Stopping a horse from pooping in water bucket

[endlessclimb]

I’ve got a horse who is pooping in a water bucket. She routinely poops along all the stall walls, so I don’t think it’s her “sitting” on the bucket. Moving the bucket from it’s location horizontally is not an option due to barn layout and watering options. Vertically could be a possibility, though there is a limitation with the stall front bars.

I was thinking of putting something pointy a little ways off the the bucket to make having her butt there not so convenient, but I need something that isn’t going to poke her eye out. Stiff push broom head? Plastic pointies (what, though… garden edging?)?

Any other ideas? This barn will not dump buckets for any reason (they just fill on top of the poop, so nice to have to dump a full bucket of poop-water), so I need her to quit doing this before I end up with an impaction colic, and would like to nip it before it becomes too ingrained. I want to not have to go to the barn, at least on the two days the barn kids pick stalls.

I’m also trying to get her to stop being such a blithering slob by leaving some poop along the one desired wall. Any other ideas on teaching stud piles as well?

Thanks in advance, I appreciate it.

[hairystockings]

Why won’t they dump buckets for any reason? That’s kind of gross.

[endlessclimb]

@hairystockings

Why won’t they dump buckets for any reason? That’s kind of gross.

Just the nature of the barn. Been here for 17, almost 18 years. It would be considered partial care.

[NancyM]

The only possibility that works is to hang the bucket outside the stall, where the horse can hang it’s head out of the stall and drink from the bucket that way. If the barn can’t find a way to make this possible, somehow, I’d move the horse somewhere else, to another barn that can. It’s not much to ask actually, it’s way easier to fill a water bucket when it is outside the stall. BTDT. If the barn does not normally allow horses to hang heads out of the stall, requires a full door, perhaps your horse could move to the far end of the barn, where no horses walk by? Or to another barn or shed where a different system would work?

[kande04]

Clean water is important, so I too, would move my horse before I’d leave her locked in a stall with poop water.

Sometimes moving the feeders will help, but if you have limited options for moving the water bucket you probably have limited options for moving the feeders.

Something else I’d try is multiple buckets, higher and lower if horizontal isn’t an option, to give her her best chance of missing at least one of them.

[endlessclimb]

@NancyM

The only possibility that works is to hang the bucket outside the stall, where the horse can hang it’s head out of the stall and drink from the bucket that way. If the barn can’t find a way to make this possible, somehow, I’d move the horse somewhere else, to another barn that can. It’s not much to ask actually, it’s way easier to fill a water bucket when it is outside the stall. BTDT. If the barn does not normally allow horses to hang heads out of the stall, requires a full door, perhaps your horse could move to the far end of the barn, where no horses walk by? Or to another barn or shed where a different system would work?

I agree with you that putting it outside the stall would be easier, and I don’t disagree that other barns would not have this problem. However, outside the stall would not be able to be accommodated because 1) horses can’t hang their heads out and 2) if it’s in the aisle the tractor and spreader can’t get by.

Horses will not be moving, especially in current climate.

Stall doors are solid bottoms with “cattle wire” panels on the top. Stall guards used to be allowed until a handful of retired ladies who were at the barn all day would put them on and allow their horses to chew the outside (painted) portion of the stalls for hours on end. Privilege gone. That was probably 10 years ago. It’s honestly easier without the russian roulette of who is going to get bitten when you walk past.

It’s fine if I have to go everyday, it’s just annoying. I want to be able to take a day off. I can hang another bucket and hope that the odds aren’t that she poops in both, but that means both have to be filled and barn staff will not do that - so that doesn’t solve my problem of not wanting to go out daily.

I’m sure someone has had a trough pooper… any ideas on how to discourage it without changing too much? Something prickly and long-ish that won’t cause vet-inducing injury?

[endlessclimb]

@kande04

Clean water is important, so I too, would move my horse before I’d leave her locked in a stall with poop water.

Sometimes moving the feeders will help, but if you have limited options for moving the water bucket you probably have limited options for moving the feeders.

Something else I’d try is multiple buckets, higher and lower if horizontal isn’t an option, to give her her best chance of missing at least one of them.

