Wood chewing-lack of certain minerals?

[karenjj]

Hi all, just wondered, I have heard when some ponies chew wood it is because they are lacking vitamins/minerals? Is this true? If so is a supplement needed? My mare has just started doing this, she is not bored, ridden twice a week and she has plenty of grass and I am feeding her a little bit of happy hoof and don't want to feed her anymore as I have to be careful with her weight. I just noticed her starting to do this yesterday. Thanks for your advice?
Thanks

 

[Enfys]

Hi,

In your position I wouldn't actually be worried, I'd just cut some branches and let her chew on them. I give mine branches and logs all the time.

Just my opinion, but I have come to the conclusion that horses like to chew/strip wood because they can, not always because they are lacking something nutritionally (but I think unsupplemented horses on just grass invariably are because of the lack of herbage), but also because it is the nature of the beast.

Turn horses out (or watch ferals) on set aside, or pastures with trees etc and they will spend time choosing to strip branches and browse on all kinds of things, there is at least 8 acres of grass available for these horses pictured, they aren't browsing because they lack grazing.

They crave this, and in (often out of our control) so many pastures there is only pristine grass, bit like us being faced with steak every single day. They need wet and dry forage (which is why hay should be available) if they can't then they'll chomp on the next thing available - fence posts, stables.

 

[hannah28]

oh i never really thought about this??

my horse is out 24/7 at the min and is not fed, and he is always chewing wood, he seems ok though anf he has been doing it for many months now so i shouldnt worry

 

[eggs]

I think it just a habit and does not mean they are lacking vits and mins. Years ago I was taught that horses are grass and tree eaters.

Boredom may have something to do with it. The youngsters chew the fencing (very annoying) in the winter when there is not so much grass about to keep them interested even though they get plenty of hay in the field. They also get hard feed with a vit & min supplement in the winter but no supplement in the summer but only seem to chew wood in the winter.