Sleeping on concrete?!

[mcw]

Discovered yesterday that my pony would rather sleep on concrete instead of the shaving I put down for him. He did used to have his bed further forward, however, we ended up taking more shavings out instead of putting them in as he's very VERY messy with his water bucket. So moved his bed back again. We're worried about his legs, especially his hocks, they're grazed slightly and I'm worried he might end up with cow hocks if we don't do something soon!

[network]

I would put rubber matting down

[mcw]

Jan 27, 2012 17:12:06 GMT @network said:

I would put rubber matting down

Duhh! Hahaha! Thank you!!!

[sageandonion]

You must get rubber matting down as soon as possible. In the meantime, just get a couple of sheets of the matting and put those down at the front were his bed isn't placed.

Otherwise you will get caped (fortunately you won't get cow ) hocks or worse.

[snowflake]

Or you could put carpet down (providing it's a decent size) temporarily until you can get rubber matting. Lot of people do this at BSPS Champs, where the surface on the stable floor is quite rocky!

[armada]

I'd bite the bullet and put the bed back in until you get the mats, is there no way you can secure the bucket?
Have you tried a tyre or a large heavy trug that when filled with water is too heavy for him to tug over, putting a couple of rings in the wall and tying it to them?
Hock boots?
Anything as a temporary measure really.
Our mini shet insists on lying on the concrete although half his 12x12 box is matted and bedded, but his coat is so thick on his legs, and he is light, it does'nt appear to affect him, but if one of the others did that, I'd be trying all the above, all at once!

[conniegirl]

a pair of hock boots whilst in his stable as a temporary measure

[mcw]

He has his bucket in a tyre already, so will have to get a bucket that attaches to the wall. Moved his bed further forward tonight, hopefully he'll sleep on it.

[carrie17491]

Try his buckets on the wall, our d was a nightmare even with tyres! Now her stable is dry every day

[chalky284]

It didn't stop my lad, he sloshes his water whether its in a bucket on the floor, on the wall, auto waterer!! He likes cleansing his palate after every mouthful!
He has always done it since a youngster, he has even been known to splash those that walk past ;D

[tbmare]

Yep know what ya mean about water buckets getting everywhere.. the only solution that i have found to work.. or at least this winter so far.. is using an old head collar using the " head piece " put it through the handles and fasten up. where the noseband would be nail/screw/fasten it to the wall
use the soft palstic type of bucket and when i put the head straps through i put a slight tention on them.. ie drawing handle together.. but not closed.. hope this makes some sense.
yep carpet/matting or putting bed back where it was until you find away of not spilling water..also i have a pony that always sleeps at the front of the stable.. but don't like standing on straw whilst eating his nets!! i have rubbers mats downs alround i must admit as the stables are prone to flooding when the rain is excessive..

[brt]

I use fixed corner feeders for my foals water buckets, they can't trash water everywhere then. Just make sure you use good strong long screws to fit them x

[Kaseyleigh]

Yer everyone is correct rubber matting would be best as you do not want him getting capped hocks it such a horrible thing hes just a silly boy wanting to sleep on the cold concrete floor lol and until then i would suggest corner bucket, bucket in a tyre or a brick in the bottom of the bucket to keep it still so you can put his bed back to the front untill you are able to get matting down.

[klouisem]

Jan 27, 2012 23:19:52 GMT carrie17491 said:

Try his buckets on the wall, our d was a nightmare even with tyres! Now her stable is dry every day

My old New forest used to LOVE playing in his water so we put it on the wall, got two of my others like this too. This is what i'd recommend too.

[speedysally]

rubber matting is a god sent i must say! don't know what i'd do without it :-)

[princessalysx]

I had the vet out to one of my ponies who had large hocks! Vet said to scrap the rubber matting and bring his bed to the front of his stable, she said that every time he got up or down his hocks were rubbing on the matting and the friction was causing them to swell. I would fix the bucket to the wall and bring his bed as far forward as poss!

[mcw]

Thanks everyone! We managed to hold of some super spongy matting and the fur on his hocks has started to grow back! Woo!