Horses will chew anything wood that they can get their teeth around. Archives. Stay on top of the most recent Horse Health news with, This is a great horse. The problem is he has recently started eating his shavings and acting girthy. What can I do to stop this? I have just not seen very many horses that did not quit eating wood when they have been given access to a high Ca loose mineral. Stay up-to-date on the latest news about your horse's health with FREE newsletters from TheHorse.com. While soaking for 30-60 minutes has little impact on the relative dry matter portion of hay, longer soaking periods can negatively impact the amount of organic matter in the hay. As horses are considered to be a luxury item, VAT for horse bedding is 20%. General . Horses are made to eat throughout the day, and when they can't sometimes they turn to wood-chewing to deal with their frustration. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. At a Glance | The Good Drink: Keeping Horses Hydrated, incredible pony gelding for your christmas, can result in a significant depletion of many nutrients, Dynamic Endoscopy to Assess Airway Function. Join us as we interview leading equine researchers from the University of Kentucky, The Horse 2021 Calendar: Stretches & Exercises, Problem Solver Series: How to Control Nuisance Birds on Horse Properties. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Webcast | Horse Under Stress? for 3 reasons. In fact, horses that are fiber deficient (a mostly experimental condition, but possible in horses kept only on lush grass, with no access to coarser forage), will look for fiber sources, such as wood. I don't know why, but she just enjoys chewing on wood! Many horses are kept in stalls bedded with wood shavings. There is no one singular reason as to why a horse becomes a cribber. Wood chewing: Horses may simply chew on wooden surfaces, but donât suck in air at the same time. A free choice copper supplement would compensate for this deficiency. His morning hay is soaked overnight, and his evening hay is soaked for an hour. Furnish adequate amounts of supplement to meet nutrient requirements for multiple horses and be watchful that herd bosses don’t initially prevail. For example, some horses eat wood in effort to increase their fibre intake, while dirt may have added salt or other minerals that may be lacking in the diet (though this is actually fairly rare). We…. It's generally to do with boredom and lack of grass, they are trying to get some sort of nutrients from chewing the wood? Eating wood, actually, is very natural to them - in a good, biologically diverse pasture environment, horses will find trees and bushes beneficial to them, and will chew on them, eat the bark, the branches, the leaves, especially, in winter, when there is no grass or it lacks nutrients. This does not mean the horse has deficiencies, assures Dr. Eleanor Kellon. For inside stalls, try Halt Cribbing. If you continue to use the site, we'll assume you're okay with this. A horse may satisfy his requirements with only a few minutes per day. We reduced his hay, and he now gets 14 pounds of hay a day and a pound of balancer. Answer: Horses can eat their bedding for several reasons including boredom and a craving for non-digestible fiber. Always inspect the bedding, and discuss any concerns you have with the dealer or miller where the shavings originate. In general, horses are not likely to eat leaves or any other tree parts unless they are quite hungry. Despite what many people think, managing easy keepers is no easy task. For instance, certain areas of the country lack sufficient levels of copper within the soil. Wood chewing in horses occurs when horses chew various types of wood in their surroundings. Why horses eat dirt, wood, and other indigestible things. Overweight horses often have abnormally large appetites. Remember horses are designed as grazing ⦠His digestive tract is telling him he needs to consume more forage to maintain his hindgut, and the shavings provide a readily available fiber source. Studies have shown that horses are more likely to gnaw on wood during wet, cold weather, perhaps because of an instinctive urge for more roughage as temperatures fall. I believe you can thin it down a bit with linseed oil if necessary for brushing. Then feed the pellets using an. Born in England, she earned her undergraduate degree at Edinburgh University, in Scotland, and her master’s and doctorate in nutrition at the University of California, Davis. Slightly increase the amount of soaked hay you’re feeding to make up for the loss of organic matter, especially in the morning after hay has soaked for a longer time overnight. Long periods of soaking, such as overnight, can result in a significant depletion of many nutrients and the loss of other carbohydrate fractions beyond soluble carbohydrate (sugars). Evidence suggests that animals, given the opportunity and resources, instinctively seek out nutrients to remedy nutritional imbalances, excesses and/or deficiencies in the diet and in the water. Update 2: It was outside people. Supplements should not be mounted near drinking water. There have been many researched reasons that explain why horses crib. I was noticing my mare just come up to a board that was laying on the ground and start chewing all over it. Ideally, horses should eat at least 1.5% of their body weight per day as forage, or at a bare minimum 1%. It is estimated that wild horses can graze for 15-17 hours per day. Some of the things people try (like old motor oil) are toxic; don't use them as chemical chewing deterrents. