Worried horse has stopped eating her bucket feed!!!

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opinionuk

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My horse has stopped eating her bucket feed in the mornings really worried!

My horse goes out at night and stays in during the day to keep her out of the flies, she picks at her hay but lies down and sleeps most the day.

Is anybody elses horse stopped eating so much now the spring grass is out??
 
she wont take grass of me any more as she has this look that tells me to stop being rediculous she can get her own grass but even tho shes big she gussles her hard feed and treats if she ever gets them.
id ring the vet. please do !!!
 
She seems bright eyed and well in herself jogging to the field, she has just been diagnosed with a splint so she may just be feeling a bit off, her bucket feed is only half a scoop of hi fibre chop which isn't that tasty, she see s fine in the field and canter around and eats grass no problem, she just doesn't seem to want to eat when she comes in, she has adlib hay. Trying not to over react yet as i do have a tendency to have the vet out at every small thing but obviously keeping a close eye on her. I'll take her temperature and monitor her.
 
Agree with others to get the vet to be on safe side.However, my mare who I had for 20 odd years used to do this. She was very fussy and 'went off' feeds frequently. We had dentist every 6 months and vet did blood tests etc but nothing seemed to be a problem. Vet eventually concluded that she was just fussy and we looked into ways to make her feeds more interesting (she lost weight easily)

She lived to the grand age of 33 so for her it was just how she was. Good luck :)
 
Put a sliced carrot or apple in with the chop just to spice it up and see if that works. It is possible that after a night out eating she is simply feeling full!
 
If she's on plenty of grazing and out at night, I would say she's come in for a kip and not wanting much hard feed. I use to turn mine out at night and bring in during the day and they mostly laid down in their stables and slept. But it turned out that that the mare I had just bought had severe sweet itch and that was over 11 years ago, so no longer do night turn outs,but it was alot easier mucking out and picking up droppings.
 
Personally, if it were mine, I wouldn't worry. Mine always goes off her hard feed in summer and I have a hard time pursuading her to eat even the weaniest amount of her most favourite tasty course mix with her minerals mixed in. I always know when the grass is declining as she suddenly starts eating what little I offer once again.

Only you know your horse. If she's got her head down grazing happily on good grass at night, I'd just keep an eye on her. Obviously keep an eye on her though. Watch for any quidding, temperature, swollen glands or other discomfort - which would indicate the vet is required pronto. Chances are, if she's getting over a newly thrown splint and is also stuffing decent grass all night - she's simply a bit off her hard feed right now. And let's face it, Hi Fi isn't the most appetising in comparison to fresh grass! LOL.
 
Some do go off their feed a bit in the summer,my mare does, as she gorges on the grass and is in at night, its her norm.
If it was my gelding id be more concerned as he always eats everything.
What is her normal behaviour feed wise at this time of the year ?
 
I also wouldnt worry if she seems ok in every other way. Take her temp and monitor if just for your own reassurance. I wouldnt rush out to call a vet. If she drops weight or doesnt eat grass I would worry but what you have described sounds normal

My pony is the same in summer I cant feed any type of chaff as he wont touch it. He just picks at anything else. I guess he is full and just doesnt need it.

My other horse will it anything and acts like he is permanantly starving !:eek:
 
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To be honest i wouldnt worry. My 21yr old mare stops eating her bucket feed in the summer, and winter, as she is getting good quality grass and hay so i think in her mind she doesnt need it.....also she is out at night and in during the day and has a small soaked net but as soon as she is in her stable she lays down to sleep.
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