Horse eating straw pellet bedding

[stimpy]

I have been using wood pellets and I like them generally but find that the unrugged horses get really filthy, dusty coats and in this dry weather the pellets beds have been very dusty. So, I thought I would try a straw pellet trial before ordering any more wood so I put 6 bags of straw pellets down this evening ready for my mare and foal to use tonight. However, I let my mare wander in to her stable this afternoon to see what she thought of it and she started to eat it So I thought "be patient, she'll stop in a minute" but she didn't I waited 5 minutes and she was still eating so I kicked her out whereupon she did lots of elaborate coughing.

I daren't let her and the foal in on it tonight, I would never forgive myself if one or both of them coliced and the foal is foolish enough without seeing her mother tucking in... So, I had to take the whole bed out again and replace with wood pellets, I just love doing a job twice

Has anyone else had horses eating straw pellets?

 

[Wagtail]

Yes, two of the seven horses here eat straw pellets. I have had to put those two back onto wood pellets. I think they could be at risk of colic if they eat them. It's a real pain as I really prefer the straw pellets.