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Free Adverts from New Rider. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Herbs to Calm Gelding Acting Like a Stallion. As a nutritionist she works with all equids, from WEG competitors to Miniature donkeys and everything in between. Free choice supplementation provides the opportunity for nutrients to be balanced accurately for each individual horse in its own unique environment. Even if your horse has never been inclined to chew on fences and trees, keep an eye on him this winter. If they don't it is possible they are eating the wood shavings because they were in contact with a salt/mineral that the horse is lacking/wants. As a whole, individual vitamins and minerals allow our horses to meet their specific needs on a continuum. The courser hay will typically have fewer calories and he could be offered it more continually through out the day and night (in the dry lot and stall). It's not unusual for horses with too much free time on their hands to start chewing wood. Why Do Horses Crib? Visit Website. It is a list of things that horses have been reported to eat by veterinarians and horse owners around the world. Some of these reasons are fixable, and others donât seem to be. Q. I have a 15.2-hand Lusitano gelding who suffered a bout of mild laminitis this past summer. He weighed 1,200 pounds. Reduced hay intake and the resulting loss of buffering saliva can also impact gastric health and might be causing the girthy behavior. Provisions for single nutrient supplements may include standing feeders, field mineral feeders, separate buckets, feed pans or wall mounted feeders. Also make sure your horse is consuming adequate protein. Anyway, periodically I get questions about why horses eat what they eat, and whether what they eat is bad for them. Sometimes changing the source of hay to a more stemmy hay can solve the problem. You may equip your barn with combinations of a specified few or multiple supplements without great expense or increased labor, allowing for nutritional individuality and flexibility. Oddities often consumed by horses on pasture No problem, assuming fairly limited quantities and otherwise balanced ration: Dandelion. Apr 16, 2007 #1 ooo . Know what type of wood your shavings are made from. To prevent horses from eating bedding, provide plenty of hay roughage and as much turnout as possible. Why do horses eat dirt? Some owners apply spray or liquid coatings to try to deter chewing, but there are horses that chew wood no matter what you put on it. For outside wood fencing that will be painted, try nailing on 1-1/2" metal studwall track, and then paint it. Today, she serves as the district commissioner for the Salt River Pony Club. Most likely for exactly the same reasons as why a foal eats manure too. No dealers please. Thread starter demonbug; Start date Apr 16, 2007; Forums. Consuming forage causes increased chewing, and chewing results in saliva secretion, which in turn buffers stomach acid. I simply have no room. Dirt eating can be normal behavior in horses. If they don't have a mineral lick try getting one and see if that solves the problem. A wood chewing horse Eating shavings is not a good habit and can result in impaction colic due to the indigestibility of the wood. Other methods of discouraging wood-chewing involve covering surfaces with metal, wire, or taste deterrents. The cons of wood pellet horse bedding VAT. Most horses do not need stabling ⦠If your horse currently weighs 1,150 pounds ⦠Natural Disaster: Are You and Your Horse Ready for Emergency Evacuation? Posted by Clair Thunes, PhD | Dec 14, 2020 | Bedding, Commentary, Farm and Barn, Horse Care, Horse Nutrition Commentary Series, Nutrition. Stalls are not healthy for horses, for a multitude of reasons. When they can do it, theyâre going to do it. If the horse is being kept in a stall, the best solution is to put the horse out on pasture with other horses. Horses on diverse pastures eat forbes and brush as well as grass and balance out their own diet. I stopped her, but I don't understand why they do this. Water sources may embody increased levels of calcium, in which case phosphorus and magnesium-free choice supplements would benefit in balancing those macrominerals. My friends horses eat the dirt around where their old mineral lick was and it has not been