What is a horse after when they eat soil and lick roots

[Gingerwitch]

I know i am dewelling now but on Monday morn my little gingerwitch was licking at the oak trees roots or eating soil to the extent she was digging at it with her hoof!

Any one got any ideas?

 

[Victorianm]

could she be deficient in any minerals? thats the only reason thati know of for animals doing that

 

[katherine1975]

My horses were doing this, have been feeding them NAF Pink Powder and they have stopped eating soil. So I guess they were lacking some vitamins or minerals in their diet.

 

[DollyDolls]

My vet said it was my horse trying to send me mad & there was no reason in the world he should be doing it. -It did almost send me mad!

 

[Crazy Friesian]

Generally a lack of trace vits and mins. Horses are quite good at self selection given the right conditions which sadly do lack in many modern grazing areas.

It can be cased by the liver not functioning as efficiently as it should hence not enough absorption of vital vits and mins from feed etc.

All mine have rock salt licks. My pastures are not the best, but then they are not mine so not a great deal I can do about it. But they are full of all sorts (not poisonous of course)

((((hugs))) Gingerwitch