Declaring Victory but Quietly

[here to stay]

One of my retired girls developed the irritating -no infuriating- habit of pulling up strall mats and moving them around. All the mats on occasion but the ones under her hay net and bucket constantly. Then she roots around to get the hay that drops and creats a large hole
where water accumulates. When I came out to feed, I had to either take the time to refill the hole and drag the mats back or feed her with her front legs standing in 6 inches of water. The only altenative was feeding her out side on the dirt without using the slow feeder.

I tried so many different things but nothing slowed her up. And I found that moving mats every day physically did me in.

But I finally thought to put concrete pavers down under the feeder. So she can still stand with her feet off concrete but the pavers keep her from digging out the hole. So far so good. She hasn't moved them although the bedding is scraped away each feeding. Maybe she will slowly get over the mat moving altogether. I can hope but at least I can keep her above water.

[barefootfarmer]

Sometimes it's the small victories in life that make you feel like you won an enormous battle.

[aoconnor]

How frustrating! I totally understand how difficult that must be, to have to move those heavy danged stall mats back into place all the time is a killer. I don't have answer for you other than she is probably just rooting for every last drop of feed or hay she can find.

My vets all have a small concrete pad (4 feet into the stall x however wide the stall is) at the front of each stall. The pads are covered with a stall mat, but the mats are unlovable, not sure what they secure them with underneath, but it is something! The pads allow feed or hay that falls to the ground to be eaten normally, no pawing or digging to get the last morsel. I am thinking about doing that in my new barn when we build it. I like how my vet does it. That way also, horses aren't dragging shavings or whatever out each time they leave their stall, it gives them a few steps worth of the shavings falling off their hooves before they are out of the stalls. I like that idea.

[gracielagata]

That is an excellent idea on the cement! One I shall remember to employ if ever needed.

Got any pointers on how to stop my mare from plucking the barbed wire fence when she wants my attention!? Even when it should be sticking to her mouth due to the cold, she plucks away until I bark at her or toss something to pop her. Brat. lol

[aoconnor]

Lol! My post above should read that the mats on concrete pads are unmovable, not unlovable!!!

[manygoatsnmore]

Dec 5, 2015 22:38:06 GMT aoconnor said:

Lol! My post above should read that the mats on concrete pads are unmovable, not unlovable!!!

Lol, I caught that one, too - figured out what you meant and blamed it on auto-correct.

[gracielagata]

Dec 5, 2015 22:38:06 GMT aoconnor said:

Lol! My post above should read that the mats on concrete pads are unmovable, not unlovable!!!

I saw that, but I think my internal autocorrect got it, but I did also just assume that you had had it with those darn movable mats, and didn't love them anymore.