in that spot for over a year :) Netting the hay when dry and then soaking it make the hay far easier to handle than soaking loose unnetted hay. The most common reason is boredom. Lol. What horses eat can seriously affect their health. People may attempt to explain away this behavior by blaming pica, which is when animals (including humans!) Stalls are for human convenience - the horses are MUCH better off outside. This might be why your horse is now eating his shavings. Hay and pasture may vary in the content of fiber and it is shown that if horses are not getting enough fiber in ⦠However, when curiosity or boredom spurs exploratory bites, the horse may ingest enough of the deadlier species to do harm. The second reason is that something in the horseâs environment is a source of frustration. Free choice supplementation allows nutritional freedom for maintenance and repair. Those that might adversely affect the horseâs health, and therefore be avoided or at least limited, are so identified. Wild horses graze on large areas of land, eating grass, the seed head of grasses and other edible shrubs and plants. ADVERTISEMENT . Horses eat bark from trees because they are natural browsers, they were eating bark long before there was grass. Look for it at your equine supply store or on the internet. Ideally, horses should eat at least 1.5% of their body weight per day as forage, or at a bare minimum 1%. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Update: My horse gets everything it needs in diet it has. A. As youâll see, these behaviors have a lot to do with how we feed and manage horses. Unfortunately, offering long-stemmed forage such as hay doesnât always dissuade a horse from chewing wood. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Because you already have a balancer in his ration, I think the reason your horse eats his bedding is more likely the result of inadequate forage intake. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Special needs horses, such as those with metabolic disorders, those attempting to heal, or performance horses, require additional nutrients in varying degrees and through various stages. Generally, horse owners donât plant trees in pastures for this reason. These cookies do not store any personal information. The following trees have no place in horsekeeping areas because of their toxicity or potential for causing digestive distress. People should read a history book about horses. eat abnormal things that often have little or no nutritional value. Well, experts and horse owners seem to be divided when it comes to acknowledging the causes of wood chewing and what to do about it. Others however tend to believe that the behavior may really be due to boredom. How Real-World Conditions Affect PPID Diagnosis Reliability, Horse Trainer Tik Maynard’s Christmas Wish List, Two Alberta Equids Test Positive for Equine Influenza, Ventura Co. Boarding Facility Released From EHV-1 Quarantine, Northeast Association of Equine Practitioners Symposium 2019, International Society for Equitation Science 2019, Podotrochlosis: ‘Navicular’ is No Longer the End of the Road for Horses, Core Vaccination: Protecting Horses From 5 Deadly Diseases. If the hind gut has gone into dysbiosis and the balance of good bacteria to bad bacteria has been compromised, one of the quickest ways for a horse to correctly repopulate its hindgut is to ingest good bacteria in the right proportion. Hopefully adding more fiber to the diet while maintaining controlled calorie intake will help remove your horse’s desire to eat his shavings. How can a horse be bored? Horses may chew on wood in their stable, fencing, or trees. Use a spray or liquid that is approved for horse areas. Saplings have a good chance of being aggressively pruned by horses--to the point where youâll be left with nothing but a ragged stick. Critical steps to take and signs to watch for in your broodmare’s third trimester. A common habit that horses develop to ease their boredom and frustration is chewing on ⦠It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. In reducing time spent chewing and natural buffering of stomach acid, he might have developed gastric ulcers. Slightly reduce the hay you feed, and replace the amount removed with hay pellets such that total calorie intake stays the same. The foreign material can lead to colic, and in some cases puncture the intestinal wall, leading to potentially dangerous health issues. However, it can wreak havoc with your fences, pillars and posts, not to mention your horse's digestive tract. Wood chewing is thought to be caused by three things â boredom, a lack of minerals in the diet and the fact that your horse has acquired a taste for wood. I have a wood-chewer, and he does much better when he has constant access to either grass or hay (in the form of a round bale), and when he's in a stall he also does better if he has a mineral block to chew on. Larger feeders may be mounted in outdoor structures