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  Discussion on 7 yr old QH Mare eating manure
Author Message
New Member:
mari1yn

Posted on Thursday, May 22, 2008 - 4:55 pm:

I just received a call from the manager of stable where Lady is being kept. She says Lady is eating manure, so she got a mineral block for her stall. From what I have am reading in prior posts on this topic, it appears that insufficient protein may be the culprit, as well as not being worked enough. The barn supplies her feed and hay, so what questions should I be asking?

I am in the process of moving from Ohio to California and have had little time to spend with my horse for the past year, paying someone for daily care, grooming and working with her. The barn has a standard feeding program and procedure which, I'm afraid, I have taken for granted. I am a relatively new horse owner, and just as I was finding my way and relearning all that I had forgotten, the move became my reality. Have been neglectful during this process, traveling back and forth, feeling she was getting what she needs while I am away.

Printed out "Overview of Horse and Equine Nutrition". What should I be looking for in this article?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, May 23, 2008 - 9:48 am:

Hello Marilyn,
As stated in the Golden Rule of the article you should evaluate the diet by assessing your horse's body score and overall condition. If it is not what it should be you should then critically examine the quality and quantity of the ingredients of the diet. The Golden Rule explains what to feed the rest of the article explains how to evaluate feedstuffs.

Even if the condition is good recent changes that have not yet effected condition should then be considered. While it is true that coprophagy has been associated with low protein diets usually such a diet is deficient in a number of ways so the exact cause is uncertain. Often with such cases it is difficult to identify anything wrong with the diet. For more on the causes and health consequences of coprophagy see Horse Care » Equine Nutrition, Horse Feeds, Feeding » Pica: Horses Eating Inappropriate Materials.
DrO
New Member:
gtoupin

Posted on Friday, May 23, 2008 - 1:08 pm:

I had the same thing with my horse and I found out that they were giving him breakfast then turning him out immediately so he didn't have time to eat it. Then they wouldn't feed lunch until they brought them in but it turned out that if they got busy he might not be brought in until three or four and then would get lunch and supper. He was eating his manure because he was hungry. I moved him.
Member:
mari1yn

Posted on Friday, May 23, 2008 - 5:12 pm:

Thanks so much for responding to my concern. I have truly left too much to chance during this chaotic time and have to do the homework for my Lady.
Member:
mari1yn

Posted on Friday, May 23, 2008 - 5:20 pm:

One of the horsemen in my barn (he moved) fed his horse a diet that was prescribed by a company that evaluated a sample of the horse's hair. They then recommended the nutrients that needed to be included in the diet of his particular horse. Does anyone know the name of the company that makes that evaluation? Maybe I'm overreacting but feel a need to make sure all the bases are covered. Thanks
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