Wood chewing S.O.B. wish they'd told me..

[2ndyrgal]

I would have thought that buying a made hunt horse who was “sound with no vices” would have been safe enough.

But nooooo, they neglected to mention that his Sire was a beaver and his dam was at least 90% woodchuck.

I won’t even mention that I’m pretty damn sure he’s at least 2 years older than his brand new shiny Coggins says he is and he’s got a silver dollar sized saddle gall right in the center of his back where the saddle rests, I guess they didn’t believe in pads either.

I’m trying to give him away with full disclosure, no takers so far.

We’re pretty near the zoo though…

I would have thought a hunt would be more reputable than that.

Good job they folded up.

[jsjumper]

How is he to ride?

[gothedistance]

Whoa. Is this the horse you just got a week or so ago? Brownie?

Sorry to hear he isn’t turning out to be all that was promised. Would a cribbing strap help? Or a grazing muzzle? Or electric fence? Or maybe some ulcer medicine?

[2ndyrgal]

Yes, that’s the one…

And he doesn’t crib, he just chews.

And you can’t put a grazing muzzle on them 24/7. I had it tight enough to make his eyes pop and he got it off two days in a row.

Of course, he can’t wear it and actually eat hay in his stall. I’m at my wit’s end.

Of course, he rides like a dreamboat and is sweet as can be.

[2ndyrgal]

Electric fence is not an option.

He is fat as a tick and healthy as can be. I’d have to put 7000 feet of electric fence far enough away from any wood so he couldn’t reach it.

I’d have to cover his entire stall with sheet metal.

Not going to happen.

I wish I could find anything else to hate about him, but he’s about as perfect as you can get.

Except for the destructive force of a chain saw.

[Somermist]

Is he chewing in the stall, fences or both? Do you think perhaps he is just nervous? Would he rather chew than eat grass or hay?

[Somermist]

Ok, sorry, we must have been posting at the same time. So, does he chew rather than eat?

[2ndyrgal]

He chews EVERYTHING

And he eats just fine… He just chews like someone who has to have that post coitus cigarette…

Boards, top, bottom, center,
posts from top to bottom,
stall anywhere he can reach.

He’s going to be a happy meal for a big cat if I can’t find someplace soon.

My husband says MONDAY.

[poniesinthenight]

Bear with me!!!

Go to Tractor Supply, buy a bag of All Purpose Mineral, put a scoop in something he can’t tip over and see if that helps. Doesn’t cost much and maybe this horse will turn the corner.

[Somermist]

Yikes. That’s terrible. I wish I had something to offer, but it sounds like he has a destructive habit. I would not think ulcers would cause this. Did you contact the hunt to tell them he’s not working out? I know they are under no obligation, kind of shady they did not tell you. It does not sound like this just started.

[Burbank]

have you tried to send him back?

[2ndyrgal]

I’ve tried to send him back…

But as the hunt he was with has folded, and no one has responded to calls or emails, I think I’m out of luck there.

I really wanted this horse to have a good lifetime home with me. My husband works his butt off so we can have a nice place.

Horse has a big honking Redmond Rock salt block in his stall. Ignores it and chews the posts.

This is not something that just started, I walked out the other day to see him destroying a top fence board. It’s like he was trying to escape. Just grabbed ahold of the top rail, bit down as hard as he could and twisted til he got a big hunk off, which he proceeded to chew up like a bunny with a carrot stick. I slung my hat at him, which backed him off for a second, then he was right back at it. And the field he is in has the yummy orchard grass/white clover stuff. My other horse almost never lifts his head!

I’ve never seen anything like it. I hate putting down a sweet, useful horse, but once I reveal his dirty little secret, no one seems to want him.

[SwampYankee]

I’d put him outside in a steel round-pen that you can move as he eats down each “crop circle.” Or a field fenced with stone walls and wire. He needs to be denied the opportunity . . .

[Somermist]

Wow, sorry thats really a tough spot. I would be interested as to anyone else’s ideas. We had a wood chewer off the track last year, kept her in one pasture only. We put hot wire on all three boards with a good solar fencer. But, it was a pain and expensive and I don’t know if that would even help you cause it sounds like he will even go after the posts.

[Chall]

cant you build him a chew toy of wood in his pasture? so he chew it up, and keep him out 24/7.

[red2004]

[QUOTE=2ndyrgal;6294553]
I would have thought that buying a made hunt horse who was “sound with no vices” would have been safe enough.

But nooooo, they neglected to mention that his Sire was a beaver and his dam was at least 90% woodchuck.

I won’t even mention that I’m pretty damn sure he’s at least 2 years older than his brand new shiny Coggins says he is and he’s got a silver dollar sized saddle gall right in the center of his back where the saddle rests, I guess they didn’t believe in pads either.

I’m trying to give him away with full disclosure, no takers so far.

We’re pretty near the zoo though…

I would have thought a hunt would be more reputable than that.

Good job they folded up.[/QUOTE]

I just may know someone… Do you have a picture, and more info. PM me. No wooden fences. Her paddocks and turn outs are metal! She lost her hunt horse last month, and is looking. Thanks

[rebecca_yount]

So you bought a horse sight unseen? Isn’t that kind of unusual? If you had gone to see him would you have noticed the saddle gall and would his teeth be worn or would his stall/paddock be a mess from his chewing?

I wouldn’t be surprised at much if you didn’t go to check the horse out first before buying him. I personally have never done this and never would.

[Appsolute]

A free to eat muzzle wouldn’t work?

[xeroxchick]

If it was me, i would definatly do the metal gate round pen, daily uguard doses for two weeks and get the dentist out. Valium?

[kookicat]

My vet says that horses only chew wood when they’re lacking in something. I’d offer him a good, wide spec min/vit supplement and see what happens.

Maybe paint your fences with a repellent? I googled, and this keeps coming up: http://www.dycosote.com/

Or maybe Quitt pellets?