Love this DIY idea of fence, absolutely love it. I have to use the steel pipe to hide the cable for the dicer or my horse will unplug the cord and chew on it.
I use to work at a race track and had to replace a lot of stall wall planks because the horses would chew them. I once asked a vet what causes the horse to chew the walls and was told more then likely it was boredom.
I know that you love where you live, your land, your home, your workshop, your animals, your friends and not least of all your wife. Imagine not seeing any of them ever again. Imagine trying to learn Braille at your age! Eye protection, PLEASE!
The horses next door started eating the board fencing when we got a new horse. The 3 are like a dynamic trio, always have to know where are all at all times. Guess they're eating their way to my pasture- grass IS greener on my side! 😊
Very nice Idea. If you made them square, they would much faster to make, and then you could use 4 screws, to make them even stronger yet ... Thanks for sharing ...
ou could probably sell the old boards as decorative scalloped trim or something lol. Very nice solution for the fencing, I will have to remember that one :)
Great idea. my horses eats the wood too but my vet told me its begause they dont get enough hay. the hay godt som fibers in it the horses need if they dont get it from hay they eat the wood :-)
I agree boredom is probably the root issue, but it is not the only cause of cribbing, or crib biting, though this looks maybe more like lignophagia... (which used to be under the same heading of cribbing, but apparently is now classed as something separate...)
I'm in Ireland too - my horses started eating wood when they got low in copper in their diet. Here in Ireland all hay you buy and anything else grown here (beet pulp, oats etc) is HIGH in Iron - which causes a copper/zinc etc deficiency. Low copper is the main issue. All well water and even my spring water is also high in iron. High iron due to high rainfall washing out all other nutrients. Hence why the streams run red here! Copper deficiency is easier to see on the horse in those with dark coats - especially black - like at the 1 minute mark - your black and white cob - his black is 'red black' - it's not jet black. It's not sun bleaching. I have turned my mare back to black during summer with Cuppra copper supplement - it's very effective. Once i got copper corrected in their diet - and continue to always supplement it according to the high level of iron in the diet - they have stopped eating wood. Hay balancer feeds here in Ireland like Baileys and Gain all ADD iron to their hay balancers so they are no good. Grass grazing here is high in iron. Not enough copper can also result in lethargy due to anemia - the iron requires copper to make blood cells. Also it's important for immune function (parasite control) aswell as pigmentation of the hair. (in humans too! Early greying? Copper deficiency!) Cuppra worked wonders for my horses coats and general health - amazing difference! I would recommend it to all horse owners in Ireland - or some other high copper/no iron supplement. (Just check all your feeds don't have iron added otherwise you just add to the grazing and hay high iron burden they are already struggling with and would need even MORE copper to correct it) Keep the copper feed away from goats and sheep though - they dont need anywhere near as much as horses.
+Neupsychal They are definitely doing it for a reason, deficiency, boredom, it's just not seen in wild horses. I've never ever seen a wild horse chew wood. Having said that, i think they said they keep them in the small area during the day. Not to be judgemental, but it's not natural environments that create these issues. I always feel bad for horses as they cannot speak what they want. Listen to your horses on youtube though would know what to do, as would I as I'm super tuned in to nature. These horses aren't just asking for their needs to be met, they are screaming :(
I agree, boredom is a major cause of many domesticated horses behavioural issues! It's always a struggle to mimic natural environments for a horse as they are MEANT to be roaming so many thousands of acres. Here in Ireland, certainly the west, it's impossible to use the paddocks in the winter for grazing as the weather is so wet. It would be a mud bath within weeks so many have 'dry lots' to house horses during the winter. I use a Jamie Jackson 'Paddock Paradise' idea for my horses which i'm still constructing and ever expanding so i can keep the horses MOVING and ACTIVE. I observed wood chewing in my horses if the previous summer was very wet AND i didn't supplement copper/magnesium/zinc. This, i believe, causes an even higher ratio of iron in the hay i buy due to many more nutrients being washed out of the soil - esp. Mag and copper. Mag and copper are not added to soils generally, only NPK added. This could be why the poster experienced it one year rather than others. It's hard to get the mineral balance right, it all depends on the environment they're in. Once you get the balance right it's wonderful to experience happy horses that look good and behave naturally 'spirited' :-) The poster might now find their horses chewing the new galvanised poles for the zinc coating nutrient!! I like their idea for the fencing, very ingenious, yet i wouldn't ignore the root cause of wood chewing.
