How to Stop Horses From Chewing on Wood Posts

Once a horse starts chewing wood, getting them to stop is like getting a person to quit smoking. Unlike with smokers, you can't communicate verbally with a horse to explain the hazards of chewing wood. Horses can get splinters in their lips and the wood can cause intestinal damage. Horses, particularly young horses, learn chewing wood from horses near them or the behavior stems from being confined in a stall and the boredom associated with it. To stop the horse from chewing wood, you must eliminate the source of the behavior.

Instructions

    • 1

      Put your horse outside all day, seven days a week. This will keep him occupied and make him less likely to become bored.

    • 2

      Get your vet to analyze your horse's nutrition and check for mineral imbalances. Mineral imbalances cause horses to chew wood. Give your horse a supplement to correct the deficiency.

    • 3

      Feed your horse fully mature hay. Ask your hay supplier about the cutting of hay, and don't choose the first cutting of the season.

    • 4

      Add toys to your horses stall and pasture area. You could take a milk jug and put rocks or sand into the container. Hang it from the ceiling. Put a horse-proof ball or some other toy in his pasture.

    • 5

      Lessen grain and increase hay quantities. As grazers, horses like to continuously eat roughage.

    • 6

      Paint common chewing areas with horse-safe wood chewing deterrent. Purchase the chemical formulas at tack shops.

    • 7

      Change your wood fencing to vinyl or plastic fencing as a last resort.