Hay advise please

[Piccy]

My lad is doing something very strange when eating his Hay/Haylege he takes a mouth full chews a little then dips it in his water bucket almost like rinising it the lifts drops water all over the place fininshs mouthful then repeats.

Can anyone advise why or what i can do to stop this as im going through bedding so fast its scarey and if i need a vet to look at him I dont want to wait.

Thank you in advance also posts in Vet.... p.s he has had his teeth done in last 3 months.

 

[finkle]

My friends mare did this...we use to find it quite endearing.

He gave her a water bucket next to the hay purely for 'dunking' purposes and to keep the drinking water clean.

 

[treena]

some horses find hay very dry, so do self soaking....x

 

[hessy12]

My appaloosa gelding has always done this. If i soak his hay, he does not do it, so you could try that. On a funny note, it shows intelligence, after all, hay is dry. But haylage is not, so yours might have just gotten into the habit of doing it. I don't think it is anything to worry about but I can understand the mess etc is frustrating for you. But if the horse is healthy and happy, then don't worry.

 

[MyBoyChe]

Che does this, I have put him a bucket at both sides of his box. He tends to go to one side with the hay so hopefully the other bucket stays cleaner and he drinks from this. He is in good health and his teeth are in good working order so I think it is just his preference, bit like dunking a digestive!