Pedigree Query

Have a horse who takes his hay and stuffs it in his automatic waterer. It makes one heckuva mess. I tried putting a bucket with water in the stall but he just puts it in both of them. He has to take the hay and turn around and walk over to the waterer to do this. We have been feeding his hay outside but the weather is going to go bad and I would like to feed it inside. Has anyone had this problem and if so, what did you do to solve it?
Thanks in advance for any good suggestions.

Kathie King
Little King Ranch
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And The Buzz Horses

He doesn't like it dry. You could soak the hay before you give it to him.

Could have a vet float his teeth an see what happens.
Or it could be he is amusing himself.

He's a dipper. Keep his water clean.

We had one like that. He just liked his hay that way... sort of like some people like to dip their cookies in their glass of milk...

Madelyn,s an Rogue,s replies are pretty useful. Soak it yourself before he does it.

I've had a couple that do that and soaking didn't stop them :) , at least a horse that does that will usually not poop in the bucket :lol:

I had a TB dipper. Personally, it is a healthier way of eating. This type of horse will never colic as they take in more water...
I don't have automatic waterer. I would disconnect his waterbowl and only have a bucket. Clean his water regularly--much easier if it is in the front of his stall.

We had a dipper. Nothing to do to stop it--it's what they like to do.
We put an extra water bucket in his stall so he'd have one 'hay free.'

Nope. Both were stuffed with hay everyday.

my colt started dunking his hay last year, he was eight-teen months old. got the vet out a few days later and he had his first floating. he hasnt dipped his hay since then. for many horses its a sign of needed dental work, but some horses just do it regardless.

Mine did it for 23 years....LOL! He teeth were checked yearly.

We have one that dunks both hay and grain. Takes a bite, fills mouth with water. BLECH! I've not found any cure for it... but as it was mentioned, at least I know he has fewer chances at impaction colic with all that water intake!!

We have a gelding at the track that dunks his hay. He drinks a LOT of water when he is being walked/hotwalked, maybe because he has no "clean" water in his stall. We clean it constanly and he just dunks away. Sometimes he will grab at hay while being walked and chew it and actually gags...no water on the walk to dunk his hay!!!

We also have a mare that dips her hay--------must frustate her to bits in the summer when we put round bales in the pasture.We just change the water every time we feed when they are in the barn.Marg