Tim & Sandra, I wanted to let you know a friend of mine lost her horse to a pipe corral. The horse rolled and got stuck under the pipes and died in the night. I don't know the cause of death but was concerned when I remembered this video. Take care...Connie
if you had some time maybe you could reattach some of the old half chewed beams so that they still have something to chew. I'm just imagining them all huddling together and worrying about the missing tea time snack.
SigneM-Prut#1 If he made everything perfect, what challenge would there be for us to show our worth? As for why horses eat wood, sometimes it is a dietary thing (like a mineral deficiency), sometimes it is just boredom, sometimes it is a learned behaviour, sometimes it is the equine equivalent of an OCD... There may be other reasons, but those are he ones I am familiar with, it is almost 20 years since I worked with horses...
Really? Have you ever actually had a horse? Or a friend? Arrogance, and rudeness are neither the way to make friends, nor to get people to listen to what you have to say. While I admit cayenne oil does not treat the root behavioral issue, it does mitigate the financial loss, so, NOT a Stupid idea. Clearly, a complete lack of understanding of humans!
Well I have to admit those horses did a good job at eating the fence after all. THis is actually a good idea, to use the steel pipes. I'll take note of that one...
I'll share some wisdom that I have - Paint the wood with used motor oil. It recycles the old oil from mechanics, seasons and protects the wood....and Mr & Mrs Ed, won't gnaw your fence. Hope it helps guys.
I shared my nugget of wisdom because I painted a post and rail fence covering 50 acres - each horse in a one acre plot - they still chewed the wood. When I get bored I eat chips, crisps and chocolate, but that's because I dont want to eat vegetables, cause dammit, I'm bored, trying something new. Much to ponder, but I don't want animals given free reign (excuse the pun)
It is not a dietary issue, it is a boredom issue! When horses get board the chew on things like your fence! They will also chew on the metal rails you have installed as well and unless they are very thick they will eventually crush the pipes over time! You noted that they started this behavior in the winter when you are probably working them much less! As a result any extended time in a small paddock will result in them getting board and with nothing to browse on like in the spring summer and fall they chew on what is there at hand. Try getting them some toys to play with if you are keeping them in a small area during the day.
We work with them everyday, often for hours at a time. And this time of year they are out in the fields all night. So, yes, they may be bored but we have never had this happen in all the years they've lived here
It never happens until it happens. The thing is like people they get into habits, and this is one of their bad ones when it starts sometimes it is hard to break them. They may not have the same motivators now that started it but they keep doing it because they are used to doing it. Like sucking air with some horses where they hook their top teeth on the edge of a rail and swallow air. first it is a boredom thing then a habit that is hard to break them of. The steal rails will help if it is just a habit at this point as they will not be as enjoyable to bite on but if they are still board for what ever reason they may still bite on them. I have had horses crush metal gate rails and pipes before we were able to stop them from doing it. Good luck, love your videos! Mike T
There are sugars in the wood that leach out gradually while the wood ages. That's why many mills soak their logs for a year to wash out the sugars because it would warp the wood while aging. If you milled the boards yourself you might have skipped that step. Who knew that it would matter if you used it to fence in Horses, who have sweet tooths.
Your horses were just bored and one started to chew the fence and the other just followed right along ... they need stimulation....sometimes you can get away with a horse toy.. a plastic barrel with food inside they have to knock around to get a treat out.
Its probably because there stressed,sad, bored, about something. My guess it's because there so much pasture all around and there in a dirt pen with box for shade.
forgive me, but wouldn't it be quicker and more durable job, to: a) squeeze the end of the pipe flat (big vice works well, press works better ;-) ), drill through one/two holes, b) bend it at 90 deg, and presto - integral "hanger" system. I'm not sure that "waterproof" ply, will work very good in this application - cross section is too much exposed, proportionally (I think). hope I'm wrong though, and you get years of use from it.
