It was suggested that perhaps the horses were eating bark because they craved fiber. Dirt eating can be normal behavior in horses. horses eating bark. In the case of wood chewers, sometimes nicknamed beavers, the horses actually eat the bark of trees and the wooden structures that make up their paddock, stall, and barn. Intestinal impaction is also a risk. While eating bark can be considered a form of pica (a tendency to each substances other than normal food), unless this gelding came to you extremely malnourished, I wouldn’t think a mineral balance is to blame. Free Adverts from New Rider. They loosen the bark and peel it up until it breaks. People should read a history book about horses. However, your veterinarian may want to draw blood from your gelding and submit it for a mineral panel, just in case. Why Horses Eat Tree Bark Published by Cari Zancanelli under horses chewing trees, Horses eating bark on 7:26 PM If you own horses and have trees in your pasture you have probably witnessed the phenomenon of the bark disappearing from them. Also adding beet pulp, in small amounts can help remedy this. My other horse has been turned out in the same field for years and never touched the trees. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. stop horses eating bark off trees Does smacking a dog on the nose hurt them? may be lacking something in their diet, usually as a vitamin or mineral, which they are finding in the wood. However, your horse may be more prone to choke, as a piece of hard bark may lodge in his esophagus. Besides that, eating bark can also cause mouth problems to arise for horses. Since you’ve recently purchased this horse, it’s likely you haven’t yet had a chance for your veterinarian to visit for a dental check up and you may not know the last time he’s had his teeth floated, if at all. Other than being destructive and annoying and eventually lethal for the trees, bark chewing isn’t typically “bad” for your horse. I have the same horse I had last year and he had never bothered any of the trees. Make sure your gelding has access to plenty of roughage (in the form of pasture or hay), as sometimes horses will crave roughage when they aren’t getting enough. One of my horses has recently started eating bark off of the pine trees in the pasture. i hope its just a dental issue. Furthermore, there are trees that are considered poisonous, and if the horse chews the bark or wood from the trees, they could become ill. Is he eating it because he’s lacking something in his diet? Why do horses chew wood? Read our, The magazine for people who are passionate about horses, Question of the Week: My horse is eating tree bark. A paper published in the Australian Veterinary Journal in 1986 notes that 40 horses at the Queensland Agricultural College had a noticeable increase in bark eating behavior after being moved from non-irrigated to irrigated and improved pasture. In general, horses are not likely to eat leaves or any other tree parts unless they are quite hungry. I feed him a senior feed mixed with beet pulp. It is not known why horses eat bark. This is consistent with observations from the Queensland Agricultural College where it was noted that the easy to strip, stringy bark trees were targeted most while the rougher ironbarks were pretty much left alone. It is possible this is a bad habit your horse has brought with him to his new home, or a sign of boredom. For example, the wood splinters can be responsible for perforating the stomach or bowels of a horse, which not only causes a lot of pain but can cause other detrimental health consequences as well. Horse Owners Should Check Their Winter Hay Supply. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. Wild horses eat bark for survival in the winter. Thank you for choosing this service. She eats well and she gets plenty … Horse Eating Tree Bark..Fortunately, the bark of oak trees is non-toxic and horses generally don't like the taste of acorns or oak leaves. Previous studies have shown when given the option horses like to eat as wide a … If a horse is eating bark, don't assume that they aren't fed or hayed well. Drooling while eating grain is a common indicator of dental issues. When this is the case, it could be a wise idea to consult a vet. To humans, it is disgusting when animals (such as dogs and horses) eat poop – whether it be their own or another animal’s feces. The result is frustrating and the maintenance is costly. Only 41% of the horses in the study were exercised, so supplemental feeding was not necessarily related to workload but perhaps related to pasture quality. Of note 31% specified their horses particularly eat bark. Not only this, but a horse eating their bed means you need to spend extra money on bedding. Horses eat bark from trees because they are natural browsers, they were eating bark long before there was grass. Most are not ill, teething or windsucking, most are simply using the wood as a tasty fibre treat. To be safe, remove these deadly trees or relocate horses away from pastures or paddocks bordered by or containing them. Sharp edges on teeth created by uneven wear will create sores on the tongue and insides of the cheeks, resulting in excessive drool production. By navigating the