Horse eating horse poo?

[poiuytrewq]

Just been out to the field to get ponies in and caught one of the horses eating poo. Properly big mouthfuls and is really eating it.
Quick Google as you do... tells me he's badly managed, stabled too long, not fed enough fibre and on a bad feed regime.
I argue all the above!
He's currently living out apart from a few hours they come in in the afternoon where he has ad-lib soaked hay which he isn't really interested in but does pick at. He's fed a small token feed of happy hoof which I add salt and joint supplements to. He isn't bullied or stressed turned out or inside.
Any ideas? Grossed me out a bit if I'm honest 😷

 

[Milkmaid]

With the heat we are having he may be still lacking salt? How much are you adding? It's been shown that they don't tend to take enough from a lick and should have extra added especially in hot weather. I give 2 table spoons plus electolytes if they sweat up.
Or it could be indicative of a gut issue. First action would be to give a probiotic if this is suspected.

 

[poiuytrewq]

He doesn't have a lick as I know he won't use one. I add it to his feed. In fact it's pretty much the reason he's fed!

 

[Milkmaid]

I have slightly edited my above post. Maybe add in some electrolytes as well as the plain salt?

 

[poiuytrewq]

Mm, probably not quite enough actually. Just read an article which states poo eating as a sign of potassium unbalance caused by lack of salt. I use a scoop which came in a joint sup tub but I imagine it's only about 1 tbs. I'll up it.
He had electrolytes after hard work but isn't really in hard work at the minute. (As in i give electrolytes after a good sweat)
I think your right, he's not getting enough.

 

[Frumpoon]

Just a quickie to say that soaked hay needs to be thoroughly washed after soaking and will be vinegary after a few hours so unpalatable to horses

 

[DabDab]

Usually a mineral imbalance that they're trying to self medicate - yes salt would be a good bet as it's started in this heat.

 

[canteron]

Thunder rook feeds have an interesting article on this, I think essentially don't be too alarmed ..... Google Thunderbrook and "why does my horse eat poo".

 

[monkeymad]

I had a horse that did this. The vet was not concerned at all.

 

[Bernster]

Never got to the bottom of exactly why when my old gelding did it, but he stopped it after I started giving him a balancer. Clearly something missing from his diet and he also didn't get much in the way of hard feed.