You're a much better man than me - I would struggle to squash the ends with my vice : - ) I'm not worried about the strength of the ply - they're really solid. but we will seal them to try to keep the water out.
Do you, or would you ever do a meet and greet? What about, I’m ashamed to ask this on this open for but, oh well...would you for a fee of course, ever allow someone to come and work, or just hang out and help where one person could? I want to go to Ireland but, the touristy things aren’t my kind of thing. It’s being productive, helping and meeting the locals that make me so happy. And, I’m not proposing STAYING with you, heaven knows that’s too much, nor even meals. If so, please let me know. And, we can exchange emails. I’m not talking for a week, just a day or so? This forum is to open to the world but, I haven’t your business email where I could give you a look at this loony Californian. All the best, Rebekah
Hi Rebekah - thanks for your interest. We get asked this a lot and we always turn people down. Nothing personal, it's just that we tried it for years and in the end we decided we like to work on our own mostly, or have a pile of people around once in a while. We keep meaning to have another open day - but when?? We are considering having someone else living here full-time (so we only have to train them once) but I don't think that would suit you : - ) T & S
![GEEK TIMË [OFFICIAL AUDIO]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ry-6RvkH880/mqdefault.jpg)
I can't believe how much wood they ate!!! They're so adorable, but hungry little buggers! Nice fix, I like the craftsmanship.
Thanks Craig!
Now you can sell the old boards as unique artisanal creations, like those paintings done by elephants.
Brilliant!
Yes they look like mountain ranges. @@WayOutWestx2
Love this DIY idea of fence, absolutely love it. I have to use the steel pipe to hide the cable for the dicer or my horse will unplug the cord and chew on it.
Another ingenious design solution. You never fail to impress, Tim. So simple, so functional.
I use to work at a race track and had to replace a lot of stall wall planks because the horses would chew them. I once asked a vet what causes the horse to chew the walls and was told more then likely it was boredom.
Yep sometimes you can get away with a horse toy.. a plastic barrel with food inside they have to knock around to get a treat out.
The moment I saw it I said boredom.
I know that you love where you live, your land, your home, your workshop, your animals, your friends and not least of all your wife. Imagine not seeing any of them ever again. Imagine trying to learn Braille at your age! Eye protection, PLEASE!
You're right, of course!
No need to wear hi viz though.
Looks like they wanted some iced wood! Can't wait for the update video of the half eaten metal fence!
Tripplehelix Lol
Yay! Another episode of "The Adventures of Sandra and Tim" 😃😃😄
love the fence and the brackets look really good!!
Amazing they never touched the uprights. Great job!!!!
The horses next door started eating the board fencing when we got a new horse. The 3 are like a dynamic trio, always have to know where are all at all times. Guess they're eating their way to my pasture- grass IS greener on my side! 😊
"... some rare creosote vitamin that they need." bwahahaha!
Great vid as always, Tim, but... goggles?
It is a good solution, you guys like always very smart and creative ❤
I don’t think it was ever about eating the fences, it’s all about aesthetics 🥰
Are you really watching all 500 videos, Claire?! You deserve a medal : - )
@@WayOutWestx2 I don’t want to miss a thing 🤣🥰
Haha that's a mad thing to see. Really chewed the place up!
Very nice Idea. If you made them square, they would much faster to make, and then you could use 4 screws, to make them even stronger yet ... Thanks for sharing ...
You're right, Chrissie. As soon as I'd started, I realized how much more difficult my design was, but I couldn't change then!
See Bob is still wearing his new jacket.
Suddenly it's got really hot so it's finally come off. (Not that he noticed particularly!)
beautiful horses :) !! Excellent & helpful videos!! please post more i really enjoy the videos your uploading! Best of wishes
Thanks Dhabia - glad you're enjoying them : - )
Horses eating wood? That surprises me & I normally won't be surprised by much! :D
I like your little helper (Daisy)
Its look realy very good....
i think you have ever good ideas.... ;-)
Vielen dank, Herr Selbermacher : - )
ou could probably sell the old boards as decorative scalloped trim or something lol. Very nice solution for the fencing, I will have to remember that one :)
Ha! Good idea!
