Solutions to 'Swimming?'

[bantry_bay]

So a few months ago a lovely TB gelding came into my possession, and I’m at my wits end!

Unfortunately I can’t get him the turnout he needs. We discovered that he’s a ‘swimmer,’ and while that was fine, he’s begun putting both front legs into the water trough and with how he maneuvers himself out, we are afraid he will hurt himself. Unfortunately, this is the only paddock he can be turned out in. There’s a larger paddock reserved for mares, and another one that he used to be turned out in…however, its’ currently too muddy for him, and there are several large piles of dirt (which he has taken to climbing on and jumping off, naturally). Has anyone had any experience with stopping horses from ‘swimming’ in the water trough? anything I did would have to be approved by the BO

He also has awful feet, bad skin, runny poo, a habit of running out and about, pawing, wood chewing, rubbing, and he’s developed headshaking syndrome…not to mention he currently has a mystery lameness! :sigh: He’s so sweet, though, he’s worth all of it

[4LeafCloverFarm]

@bantry bay

He also has awful feet, bad skin, runny poo, a habit of running out and about, pawing, wood chewing, rubbing, and he’s developed headshaking syndrome…not to mention he currently has a mystery lameness! :sigh: He’s so sweet, though, he’s worth all of it

That’s quite a list of current issues. I’m thinking putting his feet in the water trough is the least of your worries right now, Sounds like he has some anxiety, and as a result, possibly ulcers as well. Has that litany of issues been discussed with your vet? Anyway, the behavior with swimming in the water trough may be related to those other issues.

The water is easy to solve - take away the water trough. Replace with a 5 gallon bucket (or two) hung off a fence post. Can’t go swimming in those.

[ElementFarm]

I agree w/ @4LeafCloverFarm , it sounds like this poor boy has a host of higher priority issues to deal with.
But I’m assuming he shares turnout with other geldings, and so a few 5-gallong buckets hung off the fence isn’t feasible for the larger group? Or the BO doesn’t want the hassle of having to deal with buckets?

While I board at home, I trailer regularly to my coach’s. I asked her one day why she had so many of her water troughs up on platforms. She said she has a pony who likes to swim, and the only thing that worked was getting the troughs higher so he couldn’t climb into them.
She uses the smaller water troughs (like the 100 gallon ones), which just sit a few feet in the air, on a 2x4 rack/platform built for them. Not so high that the smaller ponies can’t reach to drink, but tall enough that the swimmer couldn’t get his legs in. Maybe offering to build something like that for your BO would work. Then he still has access to water but not a swimming pool.

If he’s bored in turnout, you can offer him some other diversions. If he’s turned out alone, how about a mini or a quiet full sized buddy? Horse toys on the fenceline, a ball, or even a tarp or heavy rope can be fun toys. If he really just likes water, how about filling a small Rubbermaid tub that is low and safe enough for him to paw in without getting stuck or injured?

and I know you didn’t ask for horse advice, but have you looked into ulcers or a special feed/supplement program to target his health/behavioral challenges?

[S1969]

Why can’t he go out with the mares?

Sounds like you need to reconsider boarding options if turnout is a problem in the mud…not to mention the large piles of dirt which are obviously a safety issue for some horses.

Yes, and vet check for all the rest. Sure sounds like a whole lot of anxiety. And what are you doing for the “mystery lamenes?”

Where is he now - is he doing all of these things (pawing, etc.) because he’s locked in a stall while the other horses are out? The easy answer to that - turn him out.

As for the water…16 gallon muck tubs are bigger than buckets and would seem a lot safer. He might still be able to get a foot in there, but not sure it’s a safety issue. There are about 100 solutions to the water trough issue if the BO is willing to work with you. If not - moving would work too.

[ryansgirl]

@S1969

Why can’t he go out with the mares?

Sounds like you need to reconsider boarding options if turnout is a problem in the mud…not to mention the large piles of dirt which are obviously a safety issue for some horses.

Yes, and vet check for all the rest. Sure sounds like a whole lot of anxiety. And what are you doing for the “mystery lamenes?”

Where is he now - is he doing all of these things (pawing, etc.) because he’s locked in a stall while the other horses are out? The easy answer to that - turn him out.

As for the water…16 gallon muck tubs are bigger than buckets and would seem a lot safer. He might still be able to get a foot in there, but not sure it’s a safety issue. There are about 100 solutions to the water trough issue if the BO is willing to work with you. If not - moving would work too.

A lot of barns won’t mix mares and geldings for obvious reason so it’s totally understandable.

As far as using a muck bucket for water - have you ever seen one of those crack/shatter? It’s a heavy, stiff plastic that when cracked can be a huge safety issue - wouldn’t take much to slice a leg so no I would NOT use one for water especially for a horse who likes to put his feet in water tubs.

[S1969]

@ryansgirl

A lot of barns won’t mix mares and geldings for obvious reason so it’s totally understandable.

As far as using a muck bucket for water - have you ever seen one of those crack/shatter? It’s a heavy, stiff plastic that when cracked can be a huge safety issue - wouldn’t take much to slice a leg so no I would NOT use one for water especially for a horse who likes to put his feet in water tubs.

I must have a different type of muck buckets because mine are a heavy, somewhat flexible plastic; basically the same as a 5 gallon bucket but larger. It wouldn’t have to be 16 gallon…just smaller than something like a 150 gallon tank which might be more dangerous.

I’m not sure what the “obvious reasons” are for not turning out mares and geldings. It would be obvious if it was stallions and mares. But if there is no turnout except with mares…what is the reason that an exception cannot be made?

Otherwise if there is no turnout at all, the only solution has to be to move.

[bantry_bay]

He does have a lot of issues, luckily with the help of my vet and farrier we’ve been working through them - he has a.nose net now, and his feet are seen roughly every 5 weeks. The only vice he does in his stall is rub, he usually chews when he wants rubs and paws when he wants treats (someone thought it cute, I guess). He definitely has high anxiety, poo is still runny after a few diet tweaks, which I am currently talking to me vet about. The lameness was discovered by his farrier, he wasn’t being worked due to a loose shoe and was positive in the heel bulb of the foot that had a shoe loose. Currently lunging and waiting for any changes (suspected abcsss).

The BO doesn’t allow mixed-gender turnout; some of the mares are quite ‘flirtatious’ as well. Unfortunately he is turned out with a few ponies so I worry that raising the trough will make it too high for them.

[Simkie]

I have my trough outside the field. Remove the middle board of the three board fence, and they reach through to drink. Works great! Has 100% solved the swimming issue, and makes it easier to dump, scrub and fill, too.

[Postandrails]

I have had to deal.with a horse who loved paddling in the water trough. We just built a simple barrier around the trough - a post at each corner and a single rail. It was set back a few inches and was low enough to easily reach over to drink but high enough to keep feet out.