Pooey Pony - why?!

[Troggy]

Toff has been much better lately with hacking and riding in general, in fact she didn't nap at all yesterday

but whilst on a hack she did something she has never done before...

I was out with the mare I hack with once a week and this mare always stops to do little poos all the time, about 2-3 nuggets about a millions times on a hack. Toff usually steps over them but yesterday was sniffing each one intently, I assumed it was because she was in season so let her have sniff and then move on. However, when we were on our way back (bout 2 hours) she stopped to sniff one and then refused to leave it, and then ate it!!

I couldn't get her to leave this poo!! I had to turn her round and go backwards to try and trick her!!

Is this related to being in season? She has never eaten poo before and didn't again on the hack! She has plenty of vits and mins so sure it's not a deficiency! Any ideas?!

Needless to say, her slobber was brown.....!!

 

[Tempi]

why did you let her stop and sniff it in the first place? Do you not ride with any contact on her mouth? Id never let my horses stop out hacking and sniff another horses poo............

 

[Troggy]

I don't really have much choice in the matter, she is incredibly strong and snatches grass as well - yes I know it's bad manners but I am just not strong enough, I can stop her if quick enough but she still keeps trying. Put grass reins on and she goes on her knees to avoid them. She is 17, I am 24, both old enough to know better but at the moment, I am just pleased to be out hacking again...!!

 

[mollymurphy]

HaHa, dont worry, mine do that all the time! Well, they dont EAT it, but they always like a good sniff to see if they know who's poo it is! God knows why yours ate it!!

[ QUOTE ]
why did you let her stop and sniff it in the first place? Do you not ride with any contact on her mouth? Id never let my horses stop out hacking and sniff another horses poo............

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm a lazy happy hacker who rides on the buckle most of the time. They'll happily take up a contact when i ask though. And they wouldn't dream of snatching the reins when i DO have a contact. But when on the buckle and they see a poo, i let them have a sniff!

 

[Troggy]

Lol! Glad not the only one
I school Toff in a field and when she is working and I have a contact, she doesn't snatch for grass, it's just if mooching and most of the time when hacking (love roadwork!! lol!)

I am still baffled as to why she ate that one nugget of poo.....charming little pony

 

[Tempi]

nothing against happy hackers - i hack both mine out on a long rein, however i would never dream of letting either of them stop and sniff poo, but thats just me. Each to their own.

 

[Sooty]

Come and ride Toffee on a hack - she may be little, but she's very determined!

 

[Tempi]

LMAO - i can imagine, its always the little ones that are the most stuborn and determined

 

[watterh]

i was told recently from a vet in OZ that is is a sign of magnesium deficiency. Not normal for older animals to eat poo although not uncommon in foals.