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Post by ladynowak on Dec 26, 2012 18:43:15 GMT 1
Well this one has thrown me a bit, so I thought I'd ask for your advice.
My mums new pony, Pony, has been with us since April time now. He is a sweetheart, bags of personality. I've just started to feed them, and he has been fed after rides for a month or so. I've always fed my 4 in the field and have built up to feeding him in the field with them.
Pony has always been a bit fussy with his tea and will kick his bucket around if fed in the stable and god forbid you feed him something he doesn't like as he will throw a very dramatic strop (he threw himself into his water bucket last time and scared the life out of himself). Now mum fed them the other day in the field and Ebony finished first and decided they wanted to lick Pony's bucket. So, Pony was shooed off and in a temper threw himself on the floor and rolled on Ebonys feed bucket. I have to admit I didn't quite believe Mum when she told me.
So today he was busy faffing about picking the bits he didn't want out of his dinner (carrots were ok today, the apples were not). And Taif came and decided to help.. Pony squealed and went and threw himself on Tai's bucket. They all went back to their rightful buckets and Ebony decided Ponys apples were free for the taking... Pony wondered off and dropped to the floor and rolled on Ebony's bucket.
Anyone had any experience of this???
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Azrael
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Post by Azrael on Dec 26, 2012 18:58:01 GMT 1
I've known a few small ponies that liked to roll at feed time, often when they were nearly finished eating. One even used to roll so the bucket ended up on his head as he rolled ;D No idea why they do it though, seemed like excitement and/or strop at the bucket being empty, no sign of colic or any other issues in any of the ponies I've seen do it.
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Post by kizi on Dec 26, 2012 19:09:09 GMT 1
I had one that loved his food so much he'd roll several times while eating.. With food still in the bucket and he'd put his head in the bucket while rolling, I joked he was hugging his food, then get up and eat some more.. Freaked me out first few times! But I have never heard of it before him or of one rolling on someone else's bucket when they took him.. That is a funny one.. I think a video is in order! Poor guy seems to either love or hate his feed!! I did have one pony didnt like eating with the others in the field as if they tried to take his he'd just walk away and they learned that quick enough so I used keep 3 plastic posts and a bit of rope fence outside the field, pop up a little coral, he quickly learned in there was his feed and he'd walk in, finish in peace, the others all ignored him and he'd wait to be let out (I would stand there though) It worked well... And in time the others forgot they could take his feed and no more need for the coral. I've done that a few times with different ponies and it works well for me..
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Post by ladynowak on Dec 26, 2012 20:59:21 GMT 1
Thanks for the replies.
I was feeding him outside the field or in the stable, but he is actually worse that way as just plays with it and takes half an hour of throwing his bucket around and messing. At least in the field he will eat most of it, think I just need to adjust the others feeds so they finish after him.
He defiantly isn't colicky, teeth etc all fine and is eating it without a problem. I would have got a vid today but the weather was vile! Strange pony that he is...bless him!
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Post by kizi on Dec 26, 2012 21:15:16 GMT 1
Maybe he'll settle.. What if he just had a small plain feed so he has less to pick out and less to waste if he does that.. That way he might learn to appreciate it more! Not suggesting he goes hungry but if he's wasting it anyway...! I had a yearling who thought every bucket was a toy.. While everyone ate he played! I ended up giving him an empty bucket until her realised the others were eating.. Yes he's a little slow to catch on! Now finally he eats his grub and usually doesn't tip it up! The others get a little extra chaff so he can finish his feed in his time and he gets balancer so he can have the right food but smaller quantity to keep him interested..
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megnum
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Post by megnum on Dec 26, 2012 21:58:42 GMT 1
No advice, but he sounds like a real character and echo above...videos please
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Post by jill on Dec 26, 2012 22:15:05 GMT 1
Scent marking everyone else's bucket as his own?
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Post by ladynowak on Dec 26, 2012 22:29:39 GMT 1
Jill- I had thought that, but I didn't think horses did it in such a way?? Lets just say I'm glad I changed them all to rubber feed buckets! Kizi- thanks they don't get much and they only had carrots etc as YO always leave little bags of carrots/apples/parsnip from Rudolf at Christmas! The others feeds are bulked up more by Hifi lite so they finish after him...might need a bit more as I haven't quite got the timings right yet! Just very much a "ah ha...steel my bucket eh? No problem...ill roll on yours..how'd you like that then?" attitude rather than anything more sinister.
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Post by kizi on Dec 26, 2012 23:21:25 GMT 1
It's so tricky to get feeding several together right! Nothing worse than the fatty gobbler who vaccums his feed having to get extra hehe I know the feeling!!! I have 4 who all get different feeds that took a while to get a routine going! When I have 7 out together thankfully they all had the same food and I could just put down extra feeds! I once worked at a yard where 14+ all got fed together! Amazing how they do settle into a routine though! Eventually!!
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varkie
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Post by varkie on Dec 26, 2012 23:40:17 GMT 1
Over the years, a number of the shetlands we've had have rolled on their own buckets either during or after a feed. All males, interestingly. I've never really worked out why.
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Post by kafee on Dec 26, 2012 23:49:07 GMT 1
My 8YO NF gelding Woody has always rolled with his bucket. He used to do it with the bowl he had when he was a foal, so I bought him a rubbery bucket as he was definitely trying to roll over with the bowl on his nose. He's only ever suceeded a few times, and never when I had the video camera with me!
Sky, my 4YO NF gelding, will also roll with his bucket.
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Post by ladynowak on Dec 27, 2012 0:17:59 GMT 1
Thanks Varkie, hope you're all keeping well down there and haven't been washed away. Interesting that you've only had boys doing it.... Typical really... Always the men that are a bit odd!
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varkie
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Post by varkie on Dec 27, 2012 0:28:26 GMT 1
Thankfully being on a hill helps with all this rain. Tho a bit of a river running through the cows field & through the main yard!
Could be coincidence we've only had boys do it, but it makes you wonder.
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Post by jamesb on Dec 27, 2012 0:47:26 GMT 1
I've never felt the need to roll on my dinner plate…………
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Post by ladynowak on Dec 27, 2012 1:04:37 GMT 1
I've never felt the need to roll on my dinner plate………… I'm very glad to hear it ;D would be a bit worried if you were!
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