Terrible Bed Manners

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  • December 23, 2010 at 10:52 am #42234
    Jim Garvin
    Participant

    I don’t know if this is the correct category to place this thread, so feel free to move it, Carl.

    My Canadian/Percheron cross is driving me nuts with his nasty bedding habit. It may be that he’s simply being an animal, but thought I’d toss it out here to see what suggestions you might have.

    He’s in a 12X14 run-in shed, which I can close up during real inclement weather. He tends to spend a lot of time in there if it’s windy, but will stay out in the snow and rain. I use pine shavings for bedding, which I spread out in the stall at night and then push them to one corner during the day.

    The last week or so, he has been completely contented to urinate in the stall and lay down in it. I’ve tried taking the shavings out, but he’ll just “go” on the stall mats and lay down. It makes for problems when I brush him in the morning because he’s either soaked in urine, or it’s all frozen in a mixture of shavings and urine. If this habit continues, it’ll make for some awful smelling sled rides this winter!!

    Let me know your thoughts.

    December 23, 2010 at 1:53 pm #64163
    Mark Cowdrey
    Participant

    Jim I don’t have an answer but I sympathize.
    The bedding (shavings) in my straight stalls ends up behind my 2 younger (4&5) horses from pawing I guess. Even when I bed them last at 9-10, they still end up lying on a wet floor. I have contemplated putting a curb on the back of the stall to keep the bedding in. Anyone tried that? I’m hoping that as time goes on they will stand all night.

    I am fortunate that my older (9) horse not only has quit lying down in his stall but he will stretch back on his chain so his hind feet are on the back side of the gutter and actually urinate directly into the gutter! Keeps his belly clean & dry.

    I use straight stalls because of space and manure management.

    Mark

    December 23, 2010 at 2:15 pm #64170
    Andy Carson
    Moderator

    I use a run-in as well. When I built it, I sloped the ground slightly for drainage towards a drainage ditch (actually, most of the slope was natural). Then I put down a thin layer of gravel, filled the drainage ditch with gravel, and put my bedding on top. I have been using mostly “straw” for bedding (actually I have been scavenging alot of dried up ornamental grass that the previous owners of my house planted as bedding). My mare is “clean” and urinates in the paddock, but my gelding pees in the run-in all the time. No problem, though, because it runs down through the straw easily, through the gravel, and out the drain area. Not that I can really see it run out, but I surmise this is what is going on. Do your stall mats allow urine to drain through? What is under them? Do you really need them?

    December 23, 2010 at 2:45 pm #64167
    LStone
    Participant

    Wondering here. I know there is no harm in laying down, and if he wants to lay, let him lay in my opinion. But, if the tie chain were shorter would there be any danger? would it hinder him from laying or would he lay down anyway? Meanwhile I found that my biggun hates the steel pancake type shedder deals that are so effective for taking care of just what you are dealing with in short order.

    Have a wonderful holiday season all.

    December 23, 2010 at 6:02 pm #64165
    jen judkins
    Participant

    @Jim Garvin 23083 wrote:

    He’s in a 12X14 run-in shed, which I can close up during real inclement weather. He tends to spend a lot of time in there if it’s windy, but will stay out in the snow and rain. I use pine shavings for bedding, which I spread out in the stall at night and then push them to one corner during the day.

    Jim, You might be making an erroneous assumption about your gelding’s preference in regard to when he wants to lay down:rolleyes:. Why sweep the shavings into a corner? He will pee in whatever spot he is used to….whether there are shavings or not. He may also prefer to lay down during the day. I would leave the shavings out (I sweep them back abit from the door, so they don’t walk away), so he can lay down in a dry spot whenever he wants. I’d rather spend alittle more in shavings or sawdust than deal with a urine soaked horse…but that’s just me. Merry Christmas!

    December 23, 2010 at 6:36 pm #64166
    near horse
    Participant

    Bedding? We’re supposed to be providing bedding? Food, water AND now bedding?! What is this the Hilton? But thanks for telling me!

    My horses aren’t too keen on laying anywhere but in the snow outside. Maybe if they had a bed? Or a draft futon. I did see the cable guy out there with ’em last week. Can’t wait for that bill.:)

    December 24, 2010 at 12:54 am #64169
    Jim Garvin
    Participant

    “My horses aren’t too keen on laying anywhere but in the snow outside.”

    If I lived in a place that had snow 10 months of the year, then I suppose my horse would get used to laying out in the snow, too!!!

    December 24, 2010 at 2:21 am #64164
    Mark Cowdrey
    Participant

    Larry,
    Not wanting them to lie down in the stall is strictly selfish on my part from a grooming/bedding conservation perspective. If they want to lie down they can & I certainly would not intentionally discourage them. Based on my limited observations and experience, it seems that more mature, though not aged, horses lie down less, which makes less work & mess for me.
    BTW, my tie chains are attached to the top front of the mangers and hang over the back (horse) side just down to the floor.

    How’s your night vision project going. I’m keeping fingers crossed here for overcast to preserve what little snow we have for 1 ride tomorrow and 2 Saturday. Hoping for a direct hit Sunday.

    Merry, merry to All!
    Mark

    December 27, 2010 at 3:24 pm #64168
    LStone
    Participant

    Not wanting them to lie down in the stall is strictly selfish on my part from a grooming/bedding conservation perspective. If they want to lie down they can & I certainly would not intentionally discourage them. Based on my limited observations and experience, it seems that more mature, though not aged, horses lie down less, which makes less work & mess for me.

    Understood… I hear you my friend and I share the same selfish feelings. Any thoughts from the group about a shortened tie chain? Of course not to hang them with but short enough so that they will not be comfortable while laying then get back up.

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