Shires Equine Scratcher

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The scratching activity is all about communication. Since horses communicate with their body, they need to have space to move around you or walk away. When teaching this activity, work in a safe space but don’t tie up your horse. Step Two: Create Your Scratching Pose Cardboard scratchers use densely layered corrugated paper product instead of sisal twine or other materials. Our favorite cardboard scratcher is the PetFusion Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge, which has a unique shape that gives your cat lots of ways of interacting with it. While cats tend to love cardboard scratchers because they're soft and easy to scratch (they're also excellent at retaining catnip), they tend to have a shorter lifespan than other scratcher types. More on how to stop a cat from scratching and clawing where they shouldn't. How to encourage your cat to use their scratching post? Self-care, technically called self-maintenance, is how horses maintain their bodies. Scratching against objects is an important self-maintenance behavior. It helps horses groom their hair and skin, along with rolling on the ground, scratching themselves with their teeth and hooves, and having a mutual grooming session.

Usage varies, but expect higher use during seasonal shedding periods. Some horses may use posts daily, while others visit just a few times weekly when they get an urge to scratch. Can I DIY my own scratching post? Absolutely! I‘ve made simple posts from fence posts sunk in the ground or strapped together. Attaching brushes, old tires, or rubber mats creates textured surfaces. Just be sure they are sturdy and safely constructed. Should I get separate posts for each horse? It is possible to fit only 1, or even none of the wooden platforms if desired, so it would be possible to fit this giant scratching post into a reasonably narrow space. Scratching your itchy horse is safe and fun, but there are a few basic considerations to keep in mind.

8. Trixie Zaragoza Scratching Post

The Banana Leaf Little Den Scratching Post is a simple cat scratching post with a cosy sleeping den on top, so gives your cat a place to sharpen their claws and relax.

There are places on a horse’s body that they just can’t scratch using teeth or hooves. And even the best cared for horses can get very itchy from time to time. The design of this tree means that your cat can climb all the way up the pole to the top if they are energetic enough! In the stall, use a clear patch of stall wall – the middle of a wall is easiest for your horse to access. For in-ground posts, I recommend digging at least 2-3 feet down, setting the post in cement. Brace it on all sides with lumber supports.If the Diogenes Scratching Barrel isn’t quite big enough for your cats, then take a look at the larger Natural Paradise Scratch Barrel. The larger base plate, and heavy weight makes this very stable, and suitable for even the most energetic cats. There are also multiple sisal-wrapped scratching posts – 11 in total, giving your cat lots of opportunity for scratching and sharpening their claws. Natural tree bark has ideal coarseness. Sycamores, oak, cedar, and birch trees make great scratching trees. This puts your horse in the driver’s seat. With repeated scratching sessions, they’ll figure out that they can walk around you to show you which parts are itchy. When they’re done, they’ll walk away. The Right Posture to Scratch Your Horse

The best way to have a relationship-building, itch relieving scratch session is to work at liberty in the pasture, or with your horse loose in their stall. First, you’ll need to be respectful and alert to signs of discomfort. If your horse turns or leans away when you’re scratching, stop immediately. Give your horse a chance to decide if they want a different body area scratched, or whether they’re just not in the mood. Don’t keep scratching a horse who pins their ears, shifts away from you, or tries to walk off. For cats, clawing is a way of life. They naturally crave the sensation of sinking their nails into the surfaces they encounter and, according to the ASPCA, this behavior psychologically helps cats mark their territory. Physically it allows them to stretch, play, and keep their claws manicured. They instinctually use their sharp paw extensions as tools to climb, hunt, and hold down their prey. But if you have a cat in your home, you'll soon realize that your furniture is the target for a lot of this fierce feline behavior. A scratching post is a furniture-saving piece that should be readily available in any home with a cat to help redirect their urge to scratch.

You can also browse through your local hardware store and see what kind of entrance mats they have. A very stiff artificial turf, or a scratchy natural fibre doormat (coconut, sisal, etc.) can work well. Having a scratching option available for your animals also reduces any potential injury, as it tries to scratch with available resources. Affordable, Long lasting Horse Scratcher Next, develop a “scratching pose” that you’ll use to signal to your horse that you’re available to scratch itches. Lastly, teaching your horse how to enjoy a scratching session improves their manners and behavior. When your horse understands how to behave when they’re itchy, you’ll experience less unwanted “scratch me!” behaviors like rubbing or pushing you. This means you’ll find yourself using less punishment, which also strengthens your horse’s trust in you. How to Scratch Your Horse: Scratch Session Step by Step