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       Location: midwest mama | I have a gelding that is coming back from an injury and because of this he has to wear bell boots whenever he is turned out. It doesn't matter what kind I put on him - no turn, rubber gum with velcro, rubber pull ons, etc., he wears them for about half a day and then starts chewing on them.
What he does is stand there and pluck/pull at them with his teeth until he shreds them and tears them off. He does the same thing with wraps.
Anyone have any ideas on what I can do short of putting a muzzle on him to make him stop? It's making me insane, and is breaking the bank!  |
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
       Location: Opelousas, LA | I have one like that, Rap Last kinda works but if he can get to a spot that doesn't have it all bets are off. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 618
 
| Have a gelding that took his BOT off with his teeth, I just gave up |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
              Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I've been using duck tape helps for a while, lol |
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The Advice Guru
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| He is probably chewing them as they are uncomfortable. The wraps keep heat in, and they probably become itchy.
I would be reevaluating why they need to be on, and if there is another alternative |
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       Location: midwest mama | cheryl makofka - 2016-04-21 10:21 PM
He is probably chewing them as they are uncomfortable. The wraps keep heat in, and they probably become itchy.
I would be reevaluating why they need to be on, and if there is another alternative
I'm not wrapping his legs anymore - now he just has to wear the bell boots. I have no choice as he has to have them on when he is turned out........or he can't go out. |
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 Expert
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| Could you spray somethin on there that wouldn't be tasty? Maybe vinegar? I'm not sure how that would last with him being turned out but maybe after a few times he'd get it! |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
           Location: Kansas | There is a bitter chew spray you can buy at TSC i believe. It tastes horrible (got it in my mouth once and vomited). Or if you do need a muzzle, I have a grazing muzzle you are welcome to have. None of my horses need it anymore since my daughters big appy was put down and it was for him. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 310
   Location: North Dakota | Whenever we had a horse on the track that would chew on their wraps, we'd rub some Orvus shampoo on them. If you're wrapping with vet wrap, it won't hurt anything. But it pulled double duty when we would use standing bandages, as they would get sprayed off after use and the shampoo would help clean them. |
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 Elite Veteran
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| cheryl makofka - 2016-04-21 8:21 PM
He is probably chewing them as they are uncomfortable. The wraps keep heat in, and they probably become itchy.
I would be reevaluating why they need to be on, and if there is another alternative
this- if you read all the manufacturer's instructions (at least PC and Classic) it says they aren't designed for turn out/stall rest/lay-up. They are probably bothering him.
That being said, when I worked at a tack/feed store we sold this "neck cage" thing that went around the base of the neck up to the throatlatch area and kept the horse from biting the wraps. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
       Location: North Dakota | OldSchoolCowgirl - 2016-04-22 1:18 AM cheryl makofka - 2016-04-21 10:21 PM He is probably chewing them as they are uncomfortable. The wraps keep heat in, and they probably become itchy. I would be reevaluating why they need to be on, and if there is another alternative I'm not wrapping his legs anymore - now he just has to wear the bell boots. I have no choice as he has to have them on when he is turned out........or he can't go out.
Can I ask what injury he has/had that he HAS to have on bell boots for turnout? I guess I can't think of a reason why that would be the case. Can you explain? |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
 
| how about a plastic muzzle.
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       Location: midwest mama | r_beau - 2016-04-22 3:18 PM
OldSchoolCowgirl - 2016-04-22 1:18 AM cheryl makofka - 2016-04-21 10:21 PM He is probably chewing them as they are uncomfortable. The wraps keep heat in, and they probably become itchy. I would be reevaluating why they need to be on, and if there is another alternative I'm not wrapping his legs anymore - now he just has to wear the bell boots. I have no choice as he has to have them on when he is turned out........or he can't go out.
Can I ask what injury he has/had that he HAS to have on bell boots for turnout? I guess I can't think of a reason why that would be the case. Can you explain?
He frayed a tendon that goes down the back of his leg into his foot. The frayed part is actually in the foot. He has special therapeutic aluminum shoes with pads on now, and my vet wants me to keep the bell boots on him to help keep him from grabbing a shoe and yanking it off while he is turned out.
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
       Location: North Dakota | OldSchoolCowgirl - 2016-04-24 5:24 PM
r_beau - 2016-04-22 3:18 PM
OldSchoolCowgirl - 2016-04-22 1:18 AM cheryl makofka - 2016-04-21 10:21 PM He is probably chewing them as they are uncomfortable. The wraps keep heat in, and they probably become itchy. I would be reevaluating why they need to be on, and if there is another alternative I'm not wrapping his legs anymore - now he just has to wear the bell boots. I have no choice as he has to have them on when he is turned out........or he can't go out.
Can I ask what injury he has/had that he HAS to have on bell boots for turnout? I guess I can't think of a reason why that would be the case. Can you explain?
He frayed a tendon that goes down the back of his leg into his foot. The frayed part is actually in the foot. He has special therapeutic aluminum shoes with pads on now, and my vet wants me to keep the bell boots on him to help keep him from grabbing a shoe and yanking it off while he is turned out.
I know that some people will advocate doing bell boots for turnout to prevent pulling a shoe .... But if you really think about it, the amount of force that is required to bend or pull a shoe is NOT going to be stopped by a bell boot. Sure, you might save a flesh injury but shoes can always be reset. Personally, I don't see the bell boots as a deal breaker (no turnout if he can't keep them on). Turn him out and let him be a horse! The more you coop him up, he'll be more prone to "going crazy" when you do let him loose. His injury is being treated with shoes ... Not the bell boots.
IMO, anyway. |
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 Thick and Wavy
Posts: 6102
   Location: Nebraska | I would try that chew stop spray or hot sauce. I have a mare that needs bells on all the time. I buy them big so they aren't right up against her skin. I've never had an issue with them being too hot. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
  
| OldSchoolCowgirl - 2016-04-24 6:24 PM
r_beau - 2016-04-22 3:18 PM
OldSchoolCowgirl - 2016-04-22 1:18 AM cheryl makofka - 2016-04-21 10:21 PM He is probably chewing them as they are uncomfortable. The wraps keep heat in, and they probably become itchy. I would be reevaluating why they need to be on, and if there is another alternative I'm not wrapping his legs anymore - now he just has to wear the bell boots. I have no choice as he has to have them on when he is turned out........or he can't go out.
Can I ask what injury he has/had that he HAS to have on bell boots for turnout? I guess I can't think of a reason why that would be the case. Can you explain?
He frayed a tendon that goes down the back of his leg into his foot. The frayed part is actually in the foot. He has special therapeutic aluminum shoes with pads on now, and my vet wants me to keep the bell boots on him to help keep him from grabbing a shoe and yanking it off while he is turned out.
My mare had a similar thing (she was a doll and never messed with hers, and it was for a different reason). If she were to have stepped on the shoe while playing in the pasture, it would likely have ripped her whole hoof off with the shoe. These were some HEAVY duty things that really worked well, took her from 90% lame to 100% sound in just a few days. We would never take the bells off of her. And yes, I have had bells prevent shoes from being pulled off before. |
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