- 1). Determine why the horse is rubbing or scratching on a particular post or area. Often times a horse will rub and scratch on what is nearby. It may be nearby because the horse is at the fence attempting to reach through to eat grass that is seemingly greener. Cut grass that may be tall or overgrown or consider spraying a weed killing herbicide, such as Roundup, to kill the grass immediately around the fence.
- 2). Look for low hanging branches with leaves, fruit or nuts that may be just out of reach for horses necking, or reaching, over the fence. Many times horses will turn side ways to a fence while attempting to reach across, which positions them perfectly for scratching. Cut low hanging limbs back away from fencing.
- 3). Remove any source of food or excessive interest that seems to keep horses at or near fencing. Avoid letting people approach horse fencing at points that promote rubbing and scratching.
- 4). Consider installing a wire of electric fence along the inside of the fence to act as a deterrent. Refer to local feed and seed suppliers, as well as on line sources for information on purchasing and installing an electric fence.
- 5). Run a strip of portable fencing inside the fence line at least three to four feet back from the main fence. Portable fencing is typically a wide and light colored strip of material that is used to border horses temporarily. This may help to deter the scratching, and over a period of time the horse may be trained to forget about the area.
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