Horse Poop Problem

[VF_Indian_Ruby]

Ok, this may not be what you thought but I have a question. Is there a way to prevent a horse from pooping in an area? My mother-in-law's horse always poops at the gate and you can not help but walk in it to get through the gate. He has an area about 10 feet by ten feet that is covered by poop. He does his bzness and then spreads it by continuously walking in it pacing back and forth along the gate area.
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Impressive HYPP N/N

[one okie gal]

gelding or stallion?

[VF_Indian_Ruby]

[doubleopi]

That's very much stallion-like behavior (the poop pile).
As for the bent gates, I used to work at a horse rescue and we got this one huge draft cross that insisted on bending every gate on the property. After straightening the gates two or three times, we decided enough was enough and we strung a line of hot wire across the top of the gates in two fields. He never bent those gates again and those were the only fields he used! This of course only worked because he respected hot wire to begin with.
And. . . none of my story has anything to do with your problem!

[one okie gal]

Well, thanks for letting me get in my laugh of the day so early. Was Mr. Gelding who doesn't know he is NOT a stallion gelded a little late? It seems pretty obvious he is into marking his "territory" and showing off for the ladies ( Face it, we ALL know MEN that act just the same way) whether they are interested or not. This is a little more difficult to approach than house breaking a puppy. If you knew WHEN he was going to go, then you could always tie him somewhere else until after he went (It would give you something interesting to say when someone calls and asks what you are doing...). Of course that only trains you and does not break his habit.

I can't think off hand of anything you could do to prevent him from using that area that doesn't involve removing him from that area or relocating the gate.

I don't know if horses are like many other animals with great sense of smell, but if they are, he's going to want to go in the same place, and the things that would make him not go there might not be safe to use as they are all probably some types of chemical. You might check for something that is supposed to deter deer from your garden. I don't know if what I am thinking of is actually coyote urine or is just supposed to smell like it. (Cure might be worse than the problem). He would probably recognize it as a predator smell, but he might or might not stop going there or gee, I guess he could try to attack the fence or wherever you put it.

[Inyureye]

I think he's pooping at the gate because he's hanging out there. You would have to find some way to relocate the mare or him. Otherwise, put on diapers!!! LOL!
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[bullsie]

Would it be safe to say this herd animal is alone in his paddock/pasture?

Might want to consider a friend so that he may have a herd to join.