Horse eating Soil

[worldchimp]

I caught my horse eating soil/earth from his rolling patch in the field yesterday. He has got a molasses lick that he has access too every day and then he also has a likit lick in different favours hung up on his stables beam to play with. He is currently only on grass and hay. Should I be feeding him a salt lick?
Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[ester]

Frank licks soil, in specific patches. He won't touch a salt lick and doesn't do it masses (more in summer) so I leave him to it

I don't think its that unusual

 

[JenHunt]

Soil licking or eating is usually a sign that they are short of something.... if he's getting no hard feed then I would suggest that you get a bag of baileys lo-cal or top spec original or equilibra 500 and give him that.

A balancer doesn't need anything adding to it, and can be fed straight, but will give him everything (vits and mins) that he needs without giving him more calories. And 1 bag would last one horse ages - a bag of lo-cal lasts my 2 horses about 3 weeks (at 2 cups each per day)

Molasses licks and likits don't provide very much in the way of vits and mins generally (some molasses licks do), and a salt lick would only provide some of them, and not necessarily the ones he's looking for in the soil.

Hope that helps, and don't hesitate to ask if you need more help.

 

[Shilasdair]

Usually it is a sign of mineral deficiency, so feed a broad spectrum supplement.
It can sometimes be an indication that your horse has a worm burden, so may be worth checking that your worming is ok, too.
S

 

[stencilface]

I wouldn't really worry, ours sometimes lick/eat the soil and they all have a penchant for leaves (and branches!!) off the ash tree.

Its the natural way for horses to get the salt/minerals they need, they wouldn't have a salk lick in the wild and unless the horse is unhealthy/lacking in some other way, I wouldn't be worried at all.

 

[RuthnMeg]

Had a horse that did this and was told to feed him sea weed. Supplements can be found at most feed merchants. Cured the problem so its worth a try?! (yes, its smells like a harbour) lol

 

[Mrs_Wishkabibble]

Mine all did this until I put them on Feedmark Benevit multi vitamin supplement. Never see them do it now.

 

[kombikids]

mine did this - shes now on blue chip balancer and doesnt do it at all anymore!

 

[ester]

would add frank still did it on topspec!

 

[kellyeaton]

get him a vit/min lick he must be lacking in something!