Horse is chewing wood and other things!?

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GreenEyedMonster

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My 17 year old gelding has always taken to grabbing and pulling on his lead rope when he is tied up. He has recently moved from a livery yard to our home and since has been doing it more often, he chews the top of his stable door (on the rare occasion that he is in it), he chews the fence posts, his leadrope, the front of my coat and even his head collar when it's hung over the gate.
I've heard this happens when they lack things in their diet but he is turned out 24/7 and fed NAF 5 star balancer so I can't think it would this?
We know his full history and knowing all the owners I know he'd never have been mistreated, he does get anxious when seperated from others but it's never for long and in the field he always has at least one companion!
Is it something physical? I'm worrying he is in some kind of pain...
 
Personally I would feed a better balancer, NAF is v v low and tbh really not worth the money, there is far better supplements out there if you compair. Equimins advance complete is very good and puts most to shame. I work within the equine retail sector and compairing supplements is something I do nearly on a daily basis and NAF really do sell on their name, if it was to do with the actual amount of ingredients ( taking out the amount of fillers) it really does come up poor. Equimins is a company who over the years iv become more impressed with and really rate their products. The advance balancer is based on linseed ( no wheat feed,oatfeed,grass meal to bulk out little goodness) and the amount of vits,mins etc really are high and its not a premix! Even compairing equimins to topspec and I would pick equimins everytime. I work with most equine feed companies and really do find it amazing the crap that goes into feeds and we feed it to our loved ones. Look at ingredients, levels of vits,mins etc and compair it really is worth doing your homework.
Anyway iv gone of subject a bit haven't I but I would try a decent balancer and see if that makes a difference as the only horses iv ever had who chewed things were lacking but it could be a habit now, ever way a decent balancer will help I'm certain.
 
Oh forgot to add I would also provide salt as they don't get enough from their feed plus is he doing enough exercise to keep him mentally happy?
 
No, he isn't but that's my fault for not managing my time well enough, he deserves someone better really but I could never bare to part with him. Selfish I know, but he's all I've really got!
 
Iv got 1 that could leave me and go and do more due to being to small for me ( but I'm not to heavy ) just long legs and It just feels totally odd to me. Iv had him since a foal so won't leave me, its a cruel world out there and that's why I couldn't part with him. If he keeps you happy enjoy every moment with him, we have them to enjoy after all
 
thatsmygirl said:
Personally I would feed a better balancer, NAF is v v low and tbh really not worth the money, there is far better supplements out there if you compair. Equimins advance complete is very good and puts most to shame. I work within the equine retail sector and compairing supplements is something I do nearly on a daily basis and NAF really do sell on their name, if it was to do with the actual amount of ingredients ( taking out the amount of fillers) it really does come up poor. Equimins is a company who over the years iv become more impressed with and really rate their products. The advance balancer is based on linseed ( no wheat feed,oatfeed,grass meal to bulk out little goodness) and the amount of vits,mins etc really are high and its not a premix! Even compairing equimins to topspec and I would pick equimins everytime. I work with most equine feed companies and really do find it amazing the crap that goes into feeds and we feed it to our loved ones. Look at ingredients, levels of vits,mins etc and compair it really is worth doing your homework.
Anyway iv gone of subject a bit haven't I but I would try a decent balancer and see if that makes a difference as the only horses iv ever had who chewed things were lacking but it could be a habit now, ever way a decent balancer will help I'm certain.
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dont suppose you happen to know how it compares to forage plus? which is the balancer i was going to recommend to you OP. Also, is he getting enough fibre? Mine does this if he is on a ‘diet’ and I have to make sure there is soaked hay or straw even scattered about. I also always have a salt lick available.
 
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