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| Our 16yo mare has just started chewing on our barn in the past week or so. She has never done this before (that we have noticed). Nothing has changed in our routine. In the morning they are let out for the day with hay. In the evening they are stalled for the night with hay and feed. It looks as if she is doing it throughout the night, possibly after finishing her feed/hay.
I know there are preventative things I can look into which I am planning on doing but I am a little concerned with this behavior starting out of nowhere. I have done a little research and have found that sometimes this can be common in colder/wet times of the year. I am in S. FL and we have recently been going through some wet weather with cold fronts. I have not noticed any of my other horses doing this.
Any info or suggestions are appreciated!!
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Hungarian Midget Woman
 
Location: Midwest | Get a slow feeder hay bag if you do not have one already. :) |
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| Yes, thank you! That is one thing I planned to pick up today.
But what I am more concerned about is the fact that she has never done this before...worried that she might be trying to tell me something is wrong..? Not sure if wood chewing is a sign of anything? Or if she is simply just bored.
I noticed this morning a part of the barn that is not part of her stall with some chewing on it…something she cannot reach from her stall, which would mean she is chewing while out during the day. Unless the horse in that stall is chewing also which is highly doubtful.
Edited by Rustynailfl 2014-02-19 8:35 AM
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | Mine would do it from boredom, or if he did not have hay in front of him 24/7. I think it is a "grazing" thing. |
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| barrelracr131 - 2014-02-19 9:37 AM
Mine would do it from boredom, or if he did not have hay in front of him 24/7. I think it is a "grazing" thing.
Thank you, im a bit of a worrywart :)  |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 551
Location: NE WY | I've had horses throughout the years just randomly take to chewing wood. Seems like somedays you go out to the barn and half a post is gone for no apparent reason...then get them to stop and never see them do it again, or maybe start again in a few years.
I always went and bought them a fresh salt block/mineral block too, just kind of thinking maybe if they had some excess chewing/licking energy, we could entise them to use it in a more productive way. And, you might freak out, but I have always just used diesel (can also mix in some cayenne pepper for a very persistant chewer) and just paint the wood surface with it. |
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| I said Whoa - 2014-02-19 9:57 AM
I've had horses throughout the years just randomly take to chewing wood. Seems like somedays you go out to the barn and half a post is gone for no apparent reason...then get them to stop and never see them do it again, or maybe start again in a few years.
I always went and bought them a fresh salt block/mineral block too, just kind of thinking maybe if they had some excess chewing/licking energy, we could entise them to use it in a more productive way. And, you might freak out, but I have always just used diesel (can also mix in some cayenne pepper for a very persistant chewer) and just paint the wood surface with it.
I have heard of the diesel, and also used motor oil..? Not only makes a nice stain but also supposedly helps to keep them from chewing. I'll be sure to pick up a block while I’m at it. Thanks! |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | my horse does it and I think he is just being rotten. he bites on the posts outside of his stall when I walk into the barn to feed and then when im going to bring him in for feeding. bought him a lick-it and it has pretty much stopped.
eta: he also gets plenty of hay for him to get through the night and salt and mineral blocks. I have been told when horses are chewing/eating wood they are missing something in their diet... not sure if it holds any weight but, may be worth looking into if you're real worried.
Edited by Crowned Image 2014-02-19 9:43 AM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1100
Location: Southeastern Idaho | I said Whoa - 2014-02-19 7:57 AM
I've had horses throughout the years just randomly take to chewing wood. Seems like somedays you go out to the barn and half a post is gone for no apparent reason...then get them to stop and never see them do it again, or maybe start again in a few years.
I always went and bought them a fresh salt block/mineral block too, just kind of thinking maybe if they had some excess chewing/licking energy, we could entise them to use it in a more productive way. And, you might freak out, but I have always just used diesel (can also mix in some cayenne pepper for a very persistant chewer) and just paint the wood surface with it.
I do this same thing...wood chewing makes me nuts. even with loose mineral in front of some of mine they will still chew when bored. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 596
Location: Somewhere in the middle of nowhere | My mare started doing this to some wood panels we put up as a wind break for her....my SO said since she didn't appreciate the wind break and wasn't crapping logs for us to burn, there wasn't a need to keep it there and we took it all down. |
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
| I've decided that any future buildings or repairs will NOT use wood. I designed a nice run in using concrete block with wood only in the rafters to hold up the roof. I've heard the argument against steel frames, but considering how fast the horses can eat down a run in, the steel will last longer. So maybe steel frame and vinyl siding or corrugated vinyl will work just fine too. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | i heard or read that its a sign of ulcers..........
m |
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| mruggles - 2014-02-19 2:25 PM
i heard or read that its a sign of ulcers..........
m
I have also heard this before I believe.
I have had her on Ulc-R-Aid by Animed for the past few months..not because she showed any signs really before, more as a preventative since I was already giving it to my gelding who showed signs.
Could putting her on this actually hurt her? They both get 2 Tbsp daily.
Thanks! |
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Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | Rustynailfl - 2014-02-20 12:34 PM mruggles - 2014-02-19 2:25 PM i heard or read that its a sign of ulcers..........
m I have also heard this before I believe. I have had her on Ulc-R-Aid by Animed for the past few months..not because she showed any signs really before, more as a preventative since I was already giving it to my gelding who showed signs. Could putting her on this actually hurt her? They both get 2 Tbsp daily. Thanks!
m
Edited by mruggles 2014-02-19 2:30 PM
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| I noticed that she is also dropping her feed, probably needs her teeth done for sure. Would this cause one to start chewing?
Thanks again!
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Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | Rustynailfl - 2014-02-20 1:44 PM I noticed that she is also dropping her feed, probably needs her teeth done for sure. Would this cause one to start chewing? Thanks again!
it very well could.......
good luck
m |
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| mruggles - 2014-02-19 3:56 PM
Rustynailfl - 2014-02-20 1:44 PM I noticed that she is also dropping her feed, probably needs her teeth done for sure. Would this cause one to start chewing? Thanks again!
it very well could.......
good luck
m
Thank you, I will get that done first and go from there.
Thanks again everyone!! |
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Wood Chewing