My horse has no tail left !!! They ate it right to the dock !!! When he is lying down they are now working on the mane and his coat. They get hay and grain and steal his alfalfa pellets. They were just sheared yesterday and have plenty of weight on them so they are not hungry. I have no place else to put them but keep them in with him. I can't lock him up or he goes crazy so I can't let them out in "shifts" Has anyone ever heard of this?

Thanks, Karen

-- Karen (KarenVF@aol.com), April 12, 2001

Answers

We have kept horses with our sheep and never had this problem. I would wonder if they need minerals or maybe a salt block. Have they been wormed lately? Just some suggestions.

-- beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), April 12, 2001.

Wasn't there a thread about this a while back? I don't know if there was a definitive reason ever given/found. My thoughts were mineral deficiency of some sort causing pica.

How do your goats like the taste of something like Grannick's Bitter Apple? could you spray what's left of your horse's mane and tail with it? In the case of the tail at least, I'd even give thought to dampening it with a spray bottle and shaking some red pepper (cayenne) onto it and see if they like that taste sensation. The local deer herd sure doesn't. (don't get it in your eyes!)

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), April 12, 2001.

Actually, that was my thread about a year ago, and it was my buck goat that did the tail eating. I mixed alot of cayenne pepper into vaseline and combed it into his tail, worked like a charm. BTW, my goats did have a mineral deficiency and I think this might have been part of the cause of the hair eating.

-- Julie (julieamc@excite.com), April 12, 2001.

I agree with Beckie, sounds like they need a mineral salt block. Many times sheep chew on things trying to get a mineral they're in need of. Certainly worth the price of a block to find out.

-- jennifer (schwabauer@aol.com), April 12, 2001.

Can they have a regular mineral salt block like for horses or cattle that I can buy at the feed store? I know they are not supposed to have copper. Isn't that in the mineral salt block?

Thanks for all the responses, Karen

-- Karen (karenVF@aol.com), April 13, 2001.

Don't get a block- it is too hard on their teeth, plus they don't get enough of whatever they are lacking, fast enough.

Gt some loose sheep minerals and keep it out free choice. Also have slat out free choice. And if they do lack something, you will se them eat the mineral like there is no tomorrow-but that should be brief.

Hope that helps!

Sarah

-- Sarah (heartsongacres@juno.com), April 13, 2001.