Horse eating mud

[DanniRenske]

My friends horse suffers from colic and has noticed he has started eating mud when she puts him in the field, big mouthfuls, any idea what this could mean (a mineral deficiency possibly?)

 

[SirenaXVI]

Can be a mineral deficiency or can also be caused by a lack of fibre in the diet.

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

Horses eating mud usually means they are lacking in selenium. Might be worth getting some or a general vitamin lick.

 

[Birker2020]

My horse took great big mouthfuls of dirt when he had colic. He was eating it ravenously. The vet said that in the wild they would eat mud to settle stomach ache in the same way we would have a chalky antacid remedy if we had heartburn.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

I'd immediately start the horse on Coligone. I bet he's got some sort of a low grade belly ache. Coligone is brilliant and will immediately settle his stomach before it develops into anything worse. The peppermint powder is better for maintenance and only costs pence per day. PM H's_mum for info and advice.

 

[Lou_Lou123]

My horse does this all the time, he loves to dig holes in the field and chew big mouthfuls. He has never had colic in the two years I've had him (touchwood), and is either in the filed or on adlib hay when he's in the stable. I put him on a vit and min and iron supplement for 6 months and it made no difference, so I stopped feeding it. I mentioned it to my vet, who said that if supplements made no difference, perhaps he just likes it.

This may not be the case with your friends horse, but it can sometimes be nothing to worry about. It may or may not be related to the colic, I would say it is worth mentioning to the vet to ask their advice.