_mares]

Umm no they aren't - but pretty much everything we teach them is a response to a command, so not sure how it's any different? Move forward when I apply my leg here, turn right when I put pressure on this rein, move backward when I give the command, walk into this trailer even though it's against your natural suspicion of enclosed spaces, etc etc.

Anyway I don't think they'll care so long as they get fed

 

[kerilli]

my girls will do this, it's easier to teach mares than geldings, i've found (geldings can get a bit shy about the bucket being held under them!). as above, have bucket ready (!) and whistle, and many will do it as soon as you bring them in. give polo after to ensure repeat performances!
as to why anyone would do this - to save bedding and prevent having smelly stables in the summer...
btw, the wee is a fairly good weedkiller...!

 

[goneshowjumping]

[ QUOTE ]

btw, the wee is a fairly good weedkiller...!

[/ QUOTE ]

horse wee...... a weed killer!!! wow, i learn so much off this forum, im off to collect some wee!!!

 

[251libby]

never taught her.....but if I leave her feed bucket in her stable over night (it's one of those bendy black tire ones) it's full with pee in the morning! I've only left it in there twice but both times it's been filled.
I catch her pee in a bucket once in a blue moon so I know I can if necessary

 

[Booboos]

[ QUOTE ]
WHY???? Why? Why? would you like to do this

[/ QUOTE ]

The first time your vet asks you for a urine sample you'll be really glad you taught them!

 

[now_loves_mares]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

btw, the wee is a fairly good weedkiller...!

[/ QUOTE ]

horse wee...... a weed killer!!! wow, i learn so much off this forum, im off to collect some wee!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

ROFL! I now have a vision of us all religiously tipping wee all about our garden! I already use the muckheap to fertilise

Re rewarding them afterward, the only problem I forsee with this is that they both have polo-radar. If I have them in my pocket, I'll need arm extensions as all they'll do is surgically attach their noses to my pockets

We'll look like we're performing a complicated scottish country dance as we follow each other around and around and around until one of us falls down (me I suspect)

Boobos thanks. I must confess my rationale was rather less altruistic, but it's a good point and now I can feel I'm benefitting their health

 

[boneo]

I once read an article about stable management in the early 19th Centuary when people understood horses and stable management, and when labour was cheap. It stated it was possible to train a horse to stale when required, thus never having to change a horse's bed. It involved having a staw bed area outside, and bringing the horses out at a certain time each day, to allow them to perform their natural functions. In a well ordered yard, the stable bed could remain in situ for months! It makes you think!

 

[Booboos]

There is also a mini who has been trained as a seeing horse for the blind and is house trained. She will either wait until taken outside to a specific spot, or she can ring a bell to ask to be taken outside.

 

[Fiona]

Have semi succesfully 'pee-trained' a gelding and a mare. Both like to pee on a clean bed as soon as they come in, and get a treat afterwards. Mare particularly is v good, and usually will wait in the morning until OH has bucket ready before she lets rip.

She can pee more than half a bucket at once, so its definitely worth trying to catch it. Her bed only needs about 2/3 of a bale per week in it.

Other mare is a stinker so haven't even tried with her as there is no common factor. She doesn't mind the bucket per se, which is useful occasionally when she tries to pee when in the lorry.

Fiona

 

[kerilli]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
WHY???? Why? Why? would you like to do this

[/ QUOTE ]

The first time your vet asks you for a urine sample you'll be really glad you taught them!

[/ QUOTE ]

i second this, a friend waited for 5 hours for his horse to give a urine sample - every time they tried to collect it, he stopped. not nice (or fair on horse) after a 4* xc...

 

[HollyB66]

[ QUOTE ]
Cant say I would fancy catching mares pee though... its not a nice thin stream like a gelding.... more like Niagra Falls !!!

[/ QUOTE ]

My mare is not 'trained' to pee on command, but she pees on her fresh bed as soon as she comes in each evening. So, we now catch it each night in an old washing up bowl part filled with used shavings. We get 1/2 to 3/4 of a bowl full - over a year we should save a few shavings

But, it's just like a hose pipe - nothing like Niagra Falls - thank goodness for that!!!!

 

[tashpritty]

oh, this post is interesting!

i work on a commerical yard (all geldings) and before any horse works we take them to stale. as a habit and so they dont work with a full bladder.

but i must say ive never though of catching it!, it would save some mucking out the next day!

even though one of our horses does insist as soon as he sees the bride to decide now is toilet time! lol