Feed Related Behavioral Problems: What Your Horse Is Trying To Tell You

Feed Related Behavioral Problems: What Your Horse Is Trying To Tell You

When it comes to equine behavior, the saying "you are what you eat" couldn't be more accurate. Feed-related behavioral problems in horses often serve as crucial communication signals, telling us something isn't quite right with their diet or feeding management. Understanding these signals can be the key to improving both your horse's well-being and your relationship with them. In this blog, we take a look at some of the common feed related behavioural problems, and offer solutions that may help your horse. 

The Natural Grazer: Understanding Normal Feeding Behavior

Before diving into problematic behaviors, it's essential to understand what's normal. Horses are trickle feeders, naturally designed to graze 16-18 hours per day. In their natural environment, they travel several kilometers daily, taking small, frequent bites of fibrous vegetation. This continuous grazing pattern isn't just about nutrition – it's fundamental to their physical and psychological well-being. So, let’s keep this knowledge in the back of our minds when we look at some feed related problems. 

Common Feed-Related Behavioral Problems

1. Bolting Feed

If your horse rapidly devours their meals like they're competing in an eating contest, they're exhibiting a behavior known as bolting. This can be dangerous, potentially leading to choke or digestive issues.

Bolting can occur when:

- Anxiety about food availability (for example, in horses that have been starved)

- Competition from other horses

- Insufficient forage between meals

- Past experiences of food scarcity

If your horse has shown signs of bolting, it is important to minimise this behaviour. Some potential solutions to slow down eating are as follows:

- Use slow feeders or feed balls

- Spread feed across a larger area

- Increase meal frequency while decreasing meal size

- Ensure adequate spacing between horses during feeding time

2. Wood Chewing and Cribbing

Finding your horse gnawing on fence posts or cribbing on stable doors isn't just destructive – it's often a sign of dietary or management issues. Whilst this behaviour isn’t necessarily dangerous, it can cause overly worn teeth, and potential splints in the gums. And, it also means you’ll be replacing wood poles!

Wood chewing or cribbing may occur due to:

- Insufficient fibre in the diet

- Boredom or stress

- Gastric discomfort

- Mineral deficiencies, particularly selenium or copper

There are some solutions that may help a horse decrease or eliminate wood chewing behaviour, including:

- Increase forage intake

- Provide multiple types of forage

- Consider adding a digestive supplement

- Have your vet check for ulcers

- Review mineral balance in the diet

- Wood chew deterrents (products that are painted on poles which may prevent wood chewing)

3. Feed Aggression

When horses become aggressive around food, it's not just about bad manners – it often indicates deeper issues that need addressing. In some instance food aggression may mean:

- Past food insecurity

- Pain or discomfort while eating

- Social stress in the herd

- Inadequate feeding space

There are a number of solutions that can help with food aggression, such as:

- Create separate feeding areas

- Establish consistent feeding routines

- Consider individual turnout during feeding

- Work with a behaviorist to address underlying anxiety

4. Food Refusal

A horse that suddenly becomes picky or refuses to eat requires immediate attention, as this often indicates a health issue. Food refusal often may be due from:

- Dental problems

- Gastric ulcers

- Illness or pain (such as colic)

- Feed quality issues

If your horse is refusing to eat, or perhaps not eating as usual, it is often time to call the vet. The vet can examine the horse for ulcers, colic, teeth issues plus more. If everything checks out health wise, it is time to evaluate your feed for freshness and quality. Additionally, there are sweet feeds that can be added as a “topper” to your normal feed to increase palatability. 

5. Coprophagia (Eating Manure)

While normal in foals, adult horses eating manure can indicate nutritional deficiencies or management issues.

If your horse is exhibiting coprophagia, it may indicate:

- Insufficient fibre in the diet

- Protein deficiency

- Vitamin B deficiency

- Boredom or stress

Potential solutions for coprophagia include:

- Review overall diet composition

- Increase access to quality forage

- Consider vitamin supplementation

- Provide more turnout and environmental enrichment

The Role of Modern Feeding Practices

Many feed-related behavioral problems stem from the conflict between natural feeding patterns and modern horse management. In modern feeding practices we tend to stable horses, so their overall turnout time is significantly reduced. Most horse’s aren’t able to continuously graze due to pasture quality and amount, and what’s more is that we are feeding horses high grain diets and less forage. All of these changes away from their natural way of grazing, can have significant impacts of their behaviour as well as their well-being. 

To counteract modern feeding practices, there are some things that we can do to reduce any risk of behavioural changes. For example,

1. Feeding Management

- Provide access to forage for at least 16 hours daily e.g. pasture or a hay roll

- Use slow feeders to extend feeding time

- Split daily concentrate rations into multiple small meals

- Ensure clean, fresh water is always available

2. Environmental Considerations

- Maximize turnout time

- Create separate feeding areas in group situations

- Provide environmental enrichment

- Maintain consistent feeding schedules

3. Diet Evaluation

- Regular assessment of body condition

- Periodic review of dietary requirements

- Quality forage analysis

- Professional nutritional consultation when needed

When to Seek Professional Help

Some behavioral issues require professional intervention. Consider consulting an equine nutritionist or veterinarian when:

- Behaviors persist despite management changes

- Multiple behavioral issues occur simultaneously

- Physical symptoms accompany behavioral changes

- Sudden onset of new behaviors

The Bottom Line

Feed-related behavioral problems in horses are often complex, involving multiple factors including diet, management, and environment. By understanding these behaviors as communication signals rather than just "bad habits," we can better address the underlying causes and improve our horses' overall well-being.

Remember that each horse is an individual, and what works for one may not work for another. The key is to observe carefully, make changes gradually, and maintain consistency in your feeding program. Most importantly, always consider your horse's natural feeding behaviors and requirements when designing their feeding program.

A well-planned feeding program that considers both nutritional and behavioral needs can prevent many common problems and contribute to a happier, healthier horse. When in doubt, consulting with equine nutrition and behavior professionals can provide valuable insights and solutions tailored to your horse's specific needs.

By paying attention to these feeding-related behaviors and addressing them appropriately, you're not just solving problems – you're enhancing your horse's quality of life and strengthening your partnership with them.

At Oakford Stockfeeds we have a large range of horse enrichment products from slow feed balls to lickits. To view our range, visit us in-store or online. And remember we deliver!