Horse licking soil

[missshell]

My horse has been on box rest and was turned out today for the first time in 2 weeks. I noticed he was licking the soil for quite a while Any ideas?

 

[maxapple]

There must be something in the grass / soil that they miss when not turned out.

My horse is on box rest (month 4 ) and he is in a stable with a lowish wall so he can reach my pony next door. He has been known to stand and lick my pony's muddy rug for ages!!

Its also something I don;t think you can replace - my horse has pink powder, mineral licks, salt licks and all sorts of other supplements - and he still does it!

 

[SmartieBean09]

Horses have a natural instinct to search out salt. They do not have the natural desire to search for all minerals and trace elements but a horse does have a natural desire to search for salt.

I would add some salt to your horses feed or a salt lick if possible. Most compound feeds contain salt but this is only delivered to the horse if fed at the recommend level.

 

[nikkimariet]

Could be a natural instinct to seek out vitamins/minerals they are deficient in. He's been kept in for a little while, maybe it's iron/magnesium/copper/sodium...

If he's is going to be kept in long-term, get him a salt/mineral lick, or add a general supplement to his feed.

If he's going to start going out into the field more, I wouldn't worry too much, he'll balance himself out in a few days/week max.

 

[missshell]

Thanks for the replies. When i go to buy feed at the weekend i';; get him a salt lick i think.

 

[Colleen_Miss_Tom]

My mare did this last year around this time of year .....I was told by a good friend that she may be lacking in selenium .....So under vet supervision I added Selenvite E to her feed and it seemed to do the trick

Col x

 

[sem9999]

Redmond rock is meant to have a good balance of trace elements, you could try that instead of salt lick.

 

[oldvic]

If we have one that does that we cut them a sod of turf if they can't be turned out. They love to chew on it/play with it and they can help themselves to whatever it is they need.

 

[monkeymad]

I was advised by a horse nutritionalist that the only mineral that a horse will actively look for is salt. He may be lacking in others, but they will not actually try and find them. I was told to always add a teaspoon of salt a day to the feed (more if the horse is working hard and sweating more).

 

[HashRouge]

My mare has patches in the field, usually parts of the dry stone wall with soil on, that she likes to lick. I got her a salt lick and she didn't touch it, so I just left her to it.

 

[Cuppatea]

If we have one that does that we cut them a sod of turf if they can't be turned out. They love to chew on it/play with it and they can help themselves to whatever it is they need.

this!