why do horses eat poo?

[only_me]

as the title really... went for a hack today and came back and he was loose in the yard and started eating the other horse's dropping! i know that it is due to some deficency but not sure what... he is also on wormer?

what causes horses to eat poo?

 

[RachelB]

Nutrient deficiancy in the diet. Can't remember what but you probably need to review what you feed your horse.

 

[isabella]

as already said its a lack of something in the diet

 

[only_me]

but is it anything specific? like fibre or something?

 

[merlinsquest]

Because they dont know that they shouldnt!!!!!

 

[pocket]

My Ralph did this for a little while......made me feel ill and I had always understood that it was due to a deficiency of some type and most common in youngsters.

I emailed my vets and outlined what his diet was and also asked the question could he just be being horrid, the vet assessed what I had told her about his diet and the verdict was........horrid

 

[AnnaJ]

My Aunt's dog eats horse poo!!!!!! I wonder what he's short of in his diet!!!!!

 

[deicinmerlyn]

My vet suggested to me once to put another horses poo (small bit) in his feed after he had diarrhea to re-balance his gut flora (good bacteria). Perhaps they do it naturally for that reason!