Discussion on Anxiety Urination
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| Author |
Message |
    
Barb Fjerstad (Fjerstad)
| | Posted on Friday, Feb 1, 2002 - 11:11 am: |   |
I have an 8 y.o. 1/2 arab who has begun the annoying and messy habit of dribbling urine right when I first give him his hay. He also does this right after a trail ride before I put him in the trailer. He is like a little boy who has to pee real bad but doesn't want to stop playing to go to the bathroom. On the trail he used to get really antsy and hard to handle and he would finally stop to pee. He has gotten better on the trail but stil does this at home or trailering after a ride, not before. I thought at first he might have an infection but nothing seemed "off" other than the peeing. Any clues. If it is just a bad habit any idea how I train him to stop?
Thanks. |
Helen Weedon (Cara2)
| | Posted on Friday, Feb 1, 2002 - 11:53 am: | |
Hi Barb,
Providing you've ruled out any physical problems, why not train him to urinate on command. My mare is very reluctant to wee anywhere away from her stable (even when she's in the field all day). I only trained her in order to keep her bed a bit drier but being able to pursuade her to "go" at a show or before we even set off to one, means I don't have to feel guilty that she is uncomfortable for hours until she gets home again.
You already know that he's bursting after a ride so use that to your advantage. Have a special bucket that you only use for the job and put it under him as soon as he starts to dribble or stretch out his legs. Use the same command (I say "do me a wee") in the same tone of voice and be patient, some horses are very shy. Whistling can help them to get started. Lots and lots of praise as soon as they do it and reward with something tasty such as a haynet. My mare learned what I wanted in just 4 days and sometimes urinates as soon as she sees me in the mornings because she knows it pleases me. If she is tied up outside her stable and wants the toilet she tells me by begging with her foreleg. If she's REALLY bursting her face is a giveaway, very sad and concerned looking! When she had to go to a University for tests a couple of years ago the vets and students were all busy working on her while I stood and held her. All at once, up came the leg and down went her ears. I explained to everyone that she needed a "comfort break" and could they let me take her to a stable? You should have seen THEIR faces when she immediately had a much-needed wee, it was hilarious  |
Dennis A. Johnson (Dennisaj)
| | Posted on Saturday, Feb 2, 2002 - 5:56 am: | |
hi Barb, i loved helens Idea of weeing in the bucket if you try that idea you might want to put some cotton or hay or sawdust in the bottom of the bucket so the urine doesnt splash up on him some horses have a great aversion to this and wont wee if they think they will get wet. |