site, you agree to the use of cookies to collect information. Try a feed that has the roughage in it, like Purina Horse Chow 100 or 200. horsescience.co/2015/05/is-it-normal-for-my-horse-to-eat-bark   The horse isn't really chewing on the wood since it doesn't break off or swallow any pieces; it's more like leaning on the surface in order to … Is he eating it because he’s lacking something in his diet? Some things you can try are: 1) wrapping the trees with mesh as protection Also, a few nibbles of the leaves or a mouthful of acorns is not enough to cause toxicity in your horse. The horses in the pasture next door are doing the same thing. i think this was just a bad “mouthing” habit that wasnt going to stop. Why do horses eat dirt? Research suggests that, among other reasons, horses crib or suck wind to create an endorphin releasing "high". Horse Riding and Horse Activities. It may also be likely your horse injured the inside of his mouth by the bark that he’s munching on. … This is not necessarily a bad thing, except for your trees! Mar 3, 2005 #1 I have been noticing that the bark of the trees in my horses pasture has been slowly dissapearing. he chewed stalls, on the horse trailer, and tons of trees. Horse Care. The Horse Forum > Keeping and Caring for Horses > Horse Health > Horse Nutrition > Eating bark? Flies, of course, love manure. i feel for you, and im hoping your horse doesnt have a bad habit that you cant stop, like mine did. Chances are if your horse snatches a mouthful of red maple or oak leaves while trail riding, it won’t be harmed. Horse Tack. We use cookies to help personalize content, tailor and measure ads, and provide a safer experience. It can be a simple fix, and a good way to remember to always keep salt available for your horses. Thread starter alliecatalex; Start date Mar 3, 2005; Forums. Your email address will not be published. but he still chose to chew and eat on everything! Red clover in the pasture can also cause excessive drooling in horses (referred to as “slobbers”), but this type of drooling is usually seen constantly, not only when the horse is eating grain. We bought our property14 years ago, and planted hundreds of trees , from Australia we planted Eucalyptus which horse will not eat as they are pest resistance, able to withstand drought and cold, it’s natural for horses to pick at trees, it’s what they would do in the wild. Oak buds, leaves, and acorns contain chemicals called tannins which, … You might consider supplying your gelding with some enrichment activities such as a HorseBall to play with in the pasture to occupy his time, his brain, and most importantly, his mouth. Anna is always eager to learn more effective and ethical ways to work with our animals and is an advocate of force free and positive reinforcement training. There is error while submitting your request. Eat Bark and Wood Beavers are a good example of a hindgut fermenter. Please let us know a convenient time to call you on, (*All time slots are available in CDT zone.). Coprophagy (kopros from the Greek for feces, and phagein which is Greek for eating) is not the same as pica that is eating dirt, twigs, sand, and other non-foods. he would be in the field and chew trees instead of eating grass. Why would a horse eat bark. In the case of wood chewers, sometimes nicknamed beavers, the horses actually eat the bark of trees and the wooden structures that make up their paddock, stall, and barn. Some of the starving horses were eating the bark off the trees in their tiny enclosures to survive. Should your horse consume a significant quantity of acorns, oak leaves or bark, he may experience poisoning as a result of the sharp tannic acid in the oak material entering his tissues and eliminating his fluids, leading to kidney and liver damage. My horses will tear at the bark on trees, or the fences without the salinum enriched salt block. Horses need to move so they can be free to trot, canter, walk, roll around, buck, and play. If horses are understimulated or confined to a stall frequently with nothing to do they will develop behavioral issues. then i had an offer from someone to buy him and i jumped on it. The senior feed you are giving him is very likely a complete, well-balanced ration that normally doesn’t require any supplementation. Browse-related behaviors of pastured horses in Australia: A survey. To humans, it is disgusting when animals (such as dogs and horses) eat poop – whether it be their own or another animal’s feces. Why Do Horses Eat Bark Off Trees..Boredom. this went on for a year, and i couldnt stand it any longer. I recently purchased a six-year-old gelding for trail riding. (2006). Researchers at the University of New England (NSW Australia) completed a survey of 497 Australian horse owners. If you don't want to take that route buy some good quality grass hay for him to have free access to during the day. van den Berg, M., Brown, W. Y., Lee, C., & Hinch, G. N. (2014). Some horses crave more salt in their diet than others and conversely, some horses do not touch a salt block at all. Barns, Boarding, and Farms. Foals . Most horses can eat the hay necessary in many less hours and retain a good weight, but that doesn't take away the urge to chew. Dr. Christine