He is chewing on everything!

babycakes · 11-18-2006, 12:10 AM

I know Lestat's still a baby and he has yet to loose all his teeth. He only lost the front four. But he chews on everything!

Now I wouldn't mind so much because he's a baby and that's what baby's do, but now he has decided that he likes to chew on leather. So of course he is now chewing on my reins! He doesn't chew on them when I'm riding him only when I'm leading him.

Do I reprimand him? At first I wasn't too much, but now he's getting out of hand with it. Should I use other reins for now that I don't mind him chewing on and hope he'll grow out of it? Or do I get after him about it?

The other thing he also chews on that drives me nuts is the chain from the lunge line/lead line.

I'm going to kill him!

**taelesean** · 11-18-2006, 01:10 AM

A little pepper oil on those reins would probably stop it. not sure what it would do to the reins.

You can make a very nice comfy set of reins from 3/4" yacht braid. cut a peide to lenthe and melt the ends. Then attach small trigger clips to ends with a short strip of leather folded over the end of the rope with glue (shoe goo works great) and wrapped with linnen or nylon heavy thread.

Yacht braid is tough stuff and will withstand alot of chewing, yet is feels nice in your hand, even covered in slobber.

recklesshoundog · 11-18-2006, 06:02 AM

I had a colt like that! Everything had to go through his mouth...aurghhhh.

Use some different reins and continue to take them out of his mouth. If that doesn't work, resort to the bitter sprays. (I'd stay away from pepper oil on something your handling, I'd be wiping it in my eyes or face everytime a bug goes by then falling off my horse as I rolled on the ground with my eyes burning out!

This phase too will pass! By the way....LOVE his name.

divinemisselle · 11-18-2006, 07:17 AM

I have heard that mouthy horses are more intelligent.

But it does need a correction. He should understand that it is not allowable to eat mom's new reins. Unless he's buying you new ones for Christmas, that is.

I say, get him a pacifier.

babycakes · 11-18-2006, 09:34 AM

DM, in that case Lestat must be Einstien!

I wish they did make giant horse pacifiers!

Guess I can't complain too much, at least he's not mouthing on me.

Everytime I take them out I turn my back and they go right back in. It has now become a game for him. And I know he knows it drives me nuts because why else would he do it.

I have a pair of inexpensive rope reins that I think I will use for now. Maybe he won't like the taste of those as much because of course those are the cheaper ones

.

barnmom · 11-18-2006, 10:24 AM

my boy is 4 and he loves to chew, mouth, or suck on his lead rope, it's like his pacifier, also i had his jolly ball hanging and he chewed the rope that it was suspended on, at first i thought he was a little old for that but he is a big baby with a baby brain

good luck with your boy i obviously have no advice lol!

Pony express · 11-19-2006, 06:06 PM

I feel your pain. Chase, the weanling I just bought is chewing apart my stall. Now it has no door, he and Tessa can go in and out as they like, but he is still chewing it up. Driving me crazy, he is not sucking on it, just chewing. Could he be cutting teeth? I know nothing about how they get their teeth.

babycakes · 11-20-2006, 08:25 PM

Of course the inexpensive cotton reins did not taste nearly as good as my nice leather ones.

Maybe I should get him his own set for Christmas!

Lucky1999 · 11-20-2006, 08:31 PM

Might be worth it to get those cotton reins, if he's chewing apart the expensive ones.

babycakes · 11-20-2006, 08:51 PM

Yes I am using the cotton reins as of now. But I don't plan on using them forever.

Someone please tell me he will grow out of it. Please tell me it's just a stage and it will pass.

horses19201 · 11-20-2006, 09:27 PM

Yes, he will grow out of it.

Well hopefully for your reins sake.

personalizedequine · 11-24-2006, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Pony express

I feel your pain. Chase, the weanling I just bought is chewing apart my stall. Now it has no door, he and Tessa can go in and out as they like, but he is still chewing it up. Driving me crazy, he is not sucking on it, just chewing. Could he be cutting teeth? I know nothing about how they get their teeth.

A really old time horseman told me once that adding a tablespoon of cider vinegar to feed would stop this. I never really needed this tip until I was blessed with a colt like you are describing...in one short afternoon in the pasture he had my show mares tail in a bob. It took two years to get that tail back! Anyways, I tried the tip and it worked. I don't know if it was a fluke or not, but what the heck...the cider vinegar is only a couple bucks to try it.

princesskristin · 11-24-2006, 05:47 PM

My horse does it too sometimes. He is young too, and will chew on the cross ties, as well as my reins sometimes. But just like you said, only when you are leading him. It's a sign of boredom, but you could take the advice everyone else is giving, and put some pepper oil on it.

readytogo · 11-24-2006, 09:36 PM

I had a mouthy horse. I got him to stop by taking my leadline [cotton] and when he went to grab it, I would shove a bit more into his mouth just joining him in his fun!
Well, once it wasn't his idea anymore he quikcly lost intrest! So maybe start with that and get the rope reins for a while. It really does work!