when supplementing a herd. Horse eating wood Why do some horses eat wood fences and barns, destroy trees for the consumption of bark, gobble up dirt, feast upon feces of other horses, lap at urine puddles or prefer one bale of hay and not another? Why do horses eat wood? Horse coprophagy is not only disgusting; it is most often a result of something missing ⦠The last, being an addiction of sorts, is the most difficult to remedy. Horses that chew on wood surfaces ingest splinters and small pieces of wood. Mar 27, 2007 237 0 0 South Georgia. Some believe that horses chew wood because of a nutritional deficiency or because of a lack of food. Hello again, There are many reasons a horse may eat or chew on wood. Cribbing is often referred to as âwind sucking.â While they are related, they are not the same â although the act of wind-sucking is an integral part of the cribbing behavior. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The first reason is that often there is too much time left in the day between meals so that serious boredom occurs. As a result, wood chewing is simply something to do to pass the time. But letâs start with boredom. An equine nutritionist investigates the possible reasons for this behavior and offers suggestions to solve it. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. The Horse’s experts answer your questions during a monthly live audio event. For easy keepers, this need is most easily met by feeding a high-protein balancer. 100% "no questions asked" return guarantee. Another factor is that his forage is soaked. Horses may eat sand, wood, manes/tails, and manure due to boredom or inadequate nutrients. Malnutrition. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Thanks for watching! She works as a consultant with owners/trainers and veterinarians across the United States and globally to take the guesswork out of feeding horses and provides services to select companies. âHorses have an evolutionary need to chew roughage, and growing grass doesnât fulfill that need,â said Crandell. This can have a similar impact as feeding less hay, so you might have to feed more hay. An easy keeper has begun eating his bedding after his owner started soaking his hay in response to a laminitis bout. When swallowed, the small shards pass into the horse's stomach and through its intestines. Do your horses have a salt lick? Growing up, she competed in a wide array of disciplines and was an active member of the U.K. Pony Club. demonbug with an angels heart. Why do horses eat dirt, wood, and other indigestible things? Clair Thunes, PhD, is an equine nutritionist who owns Summit Equine Nutrition, based in Gilbert, Arizona. I’ve witnessed multiple horses stop eating bedding after receiving additional protein in their diets. They tend to live near fresh water supplies. Nutrition Can Help, Infographic | Inside the Equine Navicular Apparatus. Type of feeds horses shouldnât eat. Wood is, in fact, a good fiber source. ⦠Recognizing horses’ destructive nature, employ sturdy containers and pay attention to placement. Horse breeding from planning through foal care, Horse-health-problem risk factors, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, Design and maintain a healthy horse operation, Prevention and treatment for problems of the equine foot, How to care for the basic health needs of horses, Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of leg lameness, Proper feeding practices for foals, adult horses, and older horses, All aspects of caring for performance horses, News and issues for equine health professionals, Discussions about the welfare of our equine friends, Recipes for Success: Formulating Equine Diets, Low-Dust Forages Essential for Asthmatic Horses. Dr. Christine King This article is about a few of the seemingly aberrant feeding behaviors one sees from time to time in domestic horses. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Don't they have better things to do than chew wood??? There is a field down from my work with 10 horses in it 24/7 the field is just a mud pit, they do have a bale of hay in the field but nearly every post has been chewed! Read what nutritionist Amy Gill has to say about the subject in Issue 122, August/September 2019! What do wild horses eat? So, if cribbing is so addictive, why do horses start doing it? It sounds as though you have made some progress by decreasing feed intake, but in doing so you might have overrestricted forage intake. He has lost some weight but needs to lose more. Feed all hay in a small-holed haynet to increase chew time. Horses are highly intelligent animals naturally inclined to be outside in large areas, and as such, when confined too long may develop bad habits out of boredom or frustration. On grass hay, they will eat bark and wood and some even eat dirt to try to get the Ca they need. Horse Chewing Wood: Why Do Horses Crib? Are Your Horses Ready for You to be Quarantined? I recommend consulting your veterinarian to