There isn’t room on the front wall for side-by-side buckets, as there is a grain bin (with a hole cut in the stall front to dump grain) and a milk crate next to that which holds the 5gal bucket. The distance between the two isn’t enough for another bucket - if I add another it will be on a side wall where I have to fill it. Not the end of the world, but doesn’t allow me to not come for a day.

The barn is what it is. Its basically self-care, with stalls getting stripped once a week (no picking, or once a week with just poo, no pee spot removal) and the barn kids feeding twice a day. ANYthing extra is not going to happen, even if you’re willing to pay.

The cost reflects that. The amenities are decent for how crappy the barn sounds. The BO is a horse person, but is not involved with the day-to-day of the barn at all, and he does not want to be.

[oldernewbie]

You could try these

https://www.amleo.com/new-bird-x-stainless-steel-bird-spikes-10-foot-strip/p/STS10R/

Sounds like you could put them on the milk crate that holds the bucket. I don’t know if they are strong enough to stand up to a really determined horse, but worth a try.

I think a trip to a big box store might yield some other ideas as well. I have seen some rounded metal things that cities put on ledges to prevent skateboarders - don’t know if that would give you enough distance from the bucket to help.

Another thought would be to build a bigger wooden frame around the milk crate that would keep her away if they will let you modify the stall. It doesn’t have to completely surround the milk crate, just a bigger sturdy square on the top with maybe some supporting braces underneath.

[endlessclimb]

@oldernewbie

You could try these

https://www.amleo.com/new-bird-x-stainless-steel-bird-spikes-10-foot-strip/p/STS10R/

Sounds like you could put them on the milk crate that holds the bucket. I don’t know if they are strong enough to stand up to a really determined horse, but worth a try.

I think a trip to a big box store might yield some other ideas as well. I have seen some rounded metal things that cities put on ledges to prevent skateboarders - don’t know if that would give you enough distance from the bucket to help.

Another thought would be to build a bigger wooden frame around the milk crate that would keep her away if they will let you modify the stall. It doesn’t have to completely surround the milk crate, just a bigger sturdy square on the top with maybe some supporting braces underneath.

If they have something like this in plastic, I’m willing to give it a shake. The metal makes me nervous she’s going to put her eye out with it.

Actually, the bird spikes remind me of this silly “anti-coyote” dog vest I saw on facebook. I’ll have to look that one up again, and see if it would work.

I can modify the stall, no problem. If prickly-bits don’t work, your bigger frame idea is a good one.

[Arlomine]

Make a “creep feed” in the corner of the stall.
put a 2x8 across the corner, far enough out that the bootie cannot bet to the bucket, but the head can.

if the configuration of the stall cannot be adjusted that way, RAISE the water bucket. You will have to be very careful to not get it so high that she can’t drink to the bottom. But getting the lip to the height of her lower dock may work.

[endlessclimb]

@Arlomine

Make a “creep feed” in the corner of the stall.
put a 2x8 across the corner, far enough out that the bootie cannot bet to the bucket, but the head can.

if the configuration of the stall cannot be adjusted that way, RAISE the water bucket. You will have to be very careful to not get it so high that she can’t drink to the bottom. But getting the lip to the height of her lower dock may work.

Moving the bucket horizontally (for a creep feed) isn’t possible due to filling arrangements. But raising it is! I’m such a midget I might need a step stool to get it out to clean it, but if she stops pooping in it, I’m willing to do that.

Just because I’m ignorant - what does raising the bucket do that discourages the pooping in it?

[2tempe]

We had one of these where I board. Pooped thru bars into aisle, into other stalls, out his open window in feeder and auto waterer. Everywhere except on the floor of stall. Qualifying: we have a very full service barn… Taped over the feeder w/ duck tape. Same with waterer which was turned off. Fed grain in ground feeder and removed after each meal. Two water buckets hung as high as possible and dumped regularly.

As I re-read your post: Could you go to Home Depot or Lowes and get a general purpose bucket that is enough taller that when it sits in milk crate, he can’t reach w/ poop? or is there a way to raise current bucket higher in the crate without risk of spilling?