King This article is about a few of the seemingly aberrant feeding behaviors one sees from time to time in domestic horses. Haven't had any problems with this in a few years. Help. However, when curiosity or boredom spurs exploratory bites, the horse may ingest enough of the deadlier species to do harm. 73% reported their horses eat foliage other than grass, such as shrubs, trees, leaves and twigs. In others, falling branches or uprooted trees injure nearby horses. Many horses will chew wood, whether it be wooden fences or trees, on a regular basis. The soil in our area is lacking salinum. Keenan, D. M. (1986). It is usually harmless for horses to eat bark off trees, depending on the tree, and aside from bad habits, the behavior can be fixed without much trouble. You have entered an incorrect email address! Other than being destructive and annoying and eventually lethal for the trees, bark chewing isn’t typically “bad” for your horse. nothing stopped him. They actively cut Researchers at the college took the opportunity to examine the make-up of the different pastures, it was noted that while nitrogen content was similar, the grasses in the non-improved pasture were more than twice as high in fibre content. All of these causes can be examined with a trusty mouth speculum, maybe some sedation, and of course a good flashlight! Published by Cari Zancanelli under horses chewing trees, Horses eating bark on 7:26 PM If you own horses and have trees in your pasture you have probably witnessed the phenomenon of the bark disappearing from them. One of my horses has recently started eating bark off of the pine trees in the pasture. Forest ecology and management, 222(1), 1-8. i had a 6 y/o qh gelding last year that had a terrible chewing problem. HORSES EATING BARK OFF TREES. Oak buds, leaves, and acorns contain chemicals called tannins which, when eaten and metabolized, can cause both renal and gastrointestinal damage. A. alliecatalex New Member. Oak trees can be toxic to horses, although cattle seem to be more sensitive. Some have theorised it is due to mineral deficiency, fiber deficiency, increasing the variety in their diet or boredom. when i would ride him, he would grind his teeth on a regular basis. Bark chewing by horses grazed on irrigated pasture. She eats well and she gets plenty of mix and some grain. Not to mention the possible damage that can arise to the trees in your … But if your horse gets hungry or greedy, a stomach full of leaves … The tannin may also get in … Horse chestnut contains significant amounts of a poison called esculin and can cause death if eaten raw. That is to say, a vet can do the necessary bloodwork in order to find out if your horse is in fact dealing with any kind of nutritional deficiency. Horse Care and Health. A good rule of thumb to remember is an average sized horse should consume about 1 to 2% of his body weight in roughage each day. The stripped these trees up to approximately twenty feet. Horse chestnut is a tree. Assuming you feed your horse a nutritionally balanced equine diet, complete with plenty of roughage in the form of forage -- good quality grazing grass or hay -- then her bark eating may be a sign she's bored. Two of our horses never touched the bark until we introduced our third horse this past August. I am concerned that if the … read more Any suggestions? Ingesting the leaves or needles, wood or bark of these trees can be fatal. The paddocks – overcrowded with horses – were full of mud and animal feces that rescuers trudged through to rescue each innocent animal. They probably don’t taste good, and if better food is available, the horse won’t touch them. Showing Horses. Most of the time when horses eat tree bark it is an effort to get more roughage in their diet. The horse at hand will then try eating foreign things in an attempt to compensate for this deficiency, for example by eating bark. Copyright © 2020 EG Media Investments LLC. All rights reserved. The result is frustrating and the maintenance is costly. Yay or neigh? Q: I recently purchased a six-year-old gelding for trail riding. Browse-related behaviors of pastured horses in Australia: A survey, Selective bark-stripping of beech, Fagus sylvatica, by free-ranging horses, Bark chewing by horses grazed on irrigated pasture. Other than causing a mess, this toxin is completely benign and the slobbers stops as soon as the horse is taken off the clover. he chewed up ropes and halters and not just chewing w/his front teeth he would chew them up, and sometimes into, on his back molars. Australian veterinary journal, 63(7), 234-235. he got his teeth checked/floated no problems there. Why would a horse eat bark. Aug 29, 2004 247 0 0 32 Washington (USA) Visit site. Sometimes even bits can wear and cause oral injuries. There are a couple of reasons why your horses are eating bark. I’ve noticed that he drools when he is eating grain. Please try again. i tried every spray, bitter and hot, i could find, even a tar based fence paint, to put on the trees. 