youngsters and chewing wood

Possibly just boredom. Is it the posts just by the gate as she waits to be brought in? Youngster that I used to have would chew fence gate post as she waited to be brought in (especially in winter)
 
joulsey said:
Possibly just boredom. Is it the posts just by the gate as she waits to be brought in? Youngster that I used to have would chew fence gate post as she waited to be brought in (especially in winter)
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Im not sure as I havent seen her do it in the field but there is fresh marks but it could be another horse that does crib, I have witnessed her doing it in the stable though.

She comes in at least 3 times during the week for a groom and sometimes a play and always goes for a walk at the weekend or we do something. Its hard to keep them amused at this time of year.

Spot_On said:
What is she fed?
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She gets a scoop of speedi beet, scoop of alfa a molasses free chaff, tub scoop of D&H youngstock and tub scoop suregrow (miniature size flexi tub scoop of youngstock and suregrow)
 
it depends how much she is doing it? all of the youngsters ive known have been very ‘mouthy’ and chewed wood or anything else they could explore with their teeth to a certain extent.
 
NeverSeenSanta said:
it depends how much she is doing it? all of the youngsters ive known have been very ‘mouthy’ and chewed wood or anything else they could explore with their teeth to a certain extent.
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Its not constant, just every so often. She tries to bit my jacket, brush or anything else that might be in her way. Someone else said their youngster went through a stage of doing this also. Shes only a year and a half.
 
Horses do love to browse, and I sometimes wonder whether they are self medicating, or getting something that is lacking in a diet - trees and woody hedge plants are deeper rooted than grass, so probably contain more minerals. Most horses love a big branch if it is put in the field for them, and seem especially to chew it in late winter. I wouldn't worry but protect any wood that is a problem if it gets damaged with Cribox or something else nasty tasting - but give an alternative chew toy!
 
Nudibranch said:
Youngsters often go through a mouthy stage. The one I have at the moment started his at 13 months and is just starting to come out of it at 2 1/2.
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She is very mouthy at the moment, its like a child, I cant leave anything near her or she has it in her mouth.

JillA said:
Horses do love to browse, and I sometimes wonder whether they are self medicating, or getting something that is lacking in a diet - trees and woody hedge plants are deeper rooted than grass, so probably contain more minerals. Most horses love a big branch if it is put in the field for them, and seem especially to chew it in late winter. I wouldn't worry but protect any wood that is a problem if it gets damaged with Cribox or something else nasty tasting - but give an alternative chew toy!
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She does have a jolly ball but hasnt been too interested, I think I will get something that she can chew on like a treat ball or something, so save parts of my stable.

Do they chew cause their mouth is in pain due to change??
 
My youngster went through chewing phases everytime he was teething. He never chews now so I wouldn't worry too much. I always gave him large branches to chew on so the fencing wasn't distroyed......he liked stripping bark too. Good luck
 
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