11-18-2006, 12:10 AM
babycakes Coming two Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,586	He is chewing on everything! I know Lestat's still a baby and he has yet to loose all his teeth. He only lost the front four. But he chews on everything! Now I wouldn't mind so much because he's a baby and that's what baby's do, but now he has decided that he likes to chew on leather. So of course he is now chewing on my reins! He doesn't chew on them when I'm riding him only when I'm leading him. Do I reprimand him? At first I wasn't too much, but now he's getting out of hand with it. Should I use other reins for now that I don't mind him chewing on and hope he'll grow out of it? Or do I get after him about it? The other thing he also chews on that drives me nuts is the chain from the lunge line/lead line. I'm going to kill him! __________________ Jena <3

11-18-2006, 01:10 AM
taelesean Administrator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,319	A little pepper oil on those reins would probably stop it. not sure what it would do to the reins. You can make a very nice comfy set of reins from 3/4" yacht braid. cut a peide to lenthe and melt the ends. Then attach small trigger clips to ends with a short strip of leather folded over the end of the rope with glue (shoe goo works great) and wrapped with linnen or nylon heavy thread. Yacht braid is tough stuff and will withstand alot of chewing, yet is feels nice in your hand, even covered in slobber. __________________

11-18-2006, 06:02 AM
recklesshoundog Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 3,163	I had a colt like that! Everything had to go through his mouth...aurghhhh. Use some different reins and continue to take them out of his mouth. If that doesn't work, resort to the bitter sprays. (I'd stay away from pepper oil on something your handling, I'd be wiping it in my eyes or face everytime a bug goes by then falling off my horse as I rolled on the ground with my eyes burning out! This phase too will pass! By the way....LOVE his name.

11-18-2006, 07:17 AM
divinemisselle Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: At the bar... Posts: 8,359	I have heard that mouthy horses are more intelligent. But it does need a correction. He should understand that it is not allowable to eat mom's new reins. Unless he's buying you new ones for Christmas, that is. I say, get him a pacifier. __________________ . Lead me not into temptation..... I can find it just fine on my own.....

11-18-2006, 09:34 AM
babycakes Coming two Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,586	DM, in that case Lestat must be Einstien! I wish they did make giant horse pacifiers! Guess I can't complain too much, at least he's not mouthing on me. Everytime I take them out I turn my back and they go right back in. It has now become a game for him. And I know he knows it drives me nuts because why else would he do it. I have a pair of inexpensive rope reins that I think I will use for now. Maybe he won't like the taste of those as much because of course those are the cheaper ones . __________________ Jena <3

11-18-2006, 10:24 AM
barnmom Coming two Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: northeast pennsylvania Posts: 1,995	my boy is 4 and he loves to chew, mouth, or suck on his lead rope, it's like his pacifier, also i had his jolly ball hanging and he chewed the rope that it was suspended on, at first i thought he was a little old for that but he is a big baby with a baby brain good luck with your boy i obviously have no advice lol!

11-19-2006, 06:06 PM
Pony express Started Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Mid Michigan Posts: 2,636	I feel your pain. Chase, the weanling I just bought is chewing apart my stall. Now it has no door, he and Tessa can go in and out as they like, but he is still chewing it up. Driving me crazy, he is not sucking on it, just chewing. Could he be cutting teeth? I know nothing about how they get their teeth. __________________ I don't regret the things I've done. I regret the things I didn't do when I had the chance.

11-20-2006, 08:25 PM
babycakes Coming two Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,586	Of course the inexpensive cotton reins did not taste nearly as good as my nice leather ones. Maybe I should get him his own set for Christmas! __________________ Jena <3

11-20-2006, 08:31 PM
Lucky1999 Yearling Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Nicholasville, KY Posts: 578	Might be worth it to get those cotton reins, if he's chewing apart the expensive ones. __________________ And may the \"horse\" be with you! Alpha Farm - www.horsecampusa.com

11-20-2006, 08:51 PM
babycakes Coming two Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,586	Yes I am using the cotton reins as of now. But I don't plan on using them forever. Someone please tell me he will grow out of it. Please tell me it's just a stage and it will pass. __________________ Jena <3

11-20-2006, 09:27 PM
horses19201 Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: North Carolina Posts: 683	Yes, he will grow out of it. Well hopefully for your reins sake. __________________ Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup ~Maggie~

11-24-2006, 05:47 PM
princesskristin Coming two Join Date: May 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,646	My horse does it too sometimes. He is young too, and will chew on the cross ties, as well as my reins sometimes. But just like you said, only when you are leading him. It's a sign of boredom, but you could take the advice everyone else is giving, and put some pepper oil on it. __________________ Sometimes you just got to take a ride of faith.

11-24-2006, 09:36 PM
readytogo Yearling Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pa. Posts: 686	I had a mouthy horse. I got him to stop by taking my leadline [cotton] and when he went to grab it, I would shove a bit more into his mouth just joining him in his fun! Well, once it wasn't his idea anymore he quikcly lost intrest! So maybe start with that and get the rope reins for a while. It really does work!