Really puzzled!!

[My_chestnut_mare]

Yesterday i posted on how my mare hari didnt eat her feed and was more interested in her haylage. well went up today and again the same thing but she was picking at it then she flung the bucket away.

Since i have had her(all of 5 months) she has loved her food im not worried just puzzled at why she would of started being picky eater as she scoffed her food down while she was on panacur equine 5 day wormer. Also she is a fine/good weight just now and is being schooled 3 days a week but if she starts to lose weight

.

Oh forgot to say i think she may be in season could this have something to do with it?

Some one posted not so long ago about fussy eaters but i can not find the thread.

Any suggestions as what to try?

 

[chickeninabun]

I've heard applejuice poured on food often encourages them.

Have you changed any of your food recently? Bought from a different supplier or just opened a new sack that could be a bit off or contaminated?

 

[Wheels]

What are you feeding her?

One of my horses suddenly went of speedi-beet after 3 years of eating it with no probs, he now eats normal molassed sugar beet shreds (luckily he doesn't get too het-up)

 

[4leggedfurries]

You could always grate carrot/sweede etc into the feed then every mouthfull gets a bit rather than one or two chunks. I always do this when mine are being fussy and it works every time.

 

[My_chestnut_mare]

Im feeding her apple chaff and a baileys high fibre mix with speedi beet and i havent changed any of that.

Will try the grated carrots and turnip and adding apple juice.

 

[tangoharvey]

is there any chance rats could be getting onto her feed, this happened on our yard and the horses wouldnt eat cus they could smell the droppings -yuk!

 

[My_chestnut_mare]

eeeek no i dont think so. I have the metal dust bins with metal lids. I havent seen any rat poop in my fees room but i know i have mice.

 

[vetsbestfriend]

Do you mix her feed together in the bowl? Is it worth trying her with the chaff, sugar beet and mix separately for one of the meals so you can see if she doesn't like one of the food types. For my 2 I have to put the chaff at the bottom of the bowl, the sugar beet on one side and the mix/cubes on the other side. If I mix it up, they tend to tip the bowls over and leave most of it.


Hope she starts eating soon as it gets expensive when they waste food by tipping the bowls.

 

[My_chestnut_mare]

yes i mix it all in the bucket,but have done it for ages i havent changed anything.

Going to try and give her her feed before i give her her haylage first and see if that works.

yes it is expensive and a waste