Fence Chewing solution?

[coco21]

Can anyone recommend a paint/solution that I can treat my wood fence with to prevent my horses from chewing on my fences? My two large pastures are hot wired and they leave them alone for the most part. but I have a smaller pasture behind the barn that I use for bad weather turnout (they can get into their stalls) But a lot of time is spent standing around chewing on the fence near the barn. I don't think it's a mineral defiency. They have mineral blocks plus supplements...I think it's just boredom. I can't keep hay in front of them all day long and there is plenty of grass in the paddock. They're just being naughty. Any recommendations? I've seen some sprays (Like McNasty) but I need something in a larger quanitity to treat several sections of the fence. I have plans to hot wire this pasture too in the future but I need something in the meantime.
Thanks

[MunchkinsMom]

Deodorant bath soap. Go to your dollar store or Wal-Mart, get a bunch of cheap strong smelling soap and rub it all over the fences, especially the spots that they have already started to gnaw on.

[coco21]

Deodorant bath soap. Go to your dollar store or Wal-Mart, get a bunch of cheap strong smelling soap and rub it all over the fences, especially the spots that they have already started to gnaw on.

Hmm... that's a new one. I guess I can try it for the short term. But I guess I'd have to reapply it everytime it rains?
I tried Tobassco sauce on a small section ... my 4 year old licked it off!

[Horsey Sandy]

I am in the process of trying dyco-sote--a replacement product for creasote- as I have a wood chewer. Due to rain I have not painted it on the fences yet. Soap and cheyenne pepper helps to slow down the chewing as does Quit, but he seems to find spots he likes when he is bored even though he has 3 pasture mates. I bought a cribbing muzzle with aluminum slats in the bottom. I am just starting to introduce it to him. However, it says not to use it unless you are observing the horse and mine is on a 24 hour turn out at the barn! Has anyone tried such a muzzle?

[alabama]

I bought a cribbing muzzle with aluminum slats in the bottom. I am just starting to introduce it to him. However, it says not to use it unless you are observing the horse and mine is on a 24 hour turn out at the barn! Has anyone tried such a muzzle?

I would think a grazing muzzle would work just as well and you can leave them on all the time. I have a Best Friends grazing muzzle (http://www.bestfriendequine.com/index.php). My horse doesn't crib - she's just fat. I don't know anything about a cribbing muzzle, though.

[Nezzy]

solar charger and hot wire is the only thing that works for my cribber. He will crib on Soap, Cayenne pepper, and Chew-stop solutions. Taste is not an obstacle to my guy. But my guy is a cribber. There is a feed thru supplement for Chewers you might try.

[Spotted Pony]

Someone mentioned using Dawn dishwashing soap on another thread. I have five fields of yearlings that I swear believe they are reincarnated beavers. They have buddies, 24/7 hay, salt and mineral blocks, and grass and they still like to hang in the corner and gnaw the wood. So I went to Sam's, bought a mega size bottle and put it on all the top board as well as the already chewed areas in one field, no small feat as they are 5 acre fields, to test it out and IT WORKED!!! No new chew areas and the old ones haven't changed. It has rained once since I squirted it but that was about a week ago and still working. I'll see how long it lasts but now I'm ou to get busy on the other fences!

[MunchkinsMom]

Hmm... that's a new one. I guess I can try it for the short term. But I guess I'd have to reapply it everytime it rains?
I tried Tobassco sauce on a small section ... my 4 year old licked it off!

I have not had to reapply the soap for a while (applied in October), and it has rained since then.

[fourmares]

Another vote for soap... In a big pasture you can use whatever liquid soap they have at the dollar store and apply it with a paint roller. Not quite as good as stinky bar soap, but it will work.

[coco21]

Okay, I was out there this morning applying Dawn to the fence posts. It seems to deter the older horses but when the 1-1/2 year old goes out there he is chewing everything!!! He's driving me nuts! Any and every surface he can get his teeth on he's chewing it! My poor barn and fencing looks like crap now. Anyone recommend any toys that babies like to chew on? He already has a jolly ball in his stall and I'm not sure he takes much notice of that.
Babies are cute but I can't wait for this one to grow up! I have to say this is my first experience with a baby this young... is there an equivalant to the terrible twos in horses? He sure knows how to push my buttons!

[Rebmik]

I feel your pain!
I have a 5 yo "baby" that likes to "watch" the nag in the next pasture wind suck, now he's thinking "hmmm I wonder why she is doing that...it must taste good, let me taste" hence little bite marks along fence
i've tried hot hot sauce, the spray that is supposed to keep deer and rabbits off stuff:no:, Itchamol Drawing Salve:no:, irish spring:no:, just put dawn on, but now it's POURING down rain:cry:

[Simkie]

Okay, I was out there this morning applying Dawn to the fence posts. It seems to deter the older horses but when the 1-1/2 year old goes out there he is chewing everything!!! He's driving me nuts! Any and every surface he can get his teeth on he's chewing it! My poor barn and fencing looks like crap now. Anyone recommend any toys that babies like to chew on? He already has a jolly ball in his stall and I'm not sure he takes much notice of that.
Babies are cute but I can't wait for this one to grow up! I have to say this is my first experience with a baby this young... is there an equivalant to the terrible twos in horses? He sure knows how to push my buttons!

Can you give him a soft wood board to chew on?

I'm not sure if it would work for a youngster, but it worked well with my cribber. He would only crib on his board and left the rest of the fence alone.

[MunchkinsMom]

This month's issue of The Horse Journal gave high marks to the McNasty and Raplast products for wood chewing prevention.

FYI - I have also used WD-40 in a pinch to put on chew spots on the wood, it has kept them from chewing in those spots also.

For your young one, he might be teething. Some people put out a big pine tree log for the horses to chew on instead of chewing the fences.

[coco21]

For your young one, he might be teething. Some people put out a big pine tree log for the horses to chew on instead of chewing the fences.

I thought of that but I was worried he might get splinters in his mouth. Anyone know if that should be a concern or not?

[MunchkinsMom]

I thought of that but I was worried he might get splinters in his mouth. Anyone know if that should be a concern or not?

Probably less of a concern than the splinters they can get from chewing the fence boards.

I have a huge pine tree in my pasture that was hit by lightening two years ago, and slowly the branches are all falling to the ground, and occasionally I see the horses gnawing on them, and have not had any issues with splinters. (I don't want to cut it down, because the woodpeckers are getting food from it, and the bald eagles roost on it).

[DennisM]

I have to admit, the product Quitt does appear to have worked to stop my one fence-chewing mare.