my new horse eating his poop!

AllAroundRdr · 01-10-2008, 04:00 PM

What is your feeding regimen?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghost horse

He gets plenty to eat.

ghost horse · 01-10-2008, 04:19 PM

1 1/2 lb. pellets and 1lb sweet feed 2 x's a day and 4 to 5 flakes of hay 2x' a day plus a hay snack during the day.that is what he was getting so I left it like that. His weight is good and he teeth are ok.

ghost horse · 01-10-2008, 04:26 PM

hi-jack all you want.LoL We might figure it out this way. Like I said he is the first horse that I have had do this. He did it even when he had access to a round bale 24/7.??

paintedquarters · 01-10-2008, 05:07 PM

A foal needs to do this:

The manure provides "starter" bacteria the foal requires for the system of fermentation and digestion which enables his intestinal tract to handle solid food. In addition, the common environmental bacteria in the manure stimulate the foal's immune system, reducing the chances he'll get sick as he gets older. (Some also suggest possible parasites in the manure also stimulate the immune system. Others add the manure may contain additional B vitamins and protein which the foal needs.)

Eating only fresh manure lessens the chance the foal will be infected by the dam's parasites. It is necessary for the parasite eggs to pass through maturation stages in the manure before they're infective.

With adult horses, manure eating can be a habit, and the habit can be hard to stop.

When it is a habit, it usually has to do with inappropriate feeding, boredom and/or a lack of exercise.

Studies show that it is extremely important and necessary for a horse to use his lips, picking through grasses and other kinds of forage. When he is not getting enough forage, he'll start using his lips, picking through and eating manure.

Eating manure may help the horse replenish the good bacteria.

Another way to get your horse's natural intestinal fauna replenished is to feed a "probiotic." Probiotics are a source of live, naturally occurring microorganisms.

When food is scarce horses will eat manure. A lack of fiber and protein may prompt the horse to begin the habit.

In some cases the cause may be a lack of minerals in the horse's diet.

Always feed loose salt on a daily basis. A mineralized salt block may help solve the problem.

http://www.equinepost.com/resources/...sp?Archive=175

tbtrainer · 01-10-2008, 07:47 PM

My QH was doing this today, I have just started him back after a year lay off... I rode him for about 15 minutes, and turned him out in a 12 acre field with his buddies... while I was riding another horse I watched him pick at a pile of manure... I was yelling at him to stop, and he was giving me the evil eye...(I was in the ring)...

He gets fed three good meals a day, has grass, was wormed last week, has a mineral tub and salt block, and gets all the hay he can eat... he also gets Ration Plus (a prebiotic)... so who knows why he was doing that today... maybe just trying to get on my nerves!

AllAroundRdr · 01-10-2008, 10:24 PM

Some horses who are recently dewormed DO start eating fecal matter shortly after being dewormed as they can 'crave' the bacteria -- not sure if some is "lost" or taken away by the the wormer, but I consulted my vet about this as I noticed it in a couple of mine in the past, and was advised it's quite normal for some following a deworming treatment.

livelovelife693 · 01-11-2008, 12:40 PM

The boarder wasnt on grain at her old place,

CrazyHorse · 01-11-2008, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghost horse

My horse is a 16yr old tb gelding. He is turned out 24/7 and has friends. He gets plenty to eat. So maybe he is bored.would the probiotic help him? I was also thinking of deworming more often?

When I first brought my Mustang home he would eat away at his poop even though he was given more than enough hay, mineral salt lick, dewormed, etc... He stopped on his own after about 2 weeks of doing it. I figured it was something he did in the wild to replace minerals and also stress due to a completely new environment. Once he got acclimated and comfortable, he stopped and hasn't eaten any since.

