Itchin Post

[Griffox]

Oohh...I know Treely would LOVE this. I hold my breath every time she scratches her big butt on the fence and the boards start bowing out. I can just see the whole fence line going down and her sitting on top like, "Whaat?"

http://itchin-post.com/index-l.html

[Sport Horse]

What a great invention!

[Elysian*Fields*Farm]

Until I got these two drafts, I didn't realize how destructive to trees a horse could be.

I think an iching post might be the answer to getting them to leave the trees alone. I clicked on the link in the OPmessage and got an error message, so I could not see it.

My two rescued Percherons killed a live oak sapling about 15 feet tall this winter. They would walk it down from the front, and bend it over to use it to scratch their bellies. Finally, one day it just snapped in two, and we had to uproot it to keep them from accidentally impaling themselves on the six foot staub that remained-- they were still walking over it and trying to rub their bellies on it.

They use a couple of othe trees with rough bark to scratch their butts and their sides. They are on a regular worming program, but last spring, I saw the mare rubbing and scratching when she shed her winter coat. And it's not like she isn't groomed regularly. I just got the gelding in October. His while belly was one big raw sore when I got him. He saw the mare using the sapling to scratch and joined right in. My light horses don't rub on trees at all.

Since they both came with their tails cut off or docked-- I have wondered if the bugs down here are just tormenting the fire out of them. I have fly spray, which the gelding doesn't mind, but I have to tie the mare and distract her so she doesn's see the spray bottle (or hear he spray bottle) You can only spray her rear. You have to wipe the spray on the rest of her.

They only bother the trees-- I have two strands of electric wore so they leave the fence alone.

[Graymare]

EF: Pour yourself a tall beverage, grab a snack and settle in to read the majority of this thread: http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showt ... p?t=155469 - At least the first 15 pages and Case Studies.

Then go out and stock up on Equimax (www.horsehealthusa.com has the best price)