Eating mud??

[tilly49]

I turned my mare out today and instead if her usual running off to join her mates she decided to eat mud and some bark. What would cause this? We have recently moved yards and she is having better turnout and diet. She seems fairly settled there. She is currently fed 2 x small hand ful nuts and 1/4 scoop HiFi lite twice a day with global herbs global vite and dash corn oil in her pm feed. Does it look like she is lacking in anything? She gets 2 haynets over night.

 

[supagran]

I turned my mare out today and instead if her usual running off to join her mates she decided to eat mud and some bark. What would cause this? We have recently moved yards and she is having better turnout and diet. She seems fairly settled there. She is currently fed 2 x small hand ful nuts and 1/4 scoop HiFi lite twice a day with global herbs global vite and dash corn oil in her pm feed. Does it look like she is lacking in anything? She gets 2 haynets over night.

Could be a lack of salt, so I would try
a) give her a salt lick, and
b) ensure that she has the full dose of vits/minerals each day

 

[tilly49]

Any particular salt lick? She has the full dose of vitamins she can have

 

[JustKickOn]

Himalayan salt lick something like... http://www.equestrianclearance.com/westgate_efi/naf_himalayan_salt_licks/index.html

 

[tilly49]

Thank you. I will pick one up this week. She used to have one but never bothered with it - or so I thought.

 

[contestdancer]

Pick up a selenium supplement.This is usually why they eat mud or lick the earth.

 

[tilly49]

Ok so got a salt lick but she showed little interest. Any ideas what to give now??

 

[Rebels]

Badmintin field lick block. Does have molasses in it but stops mine eating dirt.

 

[xxRachelxx]

You could add salt into her feed if she is not keen on the lick. It could be that she isn't having enough forage in her diet. Could you maybe put some hay in her field? Be careful with a selenium supplement as if you overdose on selenium it is toxic.

 

[tilly49]

Her diet is mainly forage with a handful of nuts twice a day with global vite supplement pm