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Help for horse with an oral fixation

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  • #1

    Help for horse with an oral fixation

    I'm wondering if anyone out there has advice on what to do with my 6 y.o. OTTB... He's a peach of a horse overall, no problems for the barn staff, perfect for the farrier, quick learner under saddle, doesn't kick or bite (although he doesn't like being groomed and he'll pin his ears and make faces). He's really a friendly guy and gets along with everything and everyone.

    One of his quirks, however, seems to be that he just will not stand patiently when someone's holding him. (Crossties, he's fine.) He doesn't dance around or anything-- his feet never move-- but he's almost like a little kid who just has to fiddle with everything within reach... lead rope, reins, peoples' clothes, water bottles sitting on picnic tables, you name it. If he can REACH it, he wants to play with it.

    If I'm ON him, he's fine-- he'll stand quietly on the buckle, no fussing. But if I'm just standing around with him at his head, like between classes at a show, chit-chatting with someone, whatever, he's got to find something to put in his mouth. (And FWIW, this isn't a horse that wants to eat everything-- he doesn't even like carrots or apples!) He doesn't even CHEW on stuff-- just gets it in his mouth and holds it. He's not a cribber or a wood chewer, either.

    I'm guessing I'll be getting advice like "smack him," "growl/scream at him," and so forth... And I admit, I should probably be more of the "mean mom" where this is concerned, but there's really not a nasty bone in his body. I've halfheartedly considered getting him a Jolly Ball for a pacifier, but it's not like I can carry that around in my pocket anytime I happen to stand at his head to hold him.

    Before anyone torches me for being too much of a softie, rest assured that we HAVE gone rounds over dangerous behavior. Like I said, he hates being groomed in certain spots, and when I first got him he DID try snapping and kicking (well, leg-lifting anyway). One or two open-handed smacks on the belly cured that problem; he learned that he's allowed to make faces and that's it, and he's respectful of that.

    So is there a solution OTHER than "mean mom" for my horse's oral fixation??
    *friend of bar.ka

    "Evidently, I am an unrepentant b*tch, possible trouble maker, and all around super villian"
    Tags: None
  • #2
    My rule is once the horse is pulled out of the pasture or stall and the halter goes on, goofy stuff stops. On their own time they are free to carry on and towards that end my two year old gelding goes bonkers w/ a jolly ball in the field- he'll bop the others horses with it. If he can reach a blanket or crop, he drags those around, ditto a short piece of hose he found. He'll walk around with that hose in his mouth like he's trying decide whether to start a Lawn & Garden Service or Auto Repair store.

    Good luck!

    Comment

    • #3
      I have one VERY orally fixated horse, and that's putting it very mildly. Sounds a lot like yours, just HAS to put everything in his mouth, and as a result, he has quite a few pasture and stall toys. Yah, I'd love to have the rule that the goofy stuff stops when the halter is on, but really, nothing short of beating him into submission time and time again so that he is absolutely terrified of me is going to work with my guy, and I'm not prepared to do that.

      I've tried the "mean mom" routine. It had virtually NO effect. He just came back time and time again for more. I've swatted him, jumped up and down waving my arms while roaring and looking like a crazy freak more times than I could ever count. Honestly, his eyes go wide for a moment, and then he's right back at it. The 'come to Jesus' moments just don't work.

      The best solution (although it certainly hasn't cured it, but it has improved the behaviour) is to ignore him. I think he's doing it for attention most of the time. If he starts grabbing at something like the crop, a bucket sitting out that he doesn't need to play with etc, I just gently take it, walk away and ignore him for a couple minutes. That way he's not getting rewarded with the attention he wants.

      Comment

      • #4
        Had one of those too...

        I had one of those too. Fairly high level jumper, was lovely to work with at home, in the grooming stalls at shows, etc. Never bit, kicked, etc. Was a compulsive cross tie chewer however. At shows, he would stand perfectly quietly if he was allowed to chew on the lead rope. If you got after him for it (yes, we tried to discipline both the lead rope and cross tie chewing) he became fidgety, he tried to bite (out of character at shows) and became generally extremely agitated, to the point that he was a pain in the butt to hold and just became generally upset. Of course, his focus and ride-ability then suffered.

        The solution we found? We let him sacrifice a lead shank or two by chewing on them at shows. We referred to them as a "sooky" and let him chew them. He would then relax and stand quietly... and continue to relax when you got on him. It really wasn't worth the disciplinary action... we likened it more to someone who fidgets and can't control it, or someone who bites their nails compulsively. They can't control it either.... it was like a tension thing at shows. He showed for more then 8 years and it never went away... he just seemed more focused and relaxed if allowed to stand quietly and chew the lead rope. No matter how many shows he went to.

        Sometimes habits, especially those that are stress induced at a show aren't going to change. I'd really rather my horse meditatively chew on his lead rope and relax then misbehave in other, more serious, ways. This was our take on it, and it was a lot less stressful for both the horse and us to constantly be disciplining him without result. He had his outlet and we had a horse that was relaxed and easy to handle.

