Need help for a chewer please

MommaKayc · 10-21-2009, 10:32 PM

I have been working with curly and his tying. He's doing pretty good and will stand over an hour now and not move around to much but he has discovered that the lead rope that holds him tastes good. He's already ruined one lead rope and started working on another.

He's always been a chewer. In his stall, being led around, the bit, wood, etc.

During the winter I have them stalled because of the mud more than the cold but Curly gets to the point of chewing on his stall. I've tried toys but he's just not a toy type horse. Thankfully it's not to bad stall wise. Just usually when it's flooding out the lower parts of the field and I have them in for a day or 2. However he chews on the lead rope almost every time he's on it. If we stop for a couple minutes to long he's after something or another to chew on. Including my sleeve and the lead rope.

Now that he's on the tree for quiet time he's really chewing the lead ropes up. I've taking to putting it over the tree limb but he just chews on the part that's comes out of the tie ring (old snaffle bit cut in half and ground down) to his halter.

He chews on his bit. He always has so I was told to get him a bit with a copper (think that's what it is) roller so I did. He's chewed on it until his teeth are brown and there are chew marks all over the rollers (1 on each side).

What can I do to stop him from chewing up the lead ropes? I can handle the little bit that he chews on the wood on his stall although I do plan on putting Tabasco sauce on it to see if I can get him to stop and the bit although I think I would prefer something less messy looking but the chewing on the lead ropes and my sleeve have got to go.

He still won't stand very still for the farrier. Thankfully the farrier is pretty patient with him. I'm not sure but I wonder if it's because he can't chew on anything. I tried the tapping his forehead but he just got really jumpy when I did it then started trying to rub me with his head.

Danged horse.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

SweetSavannah · 10-21-2009, 11:04 PM

Well I would be looking at a few things. The main thing is his diet.
Some horses will chew because there is a deficiency in their diet and they're trying to find that 'extra ingredient' in all the wrong places... like the lead rope, stable door and your sleeve! Take a look at what you are feeding him and whether it meets his nutritional needs. If he's only young then he's probably still growing and he needs those nutrients to help him grow. Sometimes hay alone isn't enough.
On the flip side if you are feeding him to the eyeballs with grains, molasses, copra etc then he's going to feel fidgety and playful from all that excess energy! Cut back on grain rations unless he's in work. Hay, chaff and a good vitamin/mineral supplement should be all that he really needs if he's not in work. Also B Vitamins are good for digestion, brewers yeast is a good source of B vitamins just two tablespoons of it should do the trick. Slippery elm bark powder helps to settle upset stomachs as well, a big desert spoon mixed with water into a paste and then put in a bran mash.

Also, chewing on your sleeve is one step closer to nipping! Do not ever, EVER allow a horse to chew on you or your clothing... NEVER! Give him a quick slap across the nose, do it once and do it firmly enough to make him realise that you will not tolerate that behaviour!

As for lead ropes, hopefully if you fix the dietary imbalance he will stop chewing. But another alternative is to hang treats like Likits (flavoured blocks on a strong) near where you tie him and in his stable to give him something TASTY to chew on instead of the lead rope and stable! Salt and mineral blocks are a good idea to put in his stable as well.

Capilet · 10-21-2009, 11:20 PM

My chewer is stymied by Eqyss McNasty, after all of the other things I've tried.

MommaKayc · 10-22-2009, 07:59 AM

Thank you very much.

Curly is 7 so growth wise he's done. I will look into his feed but I have to be very careful about what he's fed. I've fed a lot of different feed but he can't tolerate anything like molassas, alfalfa, etc and Jack can't tolerate the higher protein stuff like timothy hay. Weird horses I guess.

Right now they are on about 30lbs each of hay plus 24hr turn out until I fix the stalls because I broke the seperating wall. I hope to get that done this weekend then I will start them on their normal winter diet.

Their normal winter diet includes is Western WA grass hay (about 30lbs each). Curly also gets beet pulp (when fed full amount around 2 1/2 cups presoaked), 1 cup rice bran, 1 cup calf manna, 1 tsp salt (vet recommended for water intake), and about 5 cups of rolled oats plus daytime turn out.

They have regular salt/mineral blocks both in stalls and out. I have tried a free choice mineral with them and curly's response to the bucket I gave him was to sniff it, turn around, and poo in it. Jack over night did the poo thing in his bucket also. Neither one of them would touch it. I offered it for about a month before I gave up and went back to the salt blocks which they couldn't get enough of.

I have whacked him but it doesn't stop him. He doesn't do it all the time anymore but when he does he waits until the farrier has his hoof up and working on it them nibbles on my sleeve. Thankfully he does not do it when I don't have a jacket or sweatshirt on. When I tell the farrier to drop and run as soon as Curly feels his hoof going down he lets go and turns to check out the farrier. I was told to never punish him like that after he's stopped because he won't know why I'm doing it although I have whacked him a few times for it if he's slow enough that I know he knows what I'm punishing him for. And they are not gent pops. I outright hit him for it.

