|
|
Discussion on ADULT HORSE EATING SAND
|
| Author |
Message |
|
Posted on Tuesday, Aug 14, 2001 - 12:42 pm:
I was told that horses that eat sand is for two reasons: boring or lack of a mineral.
For this I was recommended to put a mineral block on the stable so he can get what he need. It didn't work out.
Recently I had an accident and broke my left hand. Because of it my horse isn't exercising as usual and I decrease his grain intake ,add alfalfa for better digestion and eliminate the daily electrolyte supplement.
As a marginal effect he didn't ate sand again.
I want to know which of them: the alfalfa or elimination of electrolyte supplement was the one that help.
Angel Alverio
|
|
Posted on Wednesday, Aug 15, 2001 - 5:00 am:
Sand ingestion is generally a consequence of feeding/grazing on sandy soil. The horse does not ingest it on purpose. Horses that eat soil may be looking for nutrients they are not getting but this is not well proven. Both salt and protein deficiencies have been correlated with pica, the craving for non-food items, but as to which may be affecting your horse or whether this is coincidence I do not know.
DrO
|
|
|
