Best Solutions to Stop Wood Chewing in Horses
Wood chewing and cribbing can cause costly damage and health concerns for horses. This article highlights top deterrent products designed to discourage chewing behaviors, with objective comparisons and guidance to help you choose the right approach for your barn. Below is a quick summary of five leading options, followed by in-depth product sections and a practical buying guide.
| Product | Brand | Format | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 272582 Chew Stop Liquid Chewing Deterrent for Horses | Farnam | Liquid spray | Stops chewing and cribbing behaviors |
| Farnam Quitt Wood Chewing Supplement | Farnam | Feed supplement | Addresses root cause with nutrition |
| Ultra Chew Stop Horse Spray | Ultra | Spray | Hot pepper deterrent for multiple surfaces |
| SU-PER Red Hot Spray Chewing Deterrent | SU-PER | Liquid spray | Immediate chew cessation with pepper blend |
| Zone Protects Don’t Chew Dare Spray | Zone Protects | Spray | Natural bitters to deter chewing and cribbing |
Note: The following sections provide objective product details, features, and practical considerations to help you compare options and choose what best fits your horses and barn environment.
272582 Chew Stop Liquid Chewing Deterrent For Horses
Brand: Farnam. This liquid deterrent is designed to discourage chewing and cribbing. It is described as a Stop Chewing product intended for farming horse care equipment and is manufactured in the United States. The formulation aims to deter chewing on wood and other treated surfaces by providing an unpleasant taste to the horse.
Farnam Quitt Wood Chewing Supplement For Horses
Brand: Farnam. This palatable feed supplement targets wood chewing by meeting nutritional needs and reducing the urge to chew. It is marketed as the first supplement guaranteed to stop chewing on wood, with easy daily use and no need for painting or repairs.
Ultra Chew Stop Horse Spray
Brand: Ultra. This spray offers a strong hot pepper taste to deter chewing on wood, blankets, wraps, manes, tails, and other surfaces. It is described as non-toxic and non-staining, suitable for direct application on horse hair and various barn surfaces for reliable protection.
SU-PER Red Hot Spray Chewing Deterrent
Brand: SU-PER. This liquid pepper spray is designed to stop animals from chewing or cribbing, using a blend of soap, spices, and natural flavors to deter unwanted chewing with a bitter, unpleasant taste.
Zone Protects Don’t Chew Dare Spray
Brand: Zone Protects. This product uses natural orange bitters to create a strong repulsion, training horses to avoid chewing on treated surfaces, including stalls, fences, blankets, and bandages, with the aim of reducing cribbing and wood chewing.
Additional Considerations For Deterring Chewing
When evaluating deterrents, consider whether your approach should emphasize behavior modification, nutritional support, or surface protection. Liquid sprays and bitters provide immediate discouragement, while supplements address underlying nutritional drivers. Non-toxic formulations help ensure safety for horses, handlers, and barn surfaces. Always test on a small area before wide application to observe any potential reactions.
Buying Guide
Key purchase considerations for stopping wood chewing in horses include effectiveness, safety, and practicality:
- Effectiveness: Some products focus on taste aversion (hot pepper or bitter flavors), while others aim to reduce the urge through nutrition or habit training. Consider whether you need quick deterrence or a long-term strategy.
- Safety: Choose non-toxic, non-irritating formulas that are safe for manes, tails, blankets, and barn surfaces. Verify that the product won’t cause skin irritation or staining on fabrics and wood.
- Surface compatibility: If you plan to apply on stalls, fences, blankets, or wraps, ensure the product is suitable for all relevant materials and won’t damage finishes or fabrics.
- Avoiding reliance on harsh chemicals: Some barn owners prefer natural bitter or orange-bitters formulations to minimize chemical exposure for animals and humans.
- Root-cause addressing: For persistent chewing, consider supplements such as vitamins, minerals, or fatty acids to reduce the urge, alongside deterrents for surface protection.
- Administration method: Sprays provide immediate deterrence, while supplements require daily feeding routines. Choose a combination aligned with your barn’s management style.
- Cost and availability: Evaluate long-term costs and whether products are easy to source from trusted retailers or directly from manufacturers.
- Monitoring and evaluation: Track chewing incidents over several weeks to determine effectiveness and adjust product use or strategies accordingly.