Horse Body Slamming Stall Wall -- Need Ideas to Thwart Her

[twelvegates]

Three year old filly is rather precious of her personal space and generally makes ugly faces at the 13 year old mare next to her. Occasionally, she body slams the wall with her hip or shoulder, which is taking its toll on the wall, as well as the auto-waterer that is installed on that wall. 13 year old ignores three year old.

There is no option to move three or 13 year old to a different stall. Stalls have bars along all upper interior walls, but are solid below.

I was thinking of attaching a thick, PVC plastic pipe, snug to the wall, at hip/shoulder height, hoping the bulge in the wall might be uncomfortable enough to keep her from continuing this behavior.

Comments or better ideas?

[sublimequine]

Can you just block off her view of her neighbor so she has no reason to body slam? I’ve seen people mount just some plywood ontop of the bars so two neighbors cannot see each other.

[sascha]

I wouldn’t attach PVC where she can slam it and break it and then slam it again and rip herself open on a sharp edge. IOW, I’d never consider putting PVC in a stall.

Put plywood over the bars. There are lots of ways to fasten it so that it can be easily removed again if necessary.

I’d also be tempted to move or remove the auto waterer. I’ve seen some very nasty injuries when they happen to get nailed by a horse just the wrong way.

I’d probably also lie in wait just out of sight and scare the bejeezus out of her with a broom to the front stall bars when she started body slamming. Sooner or later she’s going to hurt herself or break something and hurt herself on that. I’d rather have her a little freaked out temporarily than ruined.

ETA a hose with a good strong spray nozzle on it can also nip a bad habit in the bud. Your timing has to be impeccable - spray or take the broom to the bars AS the horse is misbehaving. If you wait until they’re done, you may as well be about an hour too late.

[islgrl]

We put boards up over the bars to block the view of a similar horse. Problem solved immediately.

[macmtn]

Hang a stall mat on that wall…

[Simkie]

I don’t know why you wouldn’t just put up something to block her view, but if that’s really not an option, I’d hang stall mats on the stall wall, but away from the wall, like you would with a kicker. The mat will move a bit and absorb the impact, and she’ll create less noise.

Or move her to a different stall, with a different neighbor?

[Appsolute]

Stall mats, or perhaps hang canvas as a blind.

But PLEASE DO NOT use a PVP pipe! Those things can be brittle, and break into horribly sharp shards when they do - I picture a real disaster with that.

A board maybe, or some other SOLID material - but no PVC pipes.

[Huntin_Pony]

I have a little mare that does something similar. I hung a “jolly ball” at the point on the wall that she “whacks” and she has drastically cut back. If it was a big issue, I think I would hang a line of balls (mine is about 1 foot diameter) at the height of her shoulder.

Be careful how you hang them so there is no long string to tangle or protruding fasteners. I used a soft rope tied tightly around the post in the middle of the wall. Depends on wall construction.

[twelvegates]

Thanks for all of the replies. COTHers are the best!

Upper panels are not an option at the moment.

How about a piece of very sturdy canvas over the bars, attached securely on the 13 year old’s side (she won’t mess with it)?

Thanks for the warning on the PVC, sascha and Appsolute, I won’t use it.

Huntin’ Pony – now the jolly ball idea is definitely one to consider!

[SuckerForHorses]

How about a piece of very sturdy canvas over the bars, attached securely on the 13 year old’s side (she won’t mess with it)?

Yes, anything to block her view of the neighboring horse should work fine.

[Huntin_Pony]

OP:

Extra bonus to the jolly ball is that it “hisses” when she leans on it (little hole in ball to let off pressure as designed). Might worry pony just enough.

BTW, I do agree with other posters about blocking the view also.

Good luck.

[NoDQhere]

Canvas or a heavy tarp can be used to cover up the bars so she can’t see her neighbor. Much easier to put up than plywood. I would probably try to spray her at the exact moment of slamming as well. But I have little patience for misbehavior in the barn.

[saje]

Could you attach a couple of the super-stiff/prickly broom heads to the wall at rib/hip height? Won’t do any major damage but might make the body slamming a bit less fun.

Like this:
http://cdn3.volusion.com/dlmqh.azhsa/v/vspfiles/photos/LJAN11-Head-2.jpg?1358149753

[sascha]

[QUOTE=saje;8087219]
Could you attach a couple of the super-stiff/prickly broom heads to the wall at rib/hip height? Won’t do any major damage but might make the body slamming a bit less fun.

Like this:
http://cdn3.volusion.com/dlmqh.azhsa/v/vspfiles/photos/LJAN11-Head-2.jpg?1358149753[/QUOTE]

Mmm, scratching posts Might work though!

I LOVE the Jolly Ball idea. That’s super and one I’ll remember if I ever have to deal with that kind of nonsense.

[ake987]

Nerf Water Gun. :lol:

Jolly ball idea is neat!

[crosscreeksh]

[QUOTE=sublimequine;8086020]
Can you just block off her view of her neighbor so she has no reason to body slam? I’ve seen people mount just some plywood ontop of the bars so two neighbors cannot see each other.[/QUOTE]

THIS!! Block the view of her enemy!! A heavy tarp will do if she isn’t a chewer!! You can’t “pad” enough to be safe!!

[twelvegates]

Canvas and jolly balls it is!

Thanks for all the helpful advice.

[Cruiser12]

My mare does the same thing, although she loves my gelding beside her, she is just nutty. I put her water bucket about midway on that wall and she can’t really do it anymore without getting a bath!

[twelvegates]

[QUOTE=Cruiser12;8088595]
My mare does the same thing, although she loves my gelding beside her, she is just nutty. I put her water bucket about midway on that wall and she can’t really do it anymore without getting a bath![/QUOTE]

Another great idea, thanks Cruiser12.

[Appsolute]

Along the Jolly Ball idea - and because well I grew up on the coast and I am used to seeing them all the time…

BOAT BUOYS! (or fenders)

They are meant for smashing against, are quite sturdy, have a hole to tie to - and are cheaper than jolly balls.

http://www.walmart.com/c/kp/boat-fenders