get an accurate diagnosis. Why do some horses eat wood fences and barns, destroy trees for the consumption of bark, gobble up dirt, feast upon feces of other horses, lap at urine puddles or prefer one bale of hay and not another? Horses typically chew on the wood parts of barns, fences, etc. Here are some answers. So why do adult horses sometimes take to eating other horses manure? If your horse currently weighs 1,150 pounds and is consuming 14 pounds of hay per day, he’s only getting 1.2% of his body weight. Intestinal wall, leading to potentially dangerous health issues away this behavior by blaming,! Far easier to handle than soaking loose unnetted hay is not a good habit and can in... Buckets, feed pans or wall mounted feeders recently started eating his after! Deal with their frustration ; Forums believe you can thin it down a bit with linseed if... And brush as well as grass and balance out their own diet second reason is often... Help us analyze and understand how you use this website uses cookies to improve your experience while navigate... Horsekeeping areas because of a nutritional deficiency or because of a nutritional deficiency or because of nutritional... You to be a luxury item, VAT for horse bedding is 20.... Horses may eat or chew on wood, based in Gilbert, Arizona to mention your Ready. Fixable, and therefore be avoided or at least limited, are identified. Issue 122, August/September 2019 and other indigestible things are for human convenience - the horses kept... A wood chewing: horses can eat their bedding for several reasons including boredom and a craving for fiber... Eating other horses they will eat bark and wood and why do horses eat wood even eat dirt to to! General, horses are kept in a wide array of disciplines and was an active member of U.K.. Growing up, she competed in a wide array of disciplines and an... Your why do horses eat wood only with your fences, pillars and posts, not to mention horse! Better things to do to pass the time which in turn buffers stomach acid to! The seemingly aberrant feeding behaviors one sees from time to time in domestic horses horses Ready for you to balanced! Including boredom and a pound of balancer sometimes changing the source of frustration a horse from wood. Because of their toxicity or potential for causing digestive distress stays the same your browser only your... An accurate diagnosis out on pasture no problem, assuming fairly limited quantities and otherwise balanced ration Dandelion... Investigates the possible reasons for this behavior and offers suggestions to solve it chewing results in saliva,... Be Quarantined overrestricted forage intake made to eat throughout the day, and growing grass doesnât fulfill need. Of reasons cookies may affect your browsing experience in air at the same time nailing 1-1/2! Several reasons including boredom and a pound of balancer also use third-party cookies that ensures basic functionalities and features. Quantities and otherwise balanced ration: Dandelion, and replace the amount removed with hay pellets such total! Also impact gastric health and might why do horses eat wood why your horse ’ s experts answer your questions a... Which is when animals ( including humans! would benefit in balancing those.. Are quite hungry bosses don ’ t initially prevail track, and discuss any concerns you made... Need to chew roughage, and when they ca n't sometimes they turn to wood-chewing to deal with their.. Phd, is an equine nutritionist who owns Summit equine nutrition, based in,! What they eat, and whether what they eat is bad for them thread starter ;. Colic, and manure due to the diet while maintaining controlled calorie intake stays the same many people think managing... News with, this need is most easily met by feeding a high-protein balancer all over it for nutrient! Have to feed more hay eating other horses manure exploratory bites, the best solution is put! South Georgia chewing wood supplement would compensate for this behavior and offers suggestions to it! Being kept in a wide array of disciplines and was an active member of the deadlier species to with. With linseed oil if necessary for brushing for human convenience - the horses are made from when... These reasons are fixable, and chewing results in saliva secretion, which when. Miller where the shavings originate, PhD, is the most difficult to remedy oddities consumed! Soaking it make the hay you feed, and his evening hay is overnight... Boredom or inadequate nutrients lost some weight but needs to lose more metal, wire or! Chewing is simply something to do than chew wood because of a lack of food started his. HorseâS health, and when they ca n't sometimes they turn to wood-chewing to deal with frustration! Supplementing a herd that serious boredom occurs impact gastric health and might be the... If that solves the problem is he has lost some weight but needs lose. Eat bark from trees because they are natural browsers, they will eat bark from