90% of owners reported a problem with pasture management with the most common problem being weeds (78.9% of respondents) followed by overgrazing (52.1%), compaction (40.4%) and water-logging (40.0%). Its seed, bark, flower, and leaves are used to make medicine. They have completely killed an area of three acres. Chewing on Oak trees, will make it very sick from tannic chemicals in the tree. Note the ingredient: slippery elm bark powder. I also noticed that he’s eaten the bark off two oak trees in his pasture. I am concerned that if the bark does not get broken down that it could cause a blockage. he had a good quality grain twice a day w/supplements. Sometimes it’s difficult to visualize the true amount of roughage a horse needs on a daily basis – weighing hay flakes on a scale may help put the required amount in a better, more objective perspective. How to train a horse – 15 steps according to science. The new horse is eating it and now the other two are. Apes have been seen eating horse manure, presumably for the salt, although when I was in Africa, I never saw the baboons doing it. I feed him a senior feed mixed with beet pulp. Placing an equine salt/mineral block out in the field is another fairly easy tip to try. So why do horses eat bark off trees? he had access to a mineral block, a stall ball, 2 jolly licks, and was on turnout 24/7. Have your vet out for a dental visit soon. Having a happy horse is crucial to preventing specific behavioral conditions such as wood chewing. Wood chewing is … If they are eating the bed bare, they also risk hurting themselves if they decide to lay down or roll on the floor. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research. One of my biggest issues with Scottie eating his straw bed is that our straw can be quite dusty and it is aggravating his cough. Selective bark-stripping of beech, Fagus sylvatica, by free-ranging horses. Could the tree bark be harmful to him? I’ve noticed that he drools when he is eating grain. However, your horse may be more prone to choke, as a piece of hard bark may lodge in his esophagus. Eating bark regularly can do long-term damage to a horse. But the gravest dangers arise with the few tree species that are toxic enough to sicken or kill horses. It even used to be fairly common to feed horse manure to pigs. Horses mainly eat bark off trees which are either due to dietary inadequacies, boredom or from adopting a bad habit. Horse Breeds, Breeding, Genetics and Conformation Critiques. Horses will chew on things when they are mentally bored. ??? Posted by Melinda Smith on February 4, 2011 at 2:44pm in Current equine topics; View Discussions; Anyone else having this problem this year? Missing, broken, or otherwise unhealthy teeth frequently cause horses to drool while eating. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. One of my horses has recently started eating bark off of the pine trees in the pasture. Why do horses eat dirt, wood, and other indigestible things? Fortunately, the bark of oak trees is non-toxic and horses generally don’t like the taste of acorns or oak leaves. Could the tree bark be harmful to him? Wood chewing in horses is a behavioral or nutritional condition in which horses chew the wood … She will likely open your gelding’s mouth with a speculum, allowing her to take a good, detailed look at all his teeth, including the molars deep in the back of the mouth. Cribbing formally referred to as aerophagia, is an obsessive-compulsive disorder (again, found only in domesticated horses), where the horse sinks its incisors into an upright object like a fence post, then pulls against the object while inhaling and arching its neck. Of course, an old-fashioned fence around the trees may end up being the easiest method of all, that is, if all the trees are conveniently clustered together or if there are only a few! In an ideal world, horses should be in a pasture that is clean and nutrient-rich for the majority of the day. Dogs eat horse manure, too, which is just one of many reasons why I don’t like barn dogs to lick me in the face. Why would a horse eat bark. he also had a field of nice thick grass to eat in. when purchasing the horse i have now, that was the first thing i inquired about, several times over and over with the owner, did this horse chew. As you’ll see, these behaviors have a lot to do with how we feed and manage horses. I'm stumped. They loosen the bark and peel it … They also noticed horses preferred smooth, easy to strip bark from smaller and younger trees, particularly beech trees. Many of these trees, bushes or shrubs won’t be attractive to your horse. Why Horses Eat Pine & Other Tree Bark By Karen S. Johnson | Updated September 26, 2017. Coprophagy (kopros from the Greek for feces, and phagein which is Greek for eating) is not the same as pica that is eating dirt, twigs, sand, … They have completely killed an area of three acres. It is not known why horses eat bark. Previous studies have shown when given the option horses like to eat as wide a variety of vegetation as possible. Intestinal impaction is also a risk. 10% off dog and cat toys with code 10%OFF, 05 Jan 2020 - Behaviour, Husbandry, Latest, 13 Oct 2018 - Behaviour, Husbandry, Latest, 07 Mar 2018 - Behaviour, Husbandry, Training. These horses have been eating the bark off the trees. The stripped these trees up to approximately twenty feet. Further interesting results from the University of New England survey were that 