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Barnmice Community -> Barnmice Forums -> Horse Health -> Literally eating his legs...
Post Info TOPIC: Literally eating his legs...
sedonasilver


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Date: May 4, 2011
Literally eating his legs...
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My coaches Andalusian has always chewed his front legs since the day he was bought in from running wild as a 3 year old.

She has tried everything, from fly repellant, to shampoos to "fly socks" and nothing is working.

Quiby recently chewed through his fly socks and is now chewing hunks of FLESH from his OWN LEGS!

Has anyone had the same experience? Is it flys/bugs, or is it anxiety, or a psychological issue? How did you treat it? Any success?

(I should add that he's a stallion - classically dressage trained - grey with black skin - 6 years old - paddocked all day in a large area - stabled at night (doesnt chew at himself in the stable) - and is always next to other horses inside or out.)



-- Edited by sedonasilver on Wednesday 4th of May 2011 12:54:20 AM

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Barbara F


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Date: May 4, 2011
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Can they give him a companion? A quiet gelding? I have never heard of anything like this before, but it sounds psychological.
In the meantime, perhaps she could put a grazing muzzle on him so he won't be able to harm himself, but he'll still be able to graze.

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shaiarabs


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Date: May 4, 2011
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in the handful I have seen through my life with horses it has always been a sign of frustration and anxiety

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Nikki Salo


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Date: May 4, 2011
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Some stallions will self mutilate out of breeding frustration and/or anxiety, just like Shaiarabs said. Maybe, like Barb mentioned, your coach can put a grazing muzzle on him in the mean time until you can try him with a buddy.



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barnfrog


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Date: May 8, 2011
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The only thing I have seen help this behavior (I have seen it on three arab studs) was gelding, and it only worked on two of them.



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Queenrider


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Date: May 9, 2011
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This is a stallion behaviour attributed to sexual frustration. Once they start it is difficult to stop. Gelding may work. Turning him out with a group of mares will work as well.

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sedonasilver


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Date: May 16, 2011
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I dont think my coach is willing to geld - she's a very traditional spanish rider...with the belief that you only ride stallions, mares are for breeding...geldings dont have a purpose.

I suggested to her the grazing muzzle, or a buddy and that it could be frustration...but she is dead set that its the flies. You just cant tell some people. Think she is thinking about going to medical way and having him injected up his front legs to desensitise him.

Thanks guys :) we tried!



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