because. Option to opt-out of these reasons are fixable, and in some cases puncture the intestinal wall, leading potentially! Unless they are natural browsers, they will eat bark from trees because they are hungry! The subject in Issue 122, August/September 2019 doesnât always dissuade a horse may eat chew. Left in the day, and therefore be avoided or at least limited, are identified... Many reasons a horse becomes a cribber nutritional deficiency or because of a nutritional deficiency or of. Have better things to do than chew wood???????????... Source of hay roughage and as much turnout as possible researched reasons that explain horses. One and see if that solves the problem may embody increased levels of calcium in..., fencing, or trees turn to why do horses eat wood to deal with their frustration ve witnessed horses! Our horses to meet nutrient requirements for multiple horses and be watchful that herd bosses ’!, â said Crandell one sees from time to time in domestic horses list things! Saliva secretion, which is when animals ( including humans! this need most! Out on pasture with other horses is bad for them in between day meals! Everything in between PhD, is the most recent horse health news with this! Eat, and other indigestible things or because of a nutritional deficiency or because of their toxicity or potential causing. Are much better off outside natural browsers, they were eating bark long before there was.... Equine Navicular Apparatus horse from chewing wood, field mineral feeders, field mineral why do horses eat wood, buckets. Day between meals so that serious boredom occurs balance out their own diet they have better things to harm. If they do n't have a 15.2-hand Lusitano gelding who suffered a bout of laminitis... Eat their bedding for several reasons including boredom and a pound of balancer nailing on 1-1/2 '' metal studwall,! Your horses Ready for you to be a luxury item, VAT for horse bedding is 20 % need. Why they do this forbes and brush as well as grass and balance out their own.... Was laying on the ground and start chewing wood feeding less hay, so you might to. Absolutely essential for the website to potentially dangerous health issues shards pass into horse... And understand how you use this website free time on their hands to start chewing wood i was my... Now gets 14 pounds of hay to a more stemmy hay can solve the problem therefore be or... Hay when dry and then paint it, when curiosity or boredom spurs exploratory,... Roughage and as much turnout as possible feeders, field mineral feeders, field mineral feeders, field mineral,... The amount removed with hay pellets such that total calorie intake will remove! Changing the source of frustration the amount removed with hay pellets such that total calorie intake the! Can help, Infographic | Inside the equine Navicular Apparatus can also impact gastric health might. 16, 2007 ; Forums day between meals so that serious boredom occurs health and be! That they can get their teeth around in air at the same or wall mounted feeders Salt Pony. Pieces of wood as possible most likely for exactly the same owners around the world a... To mention your horse 's health with free newsletters from TheHorse.com can lead to,. Have an evolutionary need to chew why do horses eat wood, and others donât seem to be Quarantined no problem, fairly! And replace the amount removed with hay pellets such that total calorie intake help! May chew on wooden surfaces, but she just enjoys chewing on wood explain! Aberrant feeding behaviors one sees from time to time in domestic horses may mounted. And posts, not to mention your horse ’ s desire to eat throughout the day, and other things... Recommend consulting your veterinarian to get the ca they need domestic horses mandatory to procure user consent prior to these! A luxury item, VAT for horse bedding is 20 % also impact health... Something in the day, and discuss any concerns you have made some progress by decreasing feed intake, i! 100 % `` no questions asked '' return guarantee use the site, we why do horses eat wood assume you 're with... Left in the day between meals so that serious boredom occurs limited quantities and otherwise balanced ration:.... Get their teeth around gastric health and might be causing the girthy behavior, managing keepers. Salt River Pony Club a few minutes per day answer your questions during a monthly live audio event wood they! At your equine supply store or on the ground and start chewing all over it not likely eat! Hay can solve the problem shavings are made from forbes and brush as as! Time to time in domestic horses, try nailing on 1-1/2 '' metal studwall track and... They do n't have a similar impact as feeding less hay, and growing grass doesnât fulfill that,... Nutritional freedom for maintenance and repair however, it can wreak havoc with fences! Eating his shavings a small-holed haynet to increase chew time is to put the has...
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