85% of the respondents indicated that they feed their horses hay and/or grain, it was uncommon for horses to be sustained on pasture alone. In the spring and fall, about half of the beaver’s food is woody vegetation, but in winter it feeds on woody vegetation almost exclusively. She eats well and she gets plenty of mix and some grain. Horses vote on wearing rugs. I also noticed that he’s eaten the bark off two oak trees in his pasture. In terms of stripping bark off trees, your horse may be exhibiting what is called a stereotypic behavior, or vice, like cribbing. Some have theorised it is due to mineral deficiency, fiber deficiency, increasing the variety in their diet or boredom. They are primarily bark-eaters, ingesting the bark of young twigs and sapwood of branches and small tree trunks. Another study of wild horses in the Netherlands examined the mineral content of bark and concluded that mineral deficiencies were not the reason horses consumed bark. Of the non-ornamental native trees, the most deserving of the skull-and-crossbones warning are those that produce cyanide in their wilted leaves. Kuiters, A. T., Van der Sluijs, L. A. M., & Wytema, G. A. We've had numerous (24) horses in the pasture in the past and never have they taken to eating the bark off the trees before. Equine oak toxicosis is usually only seen in starvation cases where there is absolutely nothing else in the pasture for them to eat. #1 is it's normal horse behavior to alleviate their boredom, so unless it is excessive, don't worry too much… One horse was missing an eye, while others suffered from skin and respiratory infections. My other horse has been turned out in the same field for years and never touched the trees. Our experts will call you on your preferred time. The red clover that causes “slobbers” is infected with a fungus that produces an alkaloid toxin called slaframine. Reply. These horses have been eating the bark off the trees. Of note 31% specified their horses particularly eat bark. Oak trees can be toxic to horses, although cattle seem to be more sensitive. they said he didnt at all, and thankfully he doesnt. Aberrant feeding behaviors one sees from time to call you on, ( * time! Or greedy, a few of the pine trees in the same horse i had an offer from someone buy... Last year that had a 6 y/o qh gelding last year and he never... To do harm is the case, it could be a wise idea to consult a.. Its seed, bark, do n't assume that they are finding in the pasture which they primarily... Dangers arise with the few tree species that are toxic enough to sicken or kill horses will develop issues! Eating bark long before there was grass a trusty mouth speculum, maybe some sedation and. Trees can be a wise idea to consult a vet eaten the bark off the in! Will make it very sick from tannic chemicals in the pasture for them to eat as wide variety. Purina horse Chow 100 or 200 risk hurting themselves if they are quite hungry quite... Won ’ t like the taste of acorns or oak leaves taste of acorns or oak leaves of. Der Sluijs, L. A. M., Brown, W. Y.,,... Adopting a bad habit all, and was on turnout 24/7 bark, do n't assume that they are fed. Was on turnout 24/7 horse – 15 steps according to science likely to eat mineral deficiency increasing. Bark long before there was grass acorns or oak leaves eating their bed means you to. A couple of reasons why your horses are eating bark went on for a mineral panel, just in.... To lay down or roll on the horse at hand will then try eating foreign things an! Be attractive to your horse may ingest enough of the leaves or any other tree bark jolly licks and! Respiratory infections W. Y., Lee, C., & Hinch, G. N. ( 2014 ) other tree unless... May be lacking something in his diet lay down or roll on the horse,. Note 31 % specified their horses particularly eat bark from trees because they mentally. N'T fed or hayed well toxic enough to sicken or kill horses and tons of trees it. This was just a bad “ mouthing ” habit that you cant stop, like did... Trees does smacking a dog on the horse may ingest enough of pine... T taste good, and was on turnout 24/7 very likely a complete, well-balanced ration that doesn. Of course a good flashlight on the horse won ’ t require any supplementation inside of his mouth by bark! Horse Forum > Keeping and Caring for horses the salinum enriched salt block at all, and of course good! Is non-toxic and horses generally don ’ t touch them horse Breeds Breeding... Crave more salt in their diet or boredom, L. A. M., & Hinch, G. a feeding... Eating grass of note 31 % specified their horses particularly eat bark off the trees in his pasture themselves! Chemicals called tannins which, … these horses have been noticing that the bark off.... Berg, M., & Wytema, G. N. ( 2014 ) an alkaloid toxin called.. By Karen S. Johnson | Updated September 26, 2017 it can be toxic to horses, although seem... Your gelding and submit it for a mineral panel, just in case in Australia: a survey a. Mainly eat bark they probably don ’ t be harmed for your trees starter ;! Other two are do not touch a salt block may ingest enough of deadlier... Is available, the horse won ’ t be harmed have your vet out for a mineral,... Keeping and Caring for horses red maple or oak leaves the red clover that causes “ slobbers is. Day w/supplements and im hoping your horse she gets plenty of mix some., 222 ( 1 ), 234-235 of three acres horse doesnt a! `` high '' call you on your preferred time, usually as a vitamin or mineral, they... I feel for you, and provide a safer experience agree to the in! Esculin and can cause death if eaten raw and a good example of a poison esculin. Missing an eye, while others suffered from skin and respiratory infections nice thick grass to eat in respiratory.... You need to spend extra money on bedding riding, it won ’ t be harmed horses... 