|
|
 Expert
Posts: 5293
  
| I have a horse that tries to chew on his lead rope whole time he is tied up. He averages chewing completely through one about every 2-3 weeks. He also likes to chew on the reins and actually chewed through a few sets almost instantly when I wasn't Paying attention holding him! Reins he can chew through in about 30 seconds of he gets a good bite on a set. Tonight he was getting a bath and I had had enough so I poured shampoo all over his lead rope and he completely left it alone! He got mad and tried to paw instead but no chewing. He is young and probably a race track behavior but I have had enough.
What can I put on lead ropes and reins to teach him not to chew? I don't want to make my tack and stuff sticky either but what can I put on there to teach him a lesson? Thanks! |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1409
Location: Oklahoma | Mine does this also. I have noticed when I have them right they don't chew and I think it can be a nervous habit too. |
|
| |
|
 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| I don't know how you stop them. I don't want to spray anything on my reins or lead ropes either cause then it is all over my hands too. I did see a post from Sheri Cervi that she had lead ropes made that had a chain braided through them so they could not chew through and get loose. Guess she has not found a way to stop them either. I have one that is mouthy because he is young and another that it is nerves and energy. I don't know that I want to make him stop if it helps him get the nerves out so to speak or some kind of release. He gives me the same run every time so I leave him alone. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 5293
| Mine does it out of boredom to. Maybe I will just use the chain idea and keep and eye on reins closer. lol other thing he does is when you go to bridle him he starts to grab what ever part he can as you put the head stall on. Lol could be reins chin strap throat latch etc. lol. Little turd. But like you he is a super nice horse and I will compromise with him to a certain extent and just hope he gets over it. |
|
| |
|
 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: North Dakota | We had a mare at my barn that wouldn't stop chewing on anything that was tying her up. We went through so many lead rope because of her. She never would go anywhere once she was loose till she was able to chew her friends free too. We tried using a chain to tie her up with but then she was still chewing so much on the chain, we were afraid she was going to ruin her teeth. So I got a few black cotton lead ropes and soaked them(I mean SOAKED THEM) in tabassco sauce.... she hasn't touched a lead rope since she got a good mouth full of tabassco sauce a couple times. Every now and then I notice her smelling her lead rope to see if she should chew on it, she hasn't started the habit again yet but I might just have to throw in a tabassco soaked lead rope now and again just to keep the problem from starting again lol. I can't help you on the reins part as she never messed with those.  |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 999
Location: Sunny So Cal | cayenne pepper, works like a charm. I even put it on my horses wraps at night to keep her from tearing them apart. |
|
| |
|
 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I have one that loves to chew, and hes 15 now and still chews.  |
|
| |
|
 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Cowgirl Kat - 2016-06-27 10:25 AM cayenne pepper, works like a charm. I even put it on my horses wraps at night to keep her from tearing them apart.
That's what one of my friends told me, cayenne pepper. Haven't tried it yet, but it would make sense as it works for cats and dogs that get into things they aren't supposed. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 234
| Had one a long time ago that was a chewer. Chewed thru lead ropes in nothing flat and kept the insulation around the drop down windows on the trailer chewed off if you didn't remember to keep them closed. Ladyjockey Dad told me to use the green pompolive dish soap and it worked like a charm. I had already tried all kinds of pepper which the horse seemed to like but I always managed to get in my eyes somehow. I now keep a squeeze bottle in the tack room and only have to use it once or twice on any horse that starts to chew on anything. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 5293
| jbw tx mom - 2016-06-27 11:15 AM
Had one a long time ago that was a chewer. Chewed thru lead ropes in nothing flat and kept the insulation around the drop down windows on the trailer chewed off if you didn't remember to keep them closed. Ladyjockey Dad told me to use the green pompolive dish soap and it worked like a charm. I had already tried all kinds of pepper which the horse seemed to like but I always managed to get in my eyes somehow. I now keep a squeeze bottle in the tack room and only have to use it once or twice on any horse that starts to chew on anything.
Green Palm Olive dish soap it is!!! If it doesn't work I can always use it on Dishes!! lol |
|
| |
|
 Yard Ornament Collector
Location: BFE, Texas | Have you tried Chew Stop ? It was orginally made to put on fences for wood chewers. It comes in a spray bottle or gallon can. |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
| I don't know about reins but I worked for a trainer who had designated tie spots. She tied a lead rope and then tied a knot near the post, cut part of a garden hose and put the lead rope through, knotted it again near the buckle end where the horse couldn't reach the rope. None of hers chewed.
Bit guards will help the rein chewing *a bit.* Other than a drop noseband I can't think of anything else...but I agree, it's super annoying.
|
|
| |
Folks on-line