Stopping a horse from pooping in water bucket

[JB]

@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.

I agree this is the easiest thing to do. It doesn’t require the bucket to be moved at all, it just assumes the bucket is in a corner. It does’t have to a 2x8, a 2x4 will do. It just requires a couple of reasonably accurate miter corners to be cut, and a 2x4 is cheap (and may even be laying around the barn.

2x6 might be needed if the horse is going to lean against the board, 2x8 might be good there too

[endlessclimb]

@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.

It’s well within the realm of possibility as she just had her shoes pulled when she arrived. It’s been a month without them, shes still pretty tender but improving. If she needs her shoes, she will have them, but shes 3 and wont be doing too god awful much this summer so I’d like to try her without if possible.

Equioxx at the moment is reserved for the old man. Vet is coming for spring work April 29 and will replenish my supply then.

[endlessclimb]

@JB

I agree this is the easiest thing to do. It doesn’t require the bucket to be moved at all, it just assumes the bucket is in a corner. It does’t have to a 2x8, a 2x4 will do. It just requires a couple of reasonably accurate miter corners to be cut, and a 2x4 is cheap (and may even be laying around the barn.

2x6 might be needed if the horse is going to lean against the board, 2x8 might be good there too

Its unfortunately not in a corner, the grain bin is in the corner and the bucket is on the flat part - I can measure what would happen if I tried to creep-feed the whole wall part but that might take too much of the stall.

[endlessclimb]

This is the stall setup. No room for bucket 2, but I can go up with the bucket. She pooped in it again today…

[endlessclimb]

And the aisle/stall fronts. Aisle is 10’, and tractor barely fits as-is. Hay is overhead in a loft. Arena is to the right.

[SusanO]

I had one that did this. ALL THE TIME. It was a gnat allergy that was making her tail/ butt itch. And while she was itching she decided to poop. I had to keep buckets in reserve when I came out in the morning in a hurry so I could take the nasty bucket, set it aside, and fill up a clean reserve bucket.

No way do I expect my horses to drink from a bucket with hay/ dirt/ poop in them . They may not get scrubbed on a regular basis but I always dump the water and swish it out daily. Clean water is a given. Don’t want to deal with colic from a dehydrated horse.

I kept a fan going in her stall in the Spring and Summer and that took care of most of the problem. Then I put in a fly system and she hasn’t done it in years. It was gross.

Can you try a muck bucket in her stall for water and hang a bucket for her to poop into?

[2DogsFarm]

IIWM, I’d go with a bucket with a rim that is above the level of the Poop Exit (anus) when set in the crate. 5gal paint buckets sold at most home supply places should be the right size.
On any horse this will be directly below the tail, so easy to measure.
The spiky thing looks like an accident waiting to happen :ambivalence:

Old Horsemen’s Saying:
“If there is a way for a horse to injure themselves, they will”

[MsM]

At least temporarily (until you find a way to poop- proof her bucket) I would add a second bucket on the side wall. I understand that it wouldn’t get refilled, but you can fill it when you are there. So most of the time she would have a non- poop bucket. Unless she ups her game and manages to poop in both!

[endlessclimb]

@SusanO

I had one that did this. ALL THE TIME. It was a gnat allergy that was making her tail/ butt itch. And while she was itching she decided to poop. I had to keep buckets in reserve when I came out in the morning in a hurry so I could take the nasty bucket, set it aside, and fill up a clean reserve bucket.

No way do I expect my horses to drink from a bucket with hay/ dirt/ poop in them . They may not get scrubbed on a regular basis but I always dump the water and swish it out daily. Clean water is a given. Don’t want to deal with colic from a dehydrated horse.

I kept a fan going in her stall in the Spring and Summer and that took care of most of the problem. Then I put in a fly system and she hasn’t done it in years. It was gross.

Can you try a muck bucket in her stall for water and hang a bucket for her to poop into?

I really want her to not poop in ANY buckets. Just poop along the west wall. The muck bucket idea isn’t a bad one, I’m just up s**t creek (heh) if she goes in THAT one, having to bail it out. The gnat idea is interesting. Her butt doesn’t seem itchy, and I’ve seen just a couple flies so far this year (just getting into “real” spring here). We don’t do constant running fans at this barn, due to fire hazard reasons. The hay is right above the stalls.

@2DogsFarm

IIWM, I’d go with a bucket with a rim that is above the level of the Poop Exit (anus) when set in the crate. 5gal paint buckets sold at most home supply places should be the right size.
On any horse this will be directly below the tail, so easy to measure.
The spiky thing looks like an accident waiting to happen :ambivalence:

Old Horsemen’s Saying:
“If there is a way for a horse to injure themselves, they will”

I’m still waiting on word back from the BO (I’m sure he’s ok with it, but I don’t do anything without asking outside of property maintenance), but that’s what I plan to do. I looked for plastic spikeys, but they’re the brittle plastic so that’s a hard no. I don’t need a vet bill, or eye ointment I need to show up daily for…

I did find and order a stiff broom head with long-ish bristles that I’ll rig up so that it’s clear her bum doesn’t belong there. She’s a thin skinned gal. That corner is where hay is thrown during feeding, so better that she understands it’s not a poop-able locale. However, 100% guarantee she’s going to try and eat it, so maybe that’s a bad idea, too.