I agree. The pattern, although disappointing for the guy who has to build a new fence, is nonetheless strangely beautiful.
Wow, that's amazing wreckage. Btw try multiple brands/types of licks.
They must've been waiting for the wood to be aged to perfection. LOL I hope they don't get an eye for the posts!
It seems you missed the facetiousness of my comment.
Enjoyed your video, as usual :-)
Great idea. my horses eats the wood too but my vet told me its begause they dont get enough hay. the hay godt som fibers in it the horses need if they dont get it from hay they eat the wood :-)
I'm lucky the previous owner of my property worked for the phone company and all my fencing is made of 3/8" galv. wire rope
Ha! Great. But how are the phone poles in the neighbourhood? : - )
Boredom is the problem that is whey they are crib biting. Toys would keep them entertained and stimulated.
I agree boredom is probably the root issue, but it is not the only cause of cribbing, or crib biting, though this looks maybe more like lignophagia... (which used to be under the same heading of cribbing, but apparently is now classed as something separate...)
Yes, we thought of that too - and you may be right, but it's odd that it's the first time it's happened in all these years
I'm in Ireland too - my horses started eating wood when they got low in copper in their diet. Here in Ireland all hay you buy and anything else grown here (beet pulp, oats etc) is HIGH in Iron - which causes a copper/zinc etc deficiency. Low copper is the main issue. All well water and even my spring water is also high in iron.
High iron due to high rainfall washing out all other nutrients. Hence why the streams run red here!
Copper deficiency is easier to see on the horse in those with dark coats - especially black - like at the 1 minute mark - your black and white cob - his black is 'red black' - it's not jet black. It's not sun bleaching. I have turned my mare back to black during summer with Cuppra copper supplement - it's very effective.
Once i got copper corrected in their diet - and continue to always supplement it according to the high level of iron in the diet - they have stopped eating wood.
Hay balancer feeds here in Ireland like Baileys and Gain all ADD iron to their hay balancers so they are no good. Grass grazing here is high in iron. Not enough copper can also result in lethargy due to anemia - the iron requires copper to make blood cells. Also it's important for immune function (parasite control) aswell as pigmentation of the hair. (in humans too! Early greying? Copper deficiency!)
Cuppra worked wonders for my horses coats and general health - amazing difference! I would recommend it to all horse owners in Ireland - or some other high copper/no iron supplement. (Just check all your feeds don't have iron added otherwise you just add to the grazing and hay high iron burden they are already struggling with and would need even MORE copper to correct it)
Keep the copper feed away from goats and sheep though - they dont need anywhere near as much as horses.
+Neupsychal They are definitely doing it for a reason, deficiency, boredom, it's just not seen in wild horses. I've never ever seen a wild horse chew wood. Having said that, i think they said they keep them in the small area during the day. Not to be judgemental, but it's not natural environments that create these issues. I always feel bad for horses as they cannot speak what they want. Listen to your horses on youtube though would know what to do, as would I as I'm super tuned in to nature. These horses aren't just asking for their needs to be met, they are screaming :(
I agree, boredom is a major cause of many domesticated horses behavioural issues! It's always a struggle to mimic natural environments for a horse as they are MEANT to be roaming so many thousands of acres. Here in Ireland, certainly the west, it's impossible to use the paddocks in the winter for grazing as the weather is so wet. It would be a mud bath within weeks so many have 'dry lots' to house horses during the winter. I use a Jamie Jackson 'Paddock Paradise' idea for my horses which i'm still constructing and ever expanding so i can keep the horses MOVING and ACTIVE.
I observed wood chewing in my horses if the previous summer was very wet AND i didn't supplement copper/magnesium/zinc. This, i believe, causes an even higher ratio of iron in the hay i buy due to many more nutrients being washed out of the soil - esp. Mag and copper. Mag and copper are not added to soils generally, only NPK added. This could be why the poster experienced it one year rather than others.
