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Discussion on Wither nibbling
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Member:
Imogen
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Posted on Saturday, Feb 11, 2006 - 4:09 am:
I've often seen mares, in particular, indulge in this. They stand head to tail in pairs and use their teath to grip on to the other's withers and nibble away. It's usually a bad sign of mares that are too closely bonded and are going to object when you separate them for any reason.
My 10 month old filly foal has now started obsessive wither nibbling with a gelding pasture mate. She is in at nights, and the moment I put her out in the morning they start and they do it on and off all day. If it's dark and I'm in the yard I can HEAR the nibbling half a field away.
No baldness/irritation problems yet but I have never seen this level of almost stereotypic behaviour before. Otherwise the filly is quite normal.
Other than the obvious (try and persuade the gelding's owner he needs to go back into work and leave us for a while...) does anyone have any hints what to do about this? My farrier says put washing up liquid on their withers...
All the best
Imogen
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Feb 11, 2006 - 10:39 am:
It might work Imogen. In this country the vets sell a product called bitter apple, I think it is a solution of quinine which is very bitter, that might help.
DrO
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Member:
Frances
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Posted on Saturday, Feb 11, 2006 - 1:46 pm:
Aloe vera gel, esp the real thing from inside the plant itself, is pretty bitter. I've used it on my dog's injured paw to stop him licking it.
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Member:
Liliana5
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Posted on Saturday, Feb 11, 2006 - 4:20 pm:
Hello Imogen,
Sorry I have no advise but I'm just curious as to why do you object to this, when it is a natural social behavior in horses. In fact some of my horses do it to me, I scratch their wither and they DrOp the lip and then scratch my back.
Just wondered...
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Member:
Imogen
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Posted on Sunday, Feb 12, 2006 - 5:02 am:
I would have no problem if it was the occasional affectionate nibble but this is any time they are not grazing or sleeping... ie several hours a day...
I'm going to try the Aloe vera gel I think. Thanks Frances.
Imogen
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