Why are they eating tree bark?

[agilitygal]

My cousins, who live in Woodinville, WA, have two well-fed pasture horses that are eating tree bark from the large evergreen trees in their pasture. They have never done this before. They have salt/mineral blocks available and are fed orchard grass hay (they had to change this winter because hay dealer ran out of the normal hay mix).

What is missing in their diet and what can be supplemented? Are any of your horses doing this?

[gratefulknits]

The horses where I board do this too, and I know for sure they are getting everything known to mankind in the way of special supplements, good hay etc (yes, you could say that all of us who board there are just a wee bit emotionally invested in our horses having the best of everything!). The only way to deal with it that I can see is to wrap the trees in chicken wire. Then they won't eat the bark, but they will use the wire to help themselves scratch off those pesky shedding hairs! The tree in Pippins paddock looks like a "chestnut" LOL! And I guess that means that Homer's tree must be a "bay"!

[figi]

Mine are doing it to this year first time.

[MustangAppy]

My Mustang will eat trees and shrubs no matter what else is around. He was born in the mountains of Montana, so I guess it feels like home cooking to him....

[toeps]

I wonder with spring here and the sap running if its a sweet taste?

[lorsadoon]

My horses also chew on the bark of the trees, mostly in the springtime. I think it is mostly due to boredom.

[galaxy]

My horses chew on the bark/leaves of the trees, and love to go eat the leaves etc on the Blackberry vines- scratched noses all winter long. They get plenty to eat but seem to want variety.

[pnp4kidz]

I think you are all right!
it is boredom, wanting something 'different'...
horses are browsers so they will taste anything... and
the bark prolly tastes ok right now!
I'll say the former owners of our property wrapped all of the trees in chicken wire, and it stops them flat... :-) our oaks are safe...
and it's pretty easy to do...

there is no dietary requirement for bark... so I think you're find eliminating that from your horse's diet...

[cutiepiepmu]

Ahhh Ladies - a nutrition question lol!~!

Horses will often do this a couple of times a year and when mineral pannels are pulled, often times things are lacking. My suggestion? Ditch you silly mineral blocks - they are a complete waste of time. The horses literally get nothing other than a raw tongue and a little salt from them INSTEAD - add a good loose free choice mineral to the feed DAILY. i suggest either ADM Gro-STrong minerals or HorseGuard Loose Minerals. With the gro-strong - add 4 tablespoons to the feed daily for 7 days, then drop to 2 per day as well as leave a pan free choice. For the horseguard - 2 scoops per day in the feed.

If the horse is not getting any grain/feed - get some hay pellets or some nutrena safe choice. Feed 2-4 cups and put hte minerals in those. Add a little water to make them stick

Minerals ladies. Your kids need minerals that are chelated and absorbable - these do NOT come in block form(except the gro-strong blocks) Also - a daily multi-vitamin is a must IMO for EVERY horse. This does not mean you have to feed an actual FEED - you can simply feed the vitamin. Horseguard is always my number one choice and the one I recommend more than any other~!

Sara in WA

[toeps]

And that is why we love Sara!! Well, other than naked stories! ;D

[galaxy]

My trainer and I were just talking about minerals the other day. I get the 1 lb blocks of salt/mineral mix and the Drafts will eat one in a day. She suggested putting out free choice minerals- I think that is a great idea.

[figi]

Hey sara how much is a farm consult? I need to revamp my feeding.

[gratefulknits]

Ours get the loose minerals and they will still do this if given the chance!

[MustangAppy]

Yup, I am convinced that Pal just likes the taste. Plus, I think he is whittling his teeth....

[cutiepiepmu]

I think one of the big things is to make sure you are feeding a very good quality mineral product, and take notice if they are nto actually EATING it - then add it to the feed. Generally what you choose is going to be based on the total diet of the horse.

I do think some will beaver trees and the fence out of boredom. But - most are actually lacking something in the diet.

My own personal thought based on when i see this most often - it has something to do with shedding/growing the new coat. Horses will grow in a new coat 2 times a year and more often during those times do I get called out to look at a horse because they are eating bark, licking dirt, chewing wood of all kinds, and eating evergreens. It won't hurt the horses generally to eat these things(although, you will want to protect and eliminate access to toxic plants/trees) but for most horses, it stops when daily mineral intakes are met - which may mean feeding a mineral and for some it is increasing the minerals already being fed.

figi- send me a pm and we can talk about what you need

I really dislike the salt blocks we all traditionally know - they mislead alot of people to think that the horses eating them are getting what they need.....

Sara

[cutiepiepmu]

I think one of the big things is to make sure you are feeding a very good quality mineral product, and take notice if they are nto actually EATING it - then add it to the feed. Generally what you choose is going to be based on the total diet of the horse.

I do think some will beaver trees and the fence out of boredom. But - most are actually lacking something in the diet.

My own personal thought based on when i see this most often - it has something to do with shedding/growing the new coat. Horses will grow in a new coat 2 times a year and more often during those times do I get called out to look at a horse because they are eating bark, licking dirt, chewing wood of all kinds, and eating evergreens. It won't hurt the horses generally to eat these things(although, you will want to protect and eliminate access to toxic plants/trees) but for most horses, it stops when daily mineral intakes are met - which may mean feeding a mineral and for some it is increasing the minerals already being fed.

figi- send me a pm and we can talk about what you need

I really dislike the salt blocks we all traditionally know - they mislead alot of people to think that the horses eating them are getting what they need.....

Sara

[agilitygal]

THANKS to all. I'll forward this information on to my cousins. They are very concerned.

[cutiepiepmu]

Agility - if they need help youa re welcome to forward my info to them I can deal with it on a direct level if they like BUT - it is not uncommon this time of year - I can say that right now at least 2 of my consults a week are because of eating tree bark/licking dirt/chewing wood fences and posts! LOL

Sara

[agilitygal]

Thanks. All this information goes in the mail tomorrow! I was going to suggest they contact you.