What would you do? weanling tearing off older horse's fly veil over the fence

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ThreeFurs

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Forumites in the UK might find this post seasonally inappropriate, but I'm in the Antipodes with reversed seasons!

My beloved heart horse who I've had for 14 years, wb PSG schoolmaster gelding about to turn 29, [retired at 23 and glowing with health].

Atm, he's been 6 years now at a lovely local livery, that accepts retirees, 24/7 turn out, with a run in shed, great care, with an equally old companion gelding, but my guy has gotten himself into a pickle by being too accommodating.

Over his fence, is a posh, spoilt wb yearling, who has decided the world's best game is to play bitey face and tear my chap's fly veil off, and dump it by the water trough. Several times daily.

Its very hot here, there are tonnes of flies, [cows next door] and my guy has a history of eye issues; small ulcers, infections, and sinus issues.

My old chap hasn't realised yet that this will lead to 12 or so hours of absolute misery, and infections.

I have a solution - which involves spraying Anti-Crib bite stuff on my guy's fly veil. I could also buy a different style of fly veil, with lycra and bug eyes. But I don't see this as my particular expense, but rather, that of the weanling's owner. Who isn't doing anything except ducking under the fence when shes around, and putting my bloke's veil back on. But thats about once or twice a week.

?
 
Nobody at my livery thinks this is anything other than 'baby behaviour' on the part of the weanling, but I'm like, I know my old horse, I've treated all his previous eye issues, I know what happens when he's attacked by flies and rubs his eyes on his leg. Hey ho, ulcers. And tbh I' actually getting more and more pissed off.
 
I had this issue with my youngster removing my older lad's fly mask - in the end, I ended up putting some crib stop stuff on his mask, it was a total pain in the ass but it worked and he's not tried it since x

I totally understand that it's frustrating, but I'd also look into popping some sort of electric fencing up to deter the weanling from annoying your boy x
 
I'd just buy a different fly mask, circumstances change and we have to adapt to them. As it's your horse who could have the health issues from this I'd do whatever I needed to in order to stop them from happening. Or as others say put up a line of electric to stop them being able to play over the fence.
 
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My gelding's field mate did this continually with his fly mask which was really frustrating & he ended up with eye infections. I don't think you can expect the other owner to do much though.
I tried putting washing up liquid around the outside edges of the mask which worked quite well. I was a bit worried if it got wet there'd be a bubbles & soap all over his face but it didn't.
 
Jenko109 said:
Pop a line of electric up so they cant touch each other.
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Yes! Great idea.
Everyone is getting creative with electric on the property anyway, as we've had such a wet cold winter and spring, the pasture has gone bunta and many of the horses and ponies here need to be strip grazed to avoid lami/EMS flares.

Thank you [pray hands]
 
SnowandSunshine said:
My gelding's field mate did this continually with his fly mask which was really frustrating & he ended up with eye infections. I don't think you can expect the other owner to do much though.
I tried putting washing up liquid around the outside edges of the mask which worked quite well. I was a bit worried if it got wet there'd be a bubbles & soap all over his face but it didn't.
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Thank you! Very imaginative.

I have this stuff -- to go on outside edges and headband of my horse's fly mask ... it does dry quickly, has no capascine [chilli] in it, works for dogs and horses, and can be sprayed on fabric as well as wood. https://josephlyddy.com.au/product/joseph-lyddy-crib-stop-spray/
 
AppyLover1996 said:
I had this issue with my youngster removing my older lad's fly mask - in the end, I ended up putting some crib stop stuff on his mask, it was a total pain in the ass but it worked and he's not tried it since x

I totally understand that it's frustrating, but I'd also look into popping some sort of electric fencing up to deter the weanling from annoying your boy x
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That is such great news -- I have the crib stop stuff. Thank you.
 
Jenko109 said:
I hope the yearling isnt turned out alone. If so, no wonder he is making mischief.
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Yes the yearling is turned out alone ... which makes me so sad too.

There's no really good reason for it either, as there is another same age yearling here on the property that he could be in with. In fact the wb yearling was in together for a while earlier this year with the little same age German Riding Pony yearling, and they played all this time and were good company for each other, but the wb's owner thought the GRP weanling was eating his own and the wb's feed, so they were separated.

Btw the little buckskin GRP who is terribly cute, has already been out to two in-hand shows, came home be-ribboned, knows how to lead, trailer load and lift his feet, and owner and is cute, cheeky, but gentle.

The wb is getting increasingly more difficult. For a while he was paddocked with my old horse's companion gelding, whose a good uncle for young ones but the gelding began to miss my horse terribly, and 'shut down' so now they, thank god, are back together and the wb yearling is by himself.

Honestly, their social lives are way more complicated than mine. x
 
It's nobody's "fault." It's natural behaviour for geldings to play, your gelding is just as complicit in the play as the yearling. I had a similar issue with one of my geldings who played over the fence with a neighbour. My boy wore fly sheets and the other gelding tore all the straps off the neck, he would also remove fly masks. It was very annoying (and expensive). Electric fence was my solution, as others have suggested. I feel sorry for the solo yearling though.
 
AppyLover1996 said:
I had this issue with my youngster removing my older lad's fly mask - in the end, I ended up putting some crib stop stuff on his mask, it was a total pain in the ass but it worked and he's not tried it since x

I totally understand that it's frustrating, but I'd also look into popping some sort of electric fencing up to deter the weanling from annoying your boy x
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Ok! Appy, I have applied the crib stop spray just now, to the uppermost surface of the headpiece of the fly mask, and to the upperside edges that run over the back of the cheekbone, and the velcro tabs under the chin. Luckily its a windy day, so the spray dried quickly. Put it back on my boy, fingers crossed.

The head piece strap is actually really frayed and shredded almost by teeth, so that's where the yearling is grabbing it. Another annoyance, since I use the vet-recommended 'Wild Horse' 3 dart mask, and they're $60 AUD a throw.

Anyway we will see how it goes. Am feeling supported, so thanks everyone for your input.
 
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