@MsM

At least temporarily (until you find a way to poop- proof her bucket) I would add a second bucket on the side wall. I understand that it wouldn’t get refilled, but you can fill it when you are there. So most of the time she would have a non- poop bucket. Unless she ups her game and manages to poop in both!

After last nights poops-capade, I’m going to bring an extra bucket with me tonight and hang it on the east wall, super close to her grain bin. I’ve not found poop there yet, so hopefully that will do it.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I appreciate it! Wish I could train the barn kids not to fill it if it looks soiled, just to do nothing with it so it’s easier to dump.

[Snowdenfarm]

Hind end pain and/or negative palmar angle. These horses try to raise their heels by backing up to the wall since the bedding ramps up toward the walls. I know, doesn’t answer your immediate need, but it is something to look at which can be worked on while barefoot.

[endlessclimb]

@Snowdenfarm

Hind end pain and/or negative palmar angle. These horses try to raise their heels by backing up to the wall since the bedding ramps up toward the walls. I know, doesn’t answer your immediate need, but it is something to look at which can be worked on while barefoot.

She was xrayed during her PPE, and the only NPA foot is her front right. I wouldn’t be surprised though if she’s just overall sore from the transition. She needs her teeth floated something fierce, as well - vet is coming in a little over a week for spring work.

For this particular pooping location, the bedding ramp doesn’t make sense because I pull the bedding back from the front of the stalls - under the water and grain bucket, and from the front door.

[Snowdenfarm]

@endlessclimb

She was xrayed during her PPE, and the only NPA foot is her front right. I wouldn’t be surprised though if she’s just overall sore from the transition. She needs her teeth floated something fierce, as well - vet is coming in a little over a week for spring work.

For this particular pooping location, the bedding ramp doesn’t make sense because I pull the bedding back from the front of the stalls - under the water and grain bucket, and from the front door.

You are definitely covering all bases. Nice job. Wish I had something constructive to offer on your immediate need.

[endlessclimb]

@Snowdenfarm

You are definitely covering all bases. Nice job. Wish I had something constructive to offer on your immediate need.

It’s a … crappy situation. :lol:

Thanks for the response! I’m hoping eventually she learns to just crap on one wall… I’m leaving a couple piles where I want her to poop when I pick. I don’t know how long to carry on before giving up, but I’m still holding out hope.

[Ghazzu]

@endlessclimb

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?

If you put the top of the bucket higher than the anus, it is physically impossible for her to poop in it.

[merrygoround]

It is a no brainer to raise the bucket. Fill it half way, hang it, and then top it off. sure it’s more work but less work than cleaning poop filled bucket/

[endlessclimb]

Just got the thumbs up to move the bucket up. Hopefully that solves my poop problems.

Thanks again everyone, I really appreciate it!

[endlessclimb]

@Ghazzu

If you put the top of the bucket higher than the anus, it is physically impossible for her to poop in it.

I’m a dipwad, when it was mentioned to put it higher than the base of the dock, my brain mistook the location of “base” and “tip”… hence the confusion.

Oof. Sorry about that! I got it now!

[endlessclimb]

@merrygoround

It is a no brainer to raise the bucket. Fill it half way, hang it, and then top it off. sure it’s more work but less work than cleaning poop filled bucket/

If it’s a clean but full bucket I won’t spill a drop.

If it’s a pooped and full bucket, it’s all over my shirt and pants, and maybe in one shaft of my boots.

I think it’s the pressure. Dont spill dont spill…

I’m going to move the milk crate up to the top of the wire, which will put the lip about 4" higher than that. I will eyeball it first, but it should be enough to get higher than her bum.

[oldernewbie]

@2DogsFarm

IIWM, I’d go with a bucket with a rim that is above the level of the Poop Exit (anus) when set in the crate. 5gal paint buckets sold at most home supply places should be the right size.
On any horse this will be directly below the tail, so easy to measure.
The spiky thing looks like an accident waiting to happen :ambivalence:

Old Horsemen’s Saying:
“If there is a way for a horse to injure themselves, they will”

Yeah, that was not my best idea was it? Works fine for the rear, not so much for the front!

The frame would have worked, but moving the bucket up is even better.

This discussion is the perfect example of the hive mind doing a great job of solving a problem!

[clanter]

just a question, does the horse poop in the feed bucket that is in corner of the stall? If not then mount the water bucket in a corner

I see no mention of the feed bucket being pooped in