My horse urinates on his hay. What can I do to stop this?
He is in a small yard at present and as it is made of electric tape it is not strong enough to hold a fence feeder. What might cause him to do this? How can I stop him doing it?
What we do here to keep hay in place and not get it tromped into the ground or in your situation to not get urinated on, 1.)we use old water tanks (stock tanks), you can just punch some holes in the bottom so water drains out if you get rain (just easier than having to go out and dump it unless you buy a new one and don't want to ruin it) anyway, they work great to feed out of and less dangrous to the horse than feeders while the horse still eats in a natural position. 2) old tractor tires also work great to feed out of. We use both here.
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February 15th, 2009 at 4:15 am
1. if you see him doing it then give him a sort of NO so then he might be frighted about peeing there if he knows he gets a row.
2. put the hay in a deeper stronger holder so then its harder for him to pee there.
3. sell your yard and then you can buy a new field or yard but mayb ethats to much hard work because he pees in his hay.
*good luck*
keni bee
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OWN HORSES
February 15th, 2009 at 4:47 am
He may not like having his urine splash up at him when he goes and the hay provides a padding for this. You have a real problem here! Providing another type of bedding in an area away from his hay may help give him a different place to pee, such as shavings, or straw, or just some of his already fouled hay. There are feeders that free stand above the ground for hay, like a sheep's manger. This may help him get clean hay for eating.
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February 15th, 2009 at 5:25 am
If you got him from another stable they may have had somthing like the hay you give for his bedding.
he might be mistaking it for that.
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February 15th, 2009 at 6:07 am
LOL you can't stop this. They all do it! Two things you can do, one you can feed just a flake or two at a time. If your horse is hungry for hay, it will clean it up before having to go potty on it. If you give them to much at once and they walk off, more then likely it will be come a toilet and or nap area. Another option is get a outside hay feeder which stand up off the ground. Its like having a hay rack in a stall outside.
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February 15th, 2009 at 6:14 am
What we do here to keep hay in place and not get it tromped into the ground or in your situation to not get urinated on, 1.)we use old water tanks (stock tanks), you can just punch some holes in the bottom so water drains out if you get rain (just easier than having to go out and dump it unless you buy a new one and don't want to ruin it) anyway, they work great to feed out of and less dangrous to the horse than feeders while the horse still eats in a natural position. 2) old tractor tires also work great to feed out of. We use both here.
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http://www.HiddenHQH.com
February 15th, 2009 at 6:55 am
Umm- if the fence can't hold a feeder, is it safe enough for you horse to be in? Seems kinda risky to me. And my only answer is a hay net.
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February 15th, 2009 at 7:29 am
He needs more space.
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February 15th, 2009 at 8:06 am
Most horses like to pee on something soft so their urine doesn't splash onto their legs. I expect that's why your horse is peeing on his hay. Your best bet is to provide him with a seperate area that also has something soft to void on. Either a corner with straw or shavings for bedding, even nice deep grass will work. Most horses will not pee on rubber matting, or hard ground if they can avoid it.
Also, consider buying a hay bunk or a feeder of some sorts. It will protect your horse's hay from urine, and it will also save alot of wastage in food as it won't get tromped on and ruined. I know many people do use big tires successfully for feeders, just be aware that there has been occasions where horse's get into tire feeders and are trapped, injured or even killed. Foals are especially at risk, I've seen photos of foals that laid down in a big tire and then were stuck and died. Not good. So I would look at other options if possible. A water trough is higher and less tempting to climb into than a tire.
Good luck.
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I own, show and train Paint horses in Canada.
February 15th, 2009 at 8:21 am
get a hay ring
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