Edited to add: higher bucket will make it harder for poop to go into bucket. Wont change the behavior. BTW this is not an uncommon problem…

[endlessclimb]

@2tempe

We had one of these where I board. Pooped thru bars into aisle, into other stalls, out his open window in feeder and auto waterer. Everywhere except on the floor of stall. Qualifying: we have a very full service barn… Taped over the feeder w/ duck tape. Same with waterer which was turned off. Fed grain in ground feeder and removed after each meal. Two water buckets hung as high as possible and dumped regularly.

As I re-read your post: Could you go to Home Depot or Lowes and get a general purpose bucket that is enough taller that when it sits in milk crate, he can’t reach w/ poop? or is there a way to raise current bucket higher in the crate without risk of spilling?

I can totally raise the milk crate! I think I’ve probably got 6-8" to raise the crate up. Just have to bring my drill to the barn and get it done!

I asked @Arlomine - I’m ignorant - what does raising the bucket do that discourages the pooping in it?

We have one who poops in the aisle if in a corner stall with two “cattle fenced” sides. He got moved because that’s annoying lol.

[Arlomine]

You have to get the bucket edge above the pooper

[endlessclimb]

@Arlomine

You have to get the bucket edge above the pooper

Oh god, I thought base of dock meant bottom of dock, when clearly that would be the TIP of the dock. I’m a dummy.

Above the pooper it is. Fingers crossed poop water on my pants is in the past. And I can take a day off YAY!!!

[endlessclimb]

@2tempe

Edited to add: higher bucket will make it harder for poop to go into bucket. Wont change the behavior. BTW this is not an uncommon problem…

Got it! Thought it was a more sophisticated reason why making it higher would discourage it.

In all the time I’ve boarded where I’m at, we’ve only had one other bucket pooper - not my horse. I was the only one who would dump his bucket. Owners were MIA, which is probably 75% of the boarders at this barn. I probably had to dump it 7 or 8 times, and then he stopped doing it.

Thanks for the help, I appreciate it!

[trubandloki]

I have one that does this. She also does as others have said, manures thru the bars, thru the fence, over walls, etc. She likes to back up to something and then manure.

I think anything that spikes enough to make her not want to stand there to manure is also going to spike enough that she is not going to be willing to put her head there to drink. Which I do not think is what you are going for.

Another option - is it the same barn kids that feed/water regularly? Can you pay them extra to check the bucket for you to make sure it does not get filled when full of manure?

[endlessclimb]

@trubandloki

I have one that does this. She also does as others have said, manures thru the bars, thru the fence, over walls, etc. She likes to back up to something and then manure.

I think anything that spikes enough to make her not want to stand there to manure is also going to spike enough that she is not going to be willing to put her head there to drink. Which I do not think is what you are going for.

Another option - is it the same barn kids that feed/water regularly? Can you pay them extra to check the bucket for you to make sure it does not get filled when full of manure?

Unfortunately it is not. It’s 4 different groups that are in and out to feed.

I was thinking that if her booty is against it she’d get poked, but if she’s facing it, she wouldn’t because she’s got the length of her neck to avoid the pokes. You’re right though, maybe it would scare her too much to where she wouldn’t want to drink.

I’m going to give raising the bucket a shot, and go from there.

[polkadotedpony]

Is it an insane idea to stack 2 buckets vertically? Like one with the rim above her dock and another on the floor directly under the other? Then the top bucket could block the poop’s vertical path from the bottom bucket but she should have enough space to snake her nose between buckets to drink from the bottom if she doesn’t like reaching into the top one.
Or maybe you could put the water bucket low/on the floor and install a shelf above it to catch/divert the poop? I’m picturing a shelf in the shape of an upside-down V with the edges going out past the bucket edge so it diverts poop to either side of the bucket but she can stick her head inside the V to drink out of the bucket.

[Simkie]

It’d be really interesting to try a bute (or equioxx) trial, to see if anything changes. Bucket pooping/bucket sitting/wall sitting/wall pooping can all be a sign of hind end pain.