Youngster mouthing leadrope and picking up objects to throw

[jackscrag]

Hi my just turned 3 yr old cob gelding who ive only had 6wks seems to have an obcession with playing games with his mouth ..when in stable you cant leave anything and i mean anything lying about or hung up in his stable for 5 mins alst he'll of picked it up and chucked it clear over his stable door

, he's like lightening you name it he's thrown it !!, brushes, head collars, lead ropes, rugs, even bottles of disinfectant, etc. ive had 2 move everything!! The next time he came in and everything had gone he had a quick look round then laughed for ages as if to say ha you've moved it

, he's got turnout now so isnt in as much but he likes to grab his leadrope when walking also and when i put his bridle on his chinstrap is in his mouth in seconds before ive had chance to do it up : o he doesnt chew on his rope/bridle just clamps em in his mouth with a contented look on his face i know he's a baby but is he playing games ?? or should i stop him now ?? he's got a lick it etc in stable
jackiebx

 

[Tempi]

DONT LET HIM DO IT! IMO its bad manners

 

[Shilasdair]

Hi
He's a baby, and young horses are often mouthy, especially boys. Remove temptation, and discourage him from grabbing leadropes etc if possible. As he's three it would be worth having his teeth checked for any problems such as wolf teeth, etc, and remember he is still teeting...getting his adult teeth threw so maybe a bit uncomfortable at times.
But I agree with PG above - you shouldn't let youngsters get into the habit of doing anything you wouldn't want an adult to do...
S

 

[Shilasdair]

Sorry, meant 'adult teeth through'
S

 

[Theresa_F]

Mine is the same age and exactly the same. He just loves to play with everything.

I remove leadropes etc immediately when he gets hold of them as this is bad manners. He is told "no" and he now knows the word "mine" which means leave it you little bugger.

I make it clear as to what is his and what is not to be touched.

When tied up, I remove everything as he will chew, pick up and kick and paw anything he can get to.

In return he has lots of toys, lickit holders from the ceiling, tongue twisters, salt blocks, balls to play with, logs in the field to kick and kill. He loves a traffic cone and old feed sacks to trample.

They have a lot going on in their mouths at this age, which is why I have his teeth regularly checked and make sure he has things to chew - they also are very curious.

 

[Tia]

The field is the place to allow them to play with things; I find putting a rubber bucket in the field provides hours of entertainment to my youngsters who are teething. However when I take them out of the field, I expect them to stand tied up for as long as I choose without them fiddling with anything. It's not acceptable to me for them to do this I'm afraid.

 

[lizzieuk1]

i think its a bit harsh not to let them mouth anything at that age, would you stop a baby having a teething ring?
agree they have to learn to leave things that are not for chewing but if you take things away you should give other options in the stable and field so they can teeth happily.
mine is also quite a nibbler if allowed, i tend to tie him up shorter so they're out of reach when i'm grooming etc.

 

[darksecret99]

Teach him not to ASAP!

My horse was obviously never taught and he still does this and he is nearly 5! Its so irritating and will take him longer to unlearn now cos he has been allowed to do it so long....

 

[Solstar]

my horse mouths his leadrope constantly. he doesnt chew it, just kinda sucks it. hel also suck rugs if there on the door, grooming brushes, whips, anything really. i dont find it a problem cos it doesnt hurt or anything, but if he was chewing stuff or throwing it hed be told off. the only bad bit about it is that hes 11.

 

[jackscrag]

Im geting his teeth checked in next few weeks he's fine with the bit not a prob, i think its his age like one of you have said yours is same age and the same, but i will stop him grabbing the lead rope etc and when he does come back in in winter give him lots 2 play with
thanks for your quick replys all
jackiebx

 

[filly190]

Dont worry, they grow out of it. I would just be careful, thats all. I personally love to see young horses exploring and playing and I feel it helps them a lot in later life.

If you correct him, it takes away the natural curious instinict and he could loose his baby boldness of having a nosey at things. Instead, he could then become afraid.

Its a perfect time to get him walking over things and russling bag etc, it all helps for when they start their road work. Young horses are so lovely, no bad experiences etc and you can build from his love of playing, helping him to become bomb proof.

As for chewing lead ropes etc, I would let him. As long as he is'nt being bad mannered, nipping etc.

 

[ColleenIsh]

At 3 yrs of age he should have manners and understand the word no .

Missy is a yearling and she is gradually being told no , At the minute she likes to chew the leadrope and thats not a good thing when we are in the show ring and she decides that she wants to chew the leather leadrein , not on in my books .


Like tia said , let them have their fun in the field with a rubber bucket or ball but they should have manners when tied up .

 

[joanne1920]

my 3 year old chews everything too, hes just playful, he tries to chew the leadrope but i dont let him, but if we stand talking to someone with him stood beside me, he will get impatient and pull on the rope with his teeth. this morning i was trying to put sun block on his nose - hard wrk as its burnt and he doesnt want me to touch it - when i turnt round to pick up his feed bucket to find him with the tube in his mouth, he wouldt let go, he thought it was great fun me chasing him round to get it off him! his feet goes everywhere too, water troughs in the f ield, water bucket in stable, oh and feed tastes so much better tipped out trodden on and put on the stable floor! he also fidgets when tied up too... he's learning to behave but just slowly... my shetland turnt out ok and my 3 year olds being treated almost the same way... although i will be trying parelli/monty roberts stuff with him as he's learnt he so much stronger than me and get get his own way by pulling or shoving hard

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