Do horses eat what they need?

only_me

only_me

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probably should be in stable, but more traffic in here
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Merlin has been recently eating nettles over fence (plenty of grass in field and since he resembles a hefalump is not starved
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) - what does this mean? what are nettles good for?

Also do you believe that horses will eat what they need? Like if eat bark/soil etc. or should we be feeding enough supplements/right feed to ensure that they dont need to?

Like if you left a salt lick in their stable they will only lick what they need and no more? curious
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Nettles are really good for them - cut them down and leave them to wilt (stops the stinging) - I do it for mine all the time. I forget what is in them but it helps 'detox' their blood. I let mine browse through the hedgerow when they are on their way out so they can help themselves to what they want - mine eat nettles, cleavers, cow parsley (natural fly repelllant), hawthorn and occaisionally young thistles, horse chestnut leaves and the leaves of the silver birch in my garden!! Both of mine have a salt lick in their field and they use it as and when.

They know what is good for them!!
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Nettles contain iron and vitamin c and other anti oxidants.

Acorns, oak leaves and chestnut leaves/conkers should be avoided, they are poisonous.

My horse loves rose hips, hawthorn, dandylions, cleavers, thistle flowers and seeds, cow parsley and willow.

Eating bark can indicate a lack of fibre in the diet. My horse likes to lick soil at the edge of his stream in the field, probably has a few minerals in it. I do not stop him.

I think its a combination of the things tasting nice and satisfying a craving.
 
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