Help - youngster eating droppings ????

[jules9203]

I have a 2yr old NF pony who is eating the droppings of the other mare she's out with. The youngster is in each night with ad lib good quality hay. She has two feeds am and pm, including a vitamin/mineral supplement and also has a rock salt lick in her box. She is turned out during the day on reasonable grass. Not the best quality but we are working on the pasture to improve it. She has been wormed regularly since I got her at 8 months old. The other mare she is out with has a similar diet with the only extra being some sugarbeet.

Can someone please give me some idea why the 2yr old is eating the other horses droppings.

 

[NZJenny]

It's quite normal - don't worry. No one is quite sure why they do it, but all young horses and some older ones to it at some stage.

Gross I know - but that's all.

 

[jules9203]

Thank you - I can cope with gross!