Eating mud and wood

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Bright_Spark

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My TB often chews wood when stabled and has now started to do so while out in the field (she is mainly living out 24/7 atm). She is currently eating her way through 1 fence post
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I have also noticed her licking mud recently- normally after she has been stabled. She has mineral and salt licks in her stable but does not touch them.

I am wondering if she has a mineral deficency so was wondering if anyone had suggestions for a supplement/ balancer I could put her on?

Many thanks.

H
 
My old Highland used to eat/lick/play with mud for a short while. He stopped fairly quickly though with no intervention. I think I asked a nutritionist and she said it might be a deficiency particular to this area but he stopped before I tried to address it.
 
I had an old arab once, (approx 20) who I caught eating poop in the field! Also he used to push through bark chippings and nibble the dirt under it (maybe there was fungus under there)

He had a couple of feeds and licks and everything, I don't know why.
 
Sorry to hijack but wolly why did you ask about the clay soil? Ive got similar problems and Im on clay. If its copper can you suggest a good lick? I suppose the best thing really is to get an analysis done.
 
Thank you everyone.

Law, I had not thought of speaking to a nutritionist
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Yes the soil is mainly clay Woolly, so something to think about there.

More opinions and thoughts welcome
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Thanks
 
Licking mud I thought was a deficiency. Id just pop her on a high spec all-round vit & min supplement if she isnt already on one. As for the wood, I wouldn't worry TBH. I actually give my horses branches (obviously safe to eat ones) and they love pulling the bark off and chewing them. I read in the wild, horses do like to do it. Try giving her some branches and see if that takes her interest off your fence post!
 
Interesting....my mare has also been eating soil in her field...she goes straight to a certain patch when put out...I thought it was a mineral deficiency thing tho she has good diet and never touched anything that I have put in her stable.
Her field is clay & chalk...
She has often chewed wood and can be found with her head in the branches!!When she was on box rest I used to pick branches for her. Tho I have often seen horses chewing wood and just thought it was something some of them had a liking for tbh.
I will investigate further...anything I find out I will let you know!
 
Hello all! Clay is relevant as it is incredibly mineral rich and there also is some anecdotal evidence that the kaolin can help with stomach imbalances such as is found in calcium rich soils or chalky soils. I don't really know what is now available on the market as have not owned a horse for 10 years, but usually any broad spectrum mineral supplement should sufice.
As for the wood the willow contains salycylic acid which is a form of aspirin, so if willow the horse can be self dosing.
Willow bark reduces fever and relieves rheumatism.
 
Thanks once again everyone.

Will be trying her on equivite orginal and see how she does on that. I'll try to get her some branches to eat too so she can leave the fence alone!
 
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