Use the navigation bar above to access articles and more discussions on this topic.
| Author |
Message |
    
Sondra
Member
Username: sondra
Post Number: 45
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Friday, Mar 6, 2009 - 8:41 pm: |   |
I have no idea where to post this. Not sure if it's behavioral or physical.
We have a horse who sometimes puts his head to his knee and bites it, taking the skin between his teeth and pulling it away from his knee. He doesn't do this all the time but he's done it enough that, while at first I thought it was cute, like maybe he was trying to scratch an itch there, now I wonder if there's some other reason. He sometimes does it after being ridden. Should I be worried? It just seems odd.
He does have an old small bone spur in that knee. He is sound. So while the worried side of me wonders if it irritates him or causes pain, the fact is he's sound so I really can't say for sure.
I'm trying to remember if he's done it on the other knee but I can't remember...he may have though. |
Cindy O'DELL
Member
Username: zarr
Post Number: 1314
Registered: 6-2000
| | Posted on Friday, Mar 6, 2009 - 9:09 pm: | |
Sondra, I have one that does the same thing and like you thought it was nothing then started to worry it was something.Wish I had an answer my vet has checked him out over and over nothing! It seems to occur close to feeding time so my husband says he is acting out like a kid banging the table wanting Dinner Now! It is not bad anymore but he used to do this a lot. If you solve the mystery Yeah. Know I was not much help but you aren't alone!  |
Sondra
Member
Username: sondra
Post Number: 46
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Friday, Mar 6, 2009 - 9:17 pm: | |
Cindy, wow I never expected to hear someone else's horse does this too! Strangely I feel better (even if I will continue to worry and wonder, as is my nature). Perhaps we should found the Knee-Biting Horse Owners Club... |
Cindy O'DELL
Member
Username: zarr
Post Number: 1315
Registered: 6-2000
| | Posted on Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 - 1:06 am: | |
I've had my knee biter for 11 yrs he turns 20 next week! Have to admit I was kinda glad to here someone else had a knee nipper! Hope we both are worriers for nothing! |
Ann
Member
Username: dres
Post Number: 2207
Registered: 10-2000
| | Posted on Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 - 10:36 am: | |
LOL I have a knee biter and tail chaser! My young colt this time of year is very frustrated with his environment.. all tho a large enough paddock to canter / trot / buck snort he is not getting out / paid attention enough... so he plays with himself!~ I call it the bite knee game that you see geldings do in pasture .. all tho My guy does it with himself and will actually drop himself.. * he never bites hard or causes trauma* ALSO he chases his tail like a dog and then will kick out !
Do I worry , oh yes.. my boy is retarded..
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots.. |
Sara M
Member
Username: sdms
Post Number: 304
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 - 11:27 am: | |
Come now, Ann...it's not "retarded" it's "mentally challenged." We must be politically correct here! 
I would love to see a video clip of your "special" child. That sounds like a kick to watch! |
Ann
Member
Username: dres
Post Number: 2209
Registered: 10-2000
| | Posted on Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 - 11:42 am: | |
Sara I will see if he will let me video tape him.. he usually comes to the fence when i go out to watch.. ALSO he french kisses his neighbor.. she will reciprocate lick / kiss back with lots of spit flying..
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots.. |
Sara M
Member
Username: sdms
Post Number: 305
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, Mar 7, 2009 - 4:54 pm: | |
Okay, Ann...you're right...he IS retarded! |
Sondra
Member
Username: sondra
Post Number: 47
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, Mar 8, 2009 - 8:56 am: | |
Cindy and Ann (and anyone else with a horse that bites its knee) have you ever had xrays taken of your horse's knee? |
Ann
Member
Username: dres
Post Number: 2211
Registered: 10-2000
| | Posted on Sunday, Mar 8, 2009 - 10:50 am: | |
oh gosh no.. there would be no reason.. he is very sound * can't say sound as a dollar anymore* he does not do bodily harm to himself.. he is playing ,, with my boy this is playful behavior nothing like he is trying to scratch a itch or put pressure on pain..
On the first time God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots.. |
Cindy O'DELL
Member
Username: zarr
Post Number: 1316
Registered: 6-2000
| | Posted on Sunday, Mar 8, 2009 - 2:01 pm: | |
No but as I've stated the vet gets asked twice a year are his knees OK ?? And he always says "those beautiful flat knees'? He does hands on check just for this worried mom, nothing yet.This is my "spook" horse that worries about blowing leaves and flying tumbleweeds so maybe it just comes with his mindset? |