I will see about picking up some of that spray and one of those lickits. I will give the other stuff a try also. It definitely can't hurt especially if he's lacking because of his diet. I wish I could feed him differently but I can't risk the attitude he gets when he's on it. This diet is working the best so far at keeping his weight up without causing the aggression.

Last night I stopped walking Curly to correct my daughter and curly decided he was bored so he grabbed the lead rope and started chewing so I rubbed it around inside his mouth like Clinton Anderson said to try. He let go of it and stared at it. He didn't touch it again the rest of the lesson. I doubt that has stopped him though.

SecretHavenFarm · 10-22-2009, 09:39 AM

I am having the same problem. I adopted a mustang yearling. I have likits jolly balls I bought him a giant dog rope because he loves reopes. Nope wants nothing to do with them.

I am teaching him to tie also. He chews and chews so I bought a lead rope as a "sacrifice" lead rope and bought some nasty spray and soaked the **** outta it. He still chews but I think he is throwing fits instead of actually liking the chewing.

MommaKayc · 10-22-2009, 07:05 PM

Sounds just like Curly. I wonder if jalapeno peppers would do anything. I know my uncle loves them but I could do without ever touching them again.

lol I learnded real quick on that one.

SaddleTrail · 10-23-2009, 06:06 AM

Use the peppers. they work. Get the hottest ones you can, either habenero or a Ghost pepper.
Use gloves and rub them all over were he would normally chew. Make sure you have your camera handy, is funnier then a pig wallowing in mud!!

caity and billy · 10-23-2009, 05:23 PM

Billy chews..on everything!!!

when he chews on the rope i make so annoying for him he just drops it...i dont yank on it, but i just wiggle it and twirl it so he doesnt want to chew on it...as for the wood, i put some "crib stop" or "red hot spray" that kinda stops them too...billy is still at the baby stage so thats my excuse haha

MommaKayc · 10-24-2009, 08:54 AM

LOL I will make sure to have the camcorder ready and will tie him with the soon to be peppered lead. It sounds like this is sure to be a good show.

Poor Curly but it's better than me getting bit again.

Billy sounds just like Curly. Chews and chews and chews lol. I've done that the last 2 times he chewed on the lead rope while I was leading him too. He drops it and gives it a "whatcha do that for" look but still does it. Darned horse.

10-21-2009, 10:32 PM	#1
MommaKayc Full Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: In the cloudy place Posts: 119	Need help for a chewer please I have been working with curly and his tying. He's doing pretty good and will stand over an hour now and not move around to much but he has discovered that the lead rope that holds him tastes good. He's already ruined one lead rope and started working on another. He's always been a chewer. In his stall, being led around, the bit, wood, etc. During the winter I have them stalled because of the mud more than the cold but Curly gets to the point of chewing on his stall. I've tried toys but he's just not a toy type horse. Thankfully it's not to bad stall wise. Just usually when it's flooding out the lower parts of the field and I have them in for a day or 2. However he chews on the lead rope almost every time he's on it. If we stop for a couple minutes to long he's after something or another to chew on. Including my sleeve and the lead rope. Now that he's on the tree for quiet time he's really chewing the lead ropes up. I've taking to putting it over the tree limb but he just chews on the part that's comes out of the tie ring (old snaffle bit cut in half and ground down) to his halter. He chews on his bit. He always has so I was told to get him a bit with a copper (think that's what it is) roller so I did. He's chewed on it until his teeth are brown and there are chew marks all over the rollers (1 on each side). What can I do to stop him from chewing up the lead ropes? I can handle the little bit that he chews on the wood on his stall although I do plan on putting Tabasco sauce on it to see if I can get him to stop and the bit although I think I would prefer something less messy looking but the chewing on the lead ropes and my sleeve have got to go. He still won't stand very still for the farrier. Thankfully the farrier is pretty patient with him. I'm not sure but I wonder if it's because he can't chew on anything. I tried the tapping his forehead but he just got really jumpy when I did it then started trying to rub me with his head. Danged horse. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

10-21-2009, 11:04 PM	#2
SweetSavannah Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: on my horse in Sydney, Australia Posts: 982	Well I would be looking at a few things. The main thing is his diet. Some horses will chew because there is a deficiency in their diet and they're trying to find that 'extra ingredient' in all the wrong places... like the lead rope, stable door and your sleeve! Take a look at what you are feeding him and whether it meets his nutritional needs. If he's only young then he's probably still growing and he needs those nutrients to help him grow. Sometimes hay alone isn't enough. On the flip side if you are feeding him to the eyeballs with grains, molasses, copra etc then he's going to feel fidgety and playful from all that excess energy! Cut back on grain rations unless he's in work. Hay, chaff and a good vitamin/mineral supplement should be all that he really needs if he's not in work. Also B Vitamins are good for digestion, brewers yeast is a good source of B vitamins just two tablespoons of it should do the trick. Slippery elm bark powder helps to settle upset stomachs as well, a big desert spoon mixed with water into a paste and then put in a bran mash. Also, chewing on your sleeve is one step closer to nipping! Do not ever, EVER allow a horse to chew on you or your clothing... NEVER! Give him a quick slap across the nose, do it once and do it firmly enough to make him realise that you will not tolerate that behaviour! As for lead ropes, hopefully if you fix the dietary imbalance he will stop chewing. But another alternative is to hang treats like Likits (flavoured blocks on a strong) near where you tie him and in his stable to give him something TASTY to chew on instead of the lead rope and stable! Salt and mineral blocks are a good idea to put in his stable as well. __________________ "REAL* ladies do it SIDEWAYS!"* http://www.sidesaddleaustralia.com.au/

