Abnormal Eating Behaviors: Your Horse Ate What?

Abnormal Eating Behaviors: Your Horse Ate What?

Does the horse have adequate long stem fiber available? If the horse does not feel full or is bored, they will find something to chew on and consume—fences, stalls, and trees might suffer!

Photo: Photos.com

Abnormal or unusual eating behavior is not uncommon in horses and might be of concern to a horse owner.

Foals frequently nibble at manure, which is one way the microbial population of the gut is established. It might not look attractive, but is normal investigative behavior. Other unusual eating behavior includes chewing on fences or stall walls, eating bark off trees, chewing on stablemates’ tails, and eating dirt. In some species, the term “pica” is used to indicate consuming unusual food.

Except for salt, and perhaps phosphorus, there has been limited information to document that horses have nutritional wisdom for selecting nutrients. Horses can select and consume plants that taste better than other plants.

If a horse is demonstrating unusual eating behavior, the following check list might be useful in determining what factors could be driving the behavior:

  • Does the horse have adequate long stem fiber available? If the horse does not feel full or is bored, they will find something to chew on and consume—fences, stalls, and trees might suffer! If the horse is getting sufficient calories to maintain body condition but is not consuming enough dry matter to feel full, they will try to consume more of something and will look for things to nibble on.
  • Do they have adequate salt available free choice? Horses that do not have salt available will chew on a variety of objects seeking salt, such as tool handles or leather. They might eat dirt where salt might be present in small quantities or where there are or have been ashes. Wild animals seek out “salt licks” and consume bones.
  • Do they have adequate mineral intake? While the horse might not have specific mineral wisdom, when a horse is consuming abnormal things it could be a good time to review macro- and micromineral intake to ensure their diet is balanced and they are receiving adequate amounts of these important micronutrients.
  • Does the horse have ulcers? There have been anecdotal reports of horses with ulcers seeking to consume fiber or dirt.
  • How old is your horse? Young horses cutting teeth might sometimes exhibit some unusual chewing behavior. Young horses also like to explore and will nibble on or consume mop fibers, decorations, leather, etc.

Anytime a horse is consuming unusual material, a thorough review of the diet is a good idea to make certain there is sufficient fiber, adequate minerals (including salt), and adequate protein/amino acid intake. If boredom is an issue, increased exercise or the use of stall toys may be a good idea. And of course, if your horse consumes something odd, or excessive amounts of something, make sure to contact your veterinarian.

Reprinted with permission from The Feed Room, by Nutrena.

About the Author

Roy A. Johnson, MS

Roy A. Johnson, MS, is an equine technology manager for Cargill Animal Nutrition. In his role, he is responsibile for the development of horse feeds for U.S. business, including feeds for Nutrena, ACCO, Agway, and private label brands. A former professional horse trainer, farm manager, and horse judging coach, Johnson was an assistant professor in the Agricultural Production Division at the University of Minnesota-Wasecae before joining Cargill. Johnson has also participated in a successful Thoroughbred racing partnership.


Free Newsletters

Sign up for the latest in:

From our partners