Thunder & urine

[_onekillwonder_]

Ever since the few bad rains three weeks ago, my 13y.o. mare is getting increasingly scared of thunder and lightning storms

Comments

[thehomicidehoe]

All I can think of is give her a calmer when a storm is due, would ear plugs be possible (I've only ever used them while riding a horse, never when they're loose)

Does she have a friend to keep her company and hold her hoof? If not, maybe see if it would be possible to have a horse who's fine with storms come to stay for a little bit.

As for the matts, I used to have rubber matts and straw, and pee and stuff would get underneath, but we just left it and once a year would power hose all the stalls and as much under the matts as possible (Matts were on a concrete floor)

[sm923]

I'd put that corn cob bedding down under the mats to soak up the urine. Leave it there for a few hours and then scoop it up.. it works wonders!

[blauereiterin]

Any kind of absorbent bedding stuffed under the mats n then scooped out should solve that problem.

[wastedrock]

My horse has issues being inside when storms hit, they normally used to let them out on the huge field when the bad ones hit (for Tornado reasons) but now he lives in a totally different state without large turnouts. And a metal roof! I give him hay at the start of the storm, if she hoovers down like 3 flakes, give her 3-4 and shake them out, it takes them a little longer to eat them that way. She'll calm down eventually after she gets used to them.

[re_vised]

I swear by wood pellets. They're super absorbent, and also very cheap at $5/bag.