        Just my thoughts. Pick your battles.

        Comment

        • #5
          Originally posted by cnvh View Post
          I'm wondering if anyone out there has advice on what to do with my 6 y.o. OTTB... He's a peach of a horse overall, no problems for the barn staff, perfect for the farrier, quick learner under saddle, doesn't kick or bite (although he doesn't like being groomed and he'll pin his ears and make faces). He's really a friendly guy and gets along with everything and everyone.

          One of his quirks, however, seems to be that he just will not stand patiently when someone's holding him. (Crossties, he's fine.) He doesn't dance around or anything-- his feet never move-- but he's almost like a little kid who just has to fiddle with everything within reach... lead rope, reins, peoples' clothes, water bottles sitting on picnic tables, you name it. If he can REACH it, he wants to play with it.

          If I'm ON him, he's fine-- he'll stand quietly on the buckle, no fussing. But if I'm just standing around with him at his head, like between classes at a show, chit-chatting with someone, whatever, he's got to find something to put in his mouth. (And FWIW, this isn't a horse that wants to eat everything-- he doesn't even like carrots or apples!) He doesn't even CHEW on stuff-- just gets it in his mouth and holds it. He's not a cribber or a wood chewer, either.

          I'm guessing I'll be getting advice like "smack him," "growl/scream at him," and so forth... And I admit, I should probably be more of the "mean mom" where this is concerned, but there's really not a nasty bone in his body. I've halfheartedly considered getting him a Jolly Ball for a pacifier, but it's not like I can carry that around in my pocket anytime I happen to stand at his head to hold him.

          Before anyone torches me for being too much of a softie, rest assured that we HAVE gone rounds over dangerous behavior. Like I said, he hates being groomed in certain spots, and when I first got him he DID try snapping and kicking (well, leg-lifting anyway). One or two open-handed smacks on the belly cured that problem; he learned that he's allowed to make faces and that's it, and he's respectful of that.

          So is there a solution OTHER than "mean mom" for my horse's oral fixation??
          I'm pretty we sure we own the same horse. You just described my young horse to a 'T'.

          Like others I've never been able to cure it. Just learned to live with it. I tried the growling 'mean' routine to no effect, tried dousing anything in reach with McNasty or RapLast (he learned to LOVE the taste and then became impossible to wrap b/c he would eat them) and nothing worked.

          My guy was an orphan foal so I think his mouthiness might stem from that but who knows. He's very sociable and outgoing, not a mean bone in his body and he really tries to please. Hes been laid up from an injury for about a year now so it hasn't really been a problem for us but if he ever gets back in work I'll prob just give him a sacrifice lead rope and be done with it.

          He does have a jolly ball which he loves. He plays with that thing constantly when he's in his stall and has even been known to pick it up and carry it out to his pasture with him when he gets turned out.

          Comment

          • #6
            Check to see if his canine teeth (tushes) are impacted - they should have broken through by the 5th year - some don't... it makes them very 'mouthy'
            * <-- RR Certified Gold Star {) <-- RR Golden Croissant Award
            Training Tip of the Day: If you can’t beat your best competitor, buy his horse.
            NO! What was the question?

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            • Original Poster
              #7
              My vet is supposed to be floating his teeth sometime this spring, so we'll see about the impacted teeth. Thanks!

              Glad to know I'm not the only one with a mouthy toddler of a horse... your descriptions are spot-on like my guy; it really seems like a nail-biting kind of thing for him. COULD I work him over to make him stop? Probably. But I don't want to risk that at the expense of his friendly, easygoing, love-everybody personality, and I don't want to create an even worse outlet for his tensions.

              I like the idea of just sacrificing a lead rope, but do you worry about them sucking it right up and swallowing the end? The few times I've missed my guy start in on his lead rope, he has the knotted end quite a ways up in his mouth! I'm far less concerned about him chewing on it than swallowing it!
              *friend of bar.ka

              "Evidently, I am an unrepentant b*tch, possible trouble maker, and all around super villian"

              Comment

              • #8
                does your guy crib? I have a mouthy guy - perfect on crossties, but when standing with a lead rope for any length of time he quickly wants to put stuff in his mouth... or grooming, he likes to "hold" the brushes - i figure this is where his cribbing habbit comes from. If he is busy hes fine, but in the stall (like right now, hes on stall rest) hes becoming a destructive little monster! I had to tighten the crib strap a bit, it usually is just loosely on :\

                Comment

                • #9
                  One of my horses does this. Perfect manners, obedient, trained - blah blah blah.

                  If I'm standing there holding his lead he wants to put it in his mouth and play with it. Only when I'm standing there talking.

                  I'll probably be flamed too but what the hell. I let him hold a piece of the lead in his mouth.

                  What would Pat Parelli think? The horror!

                  Whatever.

