Help my horse gnaws wood
Help my horse gnaws wood
When the weather gets cold and wet, some horses may be more inclined to chew wood.
Here is a general picture: a nice, well-built stable surrounded by beautiful meadows and pastures.
And here is another familiar sight: chewing marks of horses everywhere in the stalls, walls and fences!
Why do so many horses chew wood? This bad habit can lead to serious dental and digestive problems in your horse, as well as unsightly damage and expensive repairs to your stable.
Here's how to discourage that destructive behaviour.
- Even if your horse has never had a tendency to chew on fences and trees, keep an eye on him this winter. Studies have shown that horses are more likely to gnaw on wood during wet, cold weather, perhaps because of an instinctive urge for more roughage when the temperature drops.
- If you discover that your horse has started this destructive habit, ask your vet to perform a full examination to rule out physical causes such as a nutritional deficiency. If she finds that nothing is wrong, you can treat wood chewing as a behavioural problem and take some steps to discourage it:
- This is the simplest and most effective method to stop wood chewing. In addition, consider using a slow feeder, which helps reduce the risk of boredom by ensuring hay meals last longer.
- Make the wood unpalatable. Treat the surface of the wood with an unpalatable agent.