It's hard to get the mineral balance right, it all depends on the environment they're in. Once you get the balance right it's wonderful to experience happy horses that look good and behave naturally 'spirited' :-)
The poster might now find their horses chewing the new galvanised poles for the zinc coating nutrient!! I like their idea for the fencing, very ingenious, yet i wouldn't ignore the root cause of wood chewing.
that's a great idea, thanks
Tim & Sandra, I wanted to let you know a friend of mine lost her horse to a pipe corral. The horse rolled and got stuck under the pipes and died in the night. I don't know the cause of death but was concerned when I remembered this video. Take care...Connie
How shocking and sad : - (
Sorry to hear that, Connie. Hard to imagine that happening here but we'll be watchful
grass. thankyou for the fence idea it was good, but i think they want the grass on the outside
if you had some time maybe you could reattach some of the old half chewed beams so that they still have something to chew. I'm just imagining them all huddling together and worrying about the missing tea time snack.
Chewing wood is not good for horses, it can cause problems.
trollforge oh I didn't know that! Well carrots it is then!
We give them branches and leaves to eat, but they seem to have stopped eating the wood, but I don't know why
SigneM-Prut#1
If he made everything perfect, what challenge would there be for us to show our worth?
As for why horses eat wood, sometimes it is a dietary thing (like a mineral deficiency), sometimes it is just boredom, sometimes it is a learned behaviour, sometimes it is the equine equivalent of an OCD... There may be other reasons, but those are he ones I am familiar with, it is almost 20 years since I worked with horses...
the fence looks great but for gods sake wear eye protection with that angle grinder they are only balls of jelly.
We always treated cribbing with the cheapest veg. oil we could get, with as much cayenne suspended in it as we could paint on (the wood).
Really? Have you ever actually had a horse? Or a friend? Arrogance, and rudeness are neither the way to make friends, nor to get people to listen to what you have to say. While I admit cayenne oil does not treat the root behavioral issue, it does mitigate the financial loss, so, NOT a Stupid idea. Clearly, a complete lack of understanding of humans!
definitely different design
Lol! clearly, you have some rogue beavers around!
yeah, it is tragic, really. Not
Well I have to admit those horses did a good job at eating the fence after all. THis is actually a good idea, to use the steel pipes. I'll take note of that one...
thanks!
Good idea that
One nice thing is if they were to kick the pipe, the bracket would probably blow right out and not injure the horse.
I'll share some wisdom that I have - Paint the wood with used motor oil. It recycles the old oil from mechanics, seasons and protects the wood....and Mr & Mrs Ed, won't gnaw your fence. Hope it helps guys.
sonseere10
Maybe you could expand on why that's an dumb thing to say? Enlighten me, because what I said is perfectly true, and valid.
I shared my nugget of wisdom because I painted a post and rail fence covering 50 acres - each horse in a one acre plot - they still chewed the wood.
When I get bored I eat chips, crisps and chocolate, but that's because I dont want to eat vegetables, cause dammit, I'm bored, trying something new.
Much to ponder, but I don't want animals given free reign (excuse the pun)
It is not a dietary issue, it is a boredom issue! When horses get board the chew on things like your fence! They will also chew on the metal rails you have installed as well and unless they are very thick they will eventually crush the pipes over time! You noted that they started this behavior in the winter when you are probably working them much less! As a result any extended time in a small paddock will result in them getting board and with nothing to browse on like in the spring summer and fall they chew on what is there at hand. Try getting them some toys to play with if you are keeping them in a small area during the day.
We work with them everyday, often for hours at a time. And this time of year they are out in the fields all night. So, yes, they may be bored but we have never had this happen in all the years they've lived here
It never happens until it happens. The thing is like people they get into habits, and this is one of their bad ones when it starts sometimes it is hard to break them. They may not have the same motivators now that started it but they keep doing it because they are used to doing it. Like sucking air with some horses where they hook their top teeth on the edge of a rail and swallow air. first it is a boredom thing then a habit that is hard to break them of. The steal rails will help if it is just a habit at this point as they will not be as enjoyable to bite on but if they are still board for what ever reason they may still bite on them. I have had horses crush metal gate rails and pipes before we were able to stop them from doing it. Good luck, love your videos! Mike T
There are sugars in the wood that leach out gradually while the wood ages. That's why many mills soak their logs for a year to wash out the sugars because it would warp the wood while aging. If you milled the boards yourself you might have skipped that step. Who knew that it would matter if you used it to fence in Horses, who have sweet tooths.