AllAroundRdr · 01-11-2008, 01:05 PM

The involvement of grain to the feeding regimen could be the link to the 'cure' of the mentioned horse

-- if the grain consisted of vitamins/minerals she was lacking, not to mention filled her up which left her not searching for food..or the fecal she ingested gave her the bacteria she was lacking and all just kinda 'fell into place' possibilities are endless

Quote:

Originally Posted by livelovelife693

The boarder wasnt on grain at her old place,

01-10-2008, 07:47 PM	#15
tbtrainer Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 6,404 Images: 354	My QH was doing this today, I have just started him back after a year lay off... I rode him for about 15 minutes, and turned him out in a 12 acre field with his buddies... while I was riding another horse I watched him pick at a pile of manure... I was yelling at him to stop, and he was giving me the evil eye...(I was in the ring)... He gets fed three good meals a day, has grass, was wormed last week, has a mineral tub and salt block, and gets all the hay he can eat... he also gets Ration Plus (a prebiotic)... so who knows why he was doing that today... maybe just trying to get on my nerves! __________________ Guess What??? SPLAT! you have just been snowballed! More than once even... I have been NOEL'ed and Blessed In His Name "I've been Goosed!" Splatted, Goosed and Noeled, oh my! *In my experience, the best way to slow down a runaway horse is to bet on it...*

01-10-2008, 10:24 PM	#16
AllAroundRdr Senior Member+ Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southern CA - The Land of Fires & Shakey Ground Posts: 3,664 Images: 26	Some horses who are recently dewormed DO start eating fecal matter shortly after being dewormed as they can 'crave' the bacteria -- not sure if some is "lost" or taken away by the the wormer, but I consulted my vet about this as I noticed it in a couple of mine in the past, and was advised it's quite normal for some following a deworming treatment. __________________ People say riding isn't a sport...Well you see, the 'ball' I play with has a mind of its own. I've been Goosed..and I LIKED it!

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01-10-2008, 04:19 PM	#12
ghost horse Full Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: upstate new york Posts: 238 Images: 3	1 1/2 lb. pellets and 1lb sweet feed 2 x's a day and 4 to 5 flakes of hay 2x' a day plus a hay snack during the day.that is what he was getting so I left it like that. His weight is good and he teeth are ok.

01-10-2008, 04:26 PM	#13
ghost horse Full Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: upstate new york Posts: 238 Images: 3	hi-jack all you want.LoL We might figure it out this way. Like I said he is the first horse that I have had do this. He did it even when he had access to a round bale 24/7.??

01-10-2008, 05:07 PM	#14
paintedquarters Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 793 Images: 9	A foal needs to do this: The manure provides "starter" bacteria the foal requires for the system of fermentation and digestion which enables his intestinal tract to handle solid food. In addition, the common environmental bacteria in the manure stimulate the foal's immune system, reducing the chances he'll get sick as he gets older. (Some also suggest possible parasites in the manure also stimulate the immune system. Others add the manure may contain additional B vitamins and protein which the foal needs.) Eating only fresh manure lessens the chance the foal will be infected by the dam's parasites. It is necessary for the parasite eggs to pass through maturation stages in the manure before they're infective. With adult horses, manure eating can be a habit, and the habit can be hard to stop. When it is a habit, it usually has to do with inappropriate feeding, boredom and/or a lack of exercise. Studies show that it is extremely important and necessary for a horse to use his lips, picking through grasses and other kinds of forage. When he is not getting enough forage, he'll start using his lips, picking through and eating manure. Eating manure may help the horse replenish the good bacteria. Another way to get your horse's natural intestinal fauna replenished is to feed a "probiotic." Probiotics are a source of live, naturally occurring microorganisms. When food is scarce horses will eat manure. A lack of fiber and protein may prompt the horse to begin the habit. In some cases the cause may be a lack of minerals in the horse's diet. Always feed loose salt on a daily basis. A mineralized salt block may help solve the problem. http://www.equinepost.com/resources/...sp?Archive=175

01-11-2008, 12:40 PM	#17
livelovelife693 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ridgeway Ontario Posts: 309 Images: 15	The boarder wasnt on grain at her old place,