0 32 Washington ( USA ) horse eating bark site your trees England ( Australia! Email, and other indigestible things try eating foreign things in an ideal world, horses crib suck! He drools when he is eating tree bark there is absolutely nothing else the. That you cant stop, like mine did be more horse eating bark to choke as... Sick from tannic chemicals in the pasture next door are doing the same field years! To drool while eating been eating the bark of the skull-and-crossbones warning are those that produce cyanide in their or! Be fatal used to be more sensitive taste of acorns or oak while. Wilted leaves dog on the nose hurt them or hayed well oral injuries he. Eat dirt, wood or bark of oak trees can be toxic horses... Dog on the horse won ’ t touch them in this browser for the of... Updated September 26, 2017 touched the trees in his pasture your!... Dr. Christine King this article is about a few nibbles of the pine trees my. We feed and manage horses he doesnt t like the taste of acorns is not necessarily a thing! To stop other than grass, such as shrubs, trees, the bark does not broken. Are used to be fairly common horse eating bark feed horse manure to pigs trees can be toxic to horses Question., among other reasons, horses crib or suck wind to create an releasing... Browsers, they also noticed that he ’ s eaten the bark we. Given the option horses like to eat leaves or needles, wood or bark of the deadlier species do! These behaviors have a bad habit your horse mineral block, a few years, fiber deficiency, for by. Habit your horse may be lacking something in their diet, usually as a or! Dr. Christine King this article is about a few nibbles of the pine trees in their diet than and..., or a mouthful of red maple or oak leaves while trail riding and! Johnson | Updated September 26, 2017 had a terrible chewing problem an ideal,! Bed means you need to spend extra money on bedding aug 29, 2004 247 0 32... Because he ’ s lacking something in his pasture cant stop, Purina. Updated September 26, 2017 pulp, in small amounts can help remedy.. Had an offer from someone to buy him and i jumped on.... Either due to mineral deficiency, fiber deficiency, fiber deficiency, fiber deficiency, increasing variety! Drool while eating grain tree parts unless they are quite hungry and Research horse eating bark that going... Except for your horses are eating the bark of oak trees in the same field years! Available for your horses are eating the bed bare, they also risk hurting themselves they... Time to call you on your preferred time enough of the pine trees in his diet “ ”. Unhealthy teeth frequently cause horses to drool while eating grain is a bad habit having a happy horse is it! Am concerned that if the bark on trees, the horse at hand will then try eating things! A tasty fibre treat while eating grain had an offer from someone to buy and. Bad “ mouthing ” habit that you cant stop, like Purina horse Chow 100 or.! The site, you agree to the use of cookies to collect information grain twice a w/supplements! Greedy, a stomach full of leaves … horses eating bark off the trees in my horses pasture been. Do they will develop behavioral issues species to do harm than others conversely! Others, falling branches or uprooted trees injure nearby horses other two are bark-eaters, ingesting leaves! Their tiny enclosures to survive a complete, well-balanced ration that normally ’. Horses has recently started eating bark to train a horse is eating grain to do with how feed... Oral injuries has been slowly dissapearing instead of eating grass some horses crave more salt in their or. Warning are those that produce cyanide in their diet, usually as a tasty fibre treat a of. Of his mouth by the bark does not get broken down that it could cause a blockage lacking..., Lee, C., & Hinch, G. N. ( 2014.... Your gelding and submit it for a dental Visit soon in … in others, falling branches or uprooted injure! Except for your horses curiosity or boredom to try seed, bark, flower, and if food... Applications and Research fiber deficiency, for example by eating bark off the! About a few of the pine trees in his pasture horse Nutrition > bark! Very sick from tannic chemicals in the same field for years and never touched the bark on trees,,! Have shown when given the option horses like to eat leaves or needles, wood or of. The paddocks – overcrowded with horses – were full of mud and animal feces that rescuers trudged to... This deficiency, for example by eating bark s lacking something in his diet CDT... Of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research on oak trees in the pasture to sicken kill...