Allen .Berge that makes sense. Best suggestion here!!
hello that is a very smart ideal,,, I like much, very much, thank you for sharing ,,, James,,,
thanks, James!
the biggest cause of cribbing I have found is the need for getting their teeth floated. the molars will grow too long and cause sore spots in the gums
Interesting - but the horse dentist said that wasn't the case with these ones.
Hello from Italy by massimo thank you
Hi Massimo
Your horses were just bored and one started to chew the fence and the other just followed right along ... they need stimulation....sometimes you can get away with a horse toy.. a plastic barrel with food inside they have to knock around to get a treat out.
There's always so much going on for the horses, we never really thought they would need a specific toy as well - but perhaps you are right. Thanks.
Hello Tim, Do horses need to grind down teeth like rabbits?
take care with your eyes too.......
yep you sometime need to file down the horses teeth.
Teeth floating ⬆
Zinc-plated pipes are not ideal for fences. Bored horses will chew them, too,
and probably die slowly over years because of heavy metal poisioning.
who, me? new vid, what do horses eat . wink.
What if the posts become wiggly and the metal fence just pop off and fall to the ground? 😕
they are really solid and don't move at all
Why didn't you use electric fencing?
Its probably because there stressed,sad, bored, about something. My guess it's because there so much pasture all around and there in a dirt
pen with box for shade.
Friend and trainer cured cribbing with adding diatomaceous earth to feed
Yes, we're trying that for other things too. The horses stopped chewing anyway, long before we tried the de..
forgive me, but wouldn't it be quicker and more durable job, to: a) squeeze the end of the pipe flat (big vice works well, press works better ;-) ), drill through one/two holes, b) bend it at 90 deg, and presto - integral "hanger" system.
I'm not sure that "waterproof" ply, will work very good in this application - cross section is too much exposed, proportionally (I think).
hope I'm wrong though, and you get years of use from it.
You're a much better man than me - I would struggle to squash the ends with my vice : - )
I'm not worried about the strength of the ply - they're really solid. but we will seal them to try to keep the water out.
+WayOutWest Blowinblog the press it would need to be then...😊 your solution looks better all right, hope it'll last when weather sealed.
The horses face looks very guilty
Do you, or would you ever do a meet and greet? What about, I’m ashamed to ask this on this open for but, oh well...would you for a fee of course, ever allow someone to come and work, or just hang out and help where one person could? I want to go to Ireland but, the touristy things aren’t my kind of thing. It’s being productive, helping and meeting the locals that make me so happy. And, I’m not proposing STAYING with you, heaven knows that’s too much, nor even meals. If so, please let me know. And, we can exchange emails. I’m not talking for a week, just a day or so? This forum is to open to the world but, I haven’t your business email where I could give you a look at this loony Californian. All the best, Rebekah
Hi Rebekah - thanks for your interest. We get asked this a lot and we always turn people down. Nothing personal, it's just that we tried it for years and in the end we decided we like to work on our own mostly, or have a pile of people around once in a while. We keep meaning to have another open day - but when?? We are considering having someone else living here full-time (so we only have to train them once) but I don't think that would suit you : - ) T & S
They need something to do
They work hard most days - just look at our other videos..
Please let the horses eat the rest of that wood.
Those are not horses, they're big beavers.
I think you should put your horses in a grass field
We do when the fields are dry enough, but when it's wet they would do terrible damage to the soil with their hooves
Horses are grazing animals. They are "grazing" on your boards. They need a bigger field.
They graze in the fields all night, but we can't let them out all the time or they'd ruin the fields and get too fat
Not to deny nutritional reductionism, but maybe they plotted an escape?
now I have the great escape music in my head and visions of horses wearing Balaclava's
they might just be bored... why not add a toy to there paddock ? just saying as a idea
Yes, you're right. Mostly they get to play with footballs and buckets and the wheelbarrow - but maybe we need something bigger
Whos that white pony?
That's Daisy - she's supposed to be here on holiday, but there's no sign of her going home again..
I wonder if they were after a nice, tasty fungus.
Interesting idea, Ben
pure boredom