10-21-2009, 11:20 PM	#3
Capilet Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Western Washington Posts: 4,480 Images: 413 Blog Entries: 1	My chewer is stymied by Eqyss McNasty, after all of the other things I've tried. __________________ "Just because something seems impossible that doesn't mean its not real." -Charles de Lint, Someplace to Be Flying

10-23-2009, 06:06 AM	#7
SaddleTrail Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Happy Valley, Ca. Posts: 1,393 Images: 5	Use the peppers. they work. Get the hottest ones you can, either habenero or a Ghost pepper. Use gloves and rub them all over were he would normally chew. Make sure you have your camera handy, is funnier then a pig wallowing in mud!! __________________ "Insults are the arguments employed by those who are in the wrong" " In a hard situation try a soft word"

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10-22-2009, 07:59 AM	#4
MommaKayc Full Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: In the cloudy place Posts: 119	Thank you very much. Curly is 7 so growth wise he's done. I will look into his feed but I have to be very careful about what he's fed. I've fed a lot of different feed but he can't tolerate anything like molassas, alfalfa, etc and Jack can't tolerate the higher protein stuff like timothy hay. Weird horses I guess. Right now they are on about 30lbs each of hay plus 24hr turn out until I fix the stalls because I broke the seperating wall. I hope to get that done this weekend then I will start them on their normal winter diet. Their normal winter diet includes is Western WA grass hay (about 30lbs each). Curly also gets beet pulp (when fed full amount around 2 1/2 cups presoaked), 1 cup rice bran, 1 cup calf manna, 1 tsp salt (vet recommended for water intake), and about 5 cups of rolled oats plus daytime turn out. They have regular salt/mineral blocks both in stalls and out. I have tried a free choice mineral with them and curly's response to the bucket I gave him was to sniff it, turn around, and poo in it. Jack over night did the poo thing in his bucket also. Neither one of them would touch it. I offered it for about a month before I gave up and went back to the salt blocks which they couldn't get enough of. I have whacked him but it doesn't stop him. He doesn't do it all the time anymore but when he does he waits until the farrier has his hoof up and working on it them nibbles on my sleeve. Thankfully he does not do it when I don't have a jacket or sweatshirt on. When I tell the farrier to drop and run as soon as Curly feels his hoof going down he lets go and turns to check out the farrier. I was told to never punish him like that after he's stopped because he won't know why I'm doing it although I have whacked him a few times for it if he's slow enough that I know he knows what I'm punishing him for. And they are not gent pops. I outright hit him for it. I will see about picking up some of that spray and one of those lickits. I will give the other stuff a try also. It definitely can't hurt especially if he's lacking because of his diet. I wish I could feed him differently but I can't risk the attitude he gets when he's on it. This diet is working the best so far at keeping his weight up without causing the aggression. Last night I stopped walking Curly to correct my daughter and curly decided he was bored so he grabbed the lead rope and started chewing so I rubbed it around inside his mouth like Clinton Anderson said to try. He let go of it and stared at it. He didn't touch it again the rest of the lesson. I doubt that has stopped him though.

10-22-2009, 09:39 AM	#5
SecretHavenFarm Full Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Shadow Hills,CA Posts: 74 Images: 1	I am having the same problem. I adopted a mustang yearling. I have likits jolly balls I bought him a giant dog rope because he loves reopes. Nope wants nothing to do with them. I am teaching him to tie also. He chews and chews so I bought a lead rope as a "sacrifice" lead rope and bought some nasty spray and soaked the **** outta it. He still chews but I think he is throwing fits instead of actually liking the chewing.

10-22-2009, 07:05 PM	#6
MommaKayc Full Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: In the cloudy place Posts: 119	Sounds just like Curly. I wonder if jalapeno peppers would do anything. I know my uncle loves them but I could do without ever touching them again. lol I learnded real quick on that one.

10-23-2009, 05:23 PM	#8
caity and billy Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: VIC, Australia Posts: 319 Images: 11	Billy chews..on everything!!! when he chews on the rope i make so annoying for him he just drops it...i dont yank on it, but i just wiggle it and twirl it so he doesnt want to chew on it...as for the wood, i put some "crib stop" or "red hot spray" that kinda stops them too...billy is still at the baby stage so thats my excuse haha

10-24-2009, 08:54 AM	#9
MommaKayc Full Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: In the cloudy place Posts: 119	LOL I will make sure to have the camcorder ready and will tie him with the soon to be peppered lead. It sounds like this is sure to be a good show. Poor Curly but it's better than me getting bit again. Billy sounds just like Curly. Chews and chews and chews lol. I've done that the last 2 times he chewed on the lead rope while I was leading him too. He drops it and gives it a "whatcha do that for" look but still does it. Darned horse.