Lying down when eating...is it normal?

[giddyupalfie]

When feeding my three today, my youngest laid down half way through eating his food from the bucket, stayed there happy as larry and finished off his dinner. I was just wondering if anyone has ever come across a horse to do this before? None of mine have ever done this nor have I come across a horse that has! I do know a lot of horses who lay down and then roll on their hay which is put out in his field. But this was his hard feed from his bucket which he gets every day as per...

I thought maybe:
A) He just couldn't be bothered to stand up
B) Maybe he was too hot in his rug
C) Was in pain (but he still seemed very happy)

I did take some pics if anyone would like to see them...any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

[team barney]

I've known them to not bother getting up for breakfast and eating it whilst still lying down, but I've never had one who laid down mid meal.

Keep an eye on him, if he seems alright don't worry too much, youngsters often do strange things!!!!

 

[Tinsel Trouble]

I have a pony that drags the hay into his bed and lies down to eat it through the night! Just one of those things!!

 

[HappyNeds]

Mine lies down and eats the grass all around him - it's very funny, he stretches out to reach it so he doesn't have to get up, but I've never known him do it with a bucket, probably becuase there are 2 of them together they both 'guard' their buckets as it would get pinched if they were too relaxed about it.

If it's only a one-off I'm sure he's fine - and he's obviously relaxed and trusts his field-buddies not to snatch his food.

 

[Enfys]

Totally normal for the majority of mine, I see it every day

I have a yearling here on stall board, when I check last thing at night, 9 times out of 10 he is fast asleep with his nose in his feed bowl. He is a very slow eater and often there is still food in there, he is like a toddler that falls asleep in his high chair

At this time of year when they are ad lib out in the paddocks they often lie in the hay and eat when they are down.