biting

[Minouri]

All of a sudden Snowy is biting Scooter's back. They are usually real chummy. Recently Snowy gave him 3 nice bites (luckily none broke the skin but they are all grazing the hair off and leaving bruises) on his back. Today he bit him when I put down the hay. I made four big piles like I always do and Snowy went from one pile to another and I guess Scooter didn't move off as quickly as he should have.

Outside of separating them...which I don't want to do....there isn't too much I can do, right? Is this a seasonal thing? I seem to remember Snowy biting Scooter last Fall, too....when we were at a barn in Lincoln and it got cold. Or maybe it just comes in cycles while they "discuss" their pecking order? I can't remember him biting him since we moved in here.

If it becomes a chronic problem I'll stick Snowy in one paddock while Scooter stays in the other, but I hate to do that to Snowy.

[Monty]

What about a blanket on Scooter ? Just for a while ? Just a thought - ;-)

[Minouri]

I could do that but won't that flatten his winter hair?

[motorgypsy]

A blanket or at least a turnout sheet really helps protect them for the overly enthusiastic disciplinarians in the herd!! Get at least 1200 denier breathable though. We like Weatherbeeta sheets quite well.

[motorgypsy]

It does some flattening but you get airspace under the sheet and a blanket is warm enough so it doesn't matter if the hair gets flat or not. We blanket all winter here in SC and use sheets until it starts freezing and not going above 50 during the day.

[Minouri]

I have blankets that I purchased incase I ever saw them shiver. I wanted to be prepared, but I don't want to start blanketing if I dont' have to and I heard that if you start......then you have to keep it up because you flatten the hair and inhibit the growth of the winter hair. Hmmmm, I'm going to have to research this topic more. But I appreciate your input.

This isn't his normal behavior. I'm hoping they just settle this dispute and move on. Hope I don't have to spend the winter worrying about blanketing them.

[motorgypsy]

That is true. We leave sheets on until it drops to about 20 and then we blanket for the rest of the winter until it goes above freezing and into the fifties when we go back to sheets. This way we don't have to clip for parades or shows or demos and the cold rain here is really bad and our guys don't like shelters and won't use them. Also they eat less when blanketed so it works out for us.

[Minouri]

Interesting. To blanket or not to blanket was one of my first big decisions when I finally got a horse of my own. I remember reading every article I could get my hands on. Eventually I went with what seemed to make sense for me. If you don't have a reason to do it, you shouldn't. I light ride Scooter all winter, so he's not building up a sweat and having to dry off. Age is something that can necessitate blanketing, but I watch both horses carefully and neither have ever given any indication of being cold. I know some horses don't get good winter coats, but mine both puff up like bunnies in the winter. I feed extra hay all winter, but I only have 2 horses so it's no big deal.

:lol: I'm laughing at myself for the post. I suppose I was hoping for a magic spell that stopped biting?

But blanketing? uggg. I'll just tell Scooter to move faster next time.

[Mellifluous]

Maybe you could put something nasty tasting on scooter's back.

[Minouri]

:lol: Now we're on the right track...

Course I've never found anything my Appy won't eat. :shock:

[GeorgeGuns]

If its mostly at the hay piles that the biting is happening, I'd spread them much further apart, make it more work for the aggressor.

Very well could be seasonal, with weather getting colder, they need to bulk up so the alpha will make sure he/she gets there first and keeps it.

[Jane Hurl]

Here's a thought (though probably not a very good one): there is stuff out there that's designed to stop horses from biting wood. The one I have is "Bitter Apple" flavour. What if you put some of that on Scooter's back?

Oh, wait. Then if Scooter wanted to scratch his own back, HE'D get a mouth full of it.

Never mind.

[Moniece Dickerson]

Poor Scooter,he takes care of Snowey and thats the thanks he gets.I do believe as well that it is probably a seasonal thing and agree that Snowey must think food is not as plentiful in the winter so he better make sure he gets all he wants first.Can you maybe just separate at feed time?Your friend,Moniece

[Minouri]

I'm going to try feeding only in their stalls........or very separate piles. I've always given the horses distance so they can't kick each other between piles....but I think you guys are right that it is food related. If I get them to go into their stalls to eat every morning (usually I just put the hay outside if it's a nice day and feed grain inside) that might just solve the problem. We'll see.

[Mellifluous]

More seperation will probably do the trick.

I am with you on the whole blanketing thing. I have never had to blanket my guys and they are just fine during the winter. I guess that does make me a redneck horse owner since I probably would win "hairiest horse" at a fall/winter fun show.

[Minouri]

Mel,

I don't know about you, but I actually look forward to how they get in the winter. They are so soft and cuddly. I ride bareback most of the winter and I just want to hug them like teddy bears because they are so puffy and warm.

[Mellifluous]

Yup, I love the fuzzy stage too - as long as they haven't rolled in mud! :shock:

Their coats are like velvet and they make great handwarmers on a cold morning.

[Terry Wallace]

Farther distance between hay piles is the answer.
Blankets? Heavens no! Too many horses are blanketed when they do not need to be.... besides...Snowy will likely be happy to rip that blanket up for you...anytime he can get a hold of it!

[Minouri]

I've been feeding them in their stalls and that seems to have solved the problem. Now that we have a run in situation it's actually pretty easy to just toss it over the half door. It was just a habit for me to feed them out in the paddock area.

[pnalley]

Once the grass dies back all my horses get MUCH more cranky with each other at feeding time. I have found if I can keep hay in front of them all the time (almost impossible) they act mellow.

Perhaps your horses are going from the comfortably full feeling of 24/7 grazing to the hunger pain stage of not as much forage? I know I get cranky when I'm hungry.

[motorgypsy]

Glad things are working out fine. They are such silly creatures!

We get a huge amount of rain in the winter, icy cold rain, and our guys just stand out in it and shiver like crazy. DUMB when they have shelter. So we blanket and they stay nice and toasty. We also get ice storms where it rains then freezes on the ground and in the trees. They really shivered in those. They actually seem to like their blankets and will just stand and let us put them on when the rains come in and then go back out to graze. They wear the sheets or blankets 24/7 - of course they have shade and do use it if it gets a little warm during the day but they don't sweat under the blankets. Must be that tropical blood!!

[Minouri]

You guys make some good points. I'm always glad to have asked a question here even when it feels like a silly one.

[Laura S]

I guess that does make me a redneck horse owner since I probably would win "hairiest horse" at a fall/winter fun show.
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Hey, that would make a great photo contest!!! :idea: The hairiest winter paso!!