                  My young horse does get into everything but that has almost stopped as he's gotten older.
                  Brothers and sisters, I bid you beware
                  Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.
                  -Rudyard Kipling

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    My coming 3 year old does this, too, and he's an orphan (and on stall rest for growing too fast). I'm sure it has something to do w/ that, because my coming two year old doesn't, and he had a great mom. Not that I WASN'T a great mom...just not the same!

                    Originally posted by WorthTheWait95 View Post
                    I'm pretty we sure we own the same horse. You just described my young horse to a 'T'.

                    Like others I've never been able to cure it. Just learned to live with it. I tried the growling 'mean' routine to no effect, tried dousing anything in reach with McNasty or RapLast (he learned to LOVE the taste and then became impossible to wrap b/c he would eat them) and nothing worked.

                    My guy was an orphan foal so I think his mouthiness might stem from that but who knows. He's very sociable and outgoing, not a mean bone in his body and he really tries to please. Hes been laid up from an injury for about a year now so it hasn't really been a problem for us but if he ever gets back in work I'll prob just give him a sacrifice lead rope and be done with it.

                    He does have a jolly ball which he loves. He plays with that thing constantly when he's in his stall and has even been known to pick it up and carry it out to his pasture with him when he gets turned out.
                    --Becky in TX
                    Clinic Blogs and Rolex Blogs
                    She who throws dirt is losing ground.

                    Comment

                    • Original Poster
                      #11
                      Originally posted by EventingJ View Post
                      does your guy crib? I have a mouthy guy - perfect on crossties, but when standing with a lead rope for any length of time he quickly wants to put stuff in his mouth... or grooming, he likes to "hold" the brushes - i figure this is where his cribbing habbit comes from. If he is busy hes fine, but in the stall (like right now, hes on stall rest) hes becoming a destructive little monster! I had to tighten the crib strap a bit, it usually is just loosely on :\
                      He doesn't crib, thank goodness. Actually, when he's in his stall he seems perfectly relaxed; he doesn't pace around or gnaw on anything, just eats hay and hangs out. It's really ONLY when I'm at his head, holding him on a lead or reins, that he gets mouthy.

                      (The horse across the aisle is a voracious cribber, though-- I'm hoping and praying my guy doesn't learn by example. )
                      *friend of bar.ka

                      "Evidently, I am an unrepentant b*tch, possible trouble maker, and all around super villian"

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Is there a large, sturdy dog toy that you could give him as a pacifier, maybe? Just a thought. (:
                        "Remain relentlessly cheerful."

                        Graphite/Pastel Portraits

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                        • #13
                          My OTTB is exactly the same way. I just let him. If that's the worst he does, I feel pretty lucky.
                          Founding Member of "I Kept 'Off Topic Day!' Open"

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            M 21 year old TB (17 years since his last race. ) is much the same. He is perfectly well trained, well mannered, easy to handle, a perfect gentleman....

                            But he is a chronic cross-tie and lead rope chewer. Makes me NUTS. I've tried every deterrent in the book. Thankfully he does not crib or chew, this seems a habit reserved for grooming time.

                            I spray lemon juice on the cross-ties and lead rope. It works.

                            I will admit, the compulsion is significantly worse when he's cooped up more due to bad weather or whatever.
                            We couldn't all be cowboys, so some of us are clowns.

                            Comment

                            • Original Poster
                              #15
                              Originally posted by SarahandSam View Post
                              Is there a large, sturdy dog toy that you could give him as a pacifier, maybe? Just a thought. (:
                              Hmm, I like this idea... It would certainly raise eyebrows at our barn schooling shows!
                              *friend of bar.ka

                              "Evidently, I am an unrepentant b*tch, possible trouble maker, and all around super villian"

                              Comment

                              • #16
                                I have a young MARE who loves anything with a "string". Zipper pulls, strings on my toque, pony-tails, shoe laces, lead lines, blanket straps etc etc. Anything she can get in her teeth and pull. She's quiet and delicate about it so you don't always realize until you feel the tug. Yes, she gets told off for it!

                                The jolly-ball kept her interested for about a day, but I'm thinking of getting her one of those dog toys with the big rope. Or a buoy.
                                "Adulthood? You're playing with ponies. That is, like, every 9 year old girl's dream. Adulthood?? You're rocking the HELL out of grade 6, girl."

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                                • #17
                                  My 8 year old OTTB is very mouthy when he's feeling stressed, but he's not allowed to put his mouth or teeth on anything remotely resembling a human,k including clothes, zippers, etc. Lead ropes or whatever are OK, although he's more one to just stick his tongue out and grind his teeth He'll also start gnawing on the fence when I'm in working in the back yard and he wants attention.

                                  I think of it as a stress reliever for him and only get on him for wood chewing or grabbing my clothes. Otherwise, I think its pretty harmless.
                                  Lowly Farm Hand with Delusions of Barn Biddieom.
                                  Witherun Farm
                                  http://witherun-farm.blogspot.com/

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