This is gonna sound really strange...but is it normal for a horse to eat horse manure?

Question

This is gonna sound really strange...but is it normal for a horse to eat horse manure?

Answer 1

Not normal, unless the horse is a foal. Babies have been known to eat their dam's f***s.

Answer 2

I would say not normal but I have one that does. He only does it overnight in his stall. I guess when he's done with the hay and gets real hungry he settles for the p**p. Less to muck in the morning. He's healthy in all other respects so maybe it's just a hunger thing. Try more hay.

Answer 3

No not normal.

Answer 4

Most people are saying no, however it is not completely unusual.

At my barn, there is a pen labled the "FAT" pen because the horses n their are either overweight or bossy.

There is no grass or hay, only dirt, and all of the horses in there have resorted to eating the old/new manure.

Also, whenever my horse gets bullied away from the hay pile in his pen, he too resorts to eating manure.

It is basically a last resort for horses who enjoy eating or feel they need to eat it.

It has ALMOST no negative effects (worms, but rarely), it just looks gross.

:D

Answer 5

no, it's not normal.  

check out what you're feeding.  it's not properly balanced.

be sure your horse has good quality hay availible, or good grass to graze, in an all you can eat without wasting situation.    this will also help cut back on grain.

the hay and grain can be analyzed for proper nutrition.  your local feed store should be able to help with this...or tell you where you can go.  this would be the #1 thing to start with!

be sure your horse has proper salt/min block.  stay away from the red one.  you always want to get the grey min. block for horses.  the red block will color the pee, and i found out the hard way, some horses are more sensitive to that than others.  a horse of mine was posioned by the red coloring in the block.

be sure to provide fresh clean water.

worm your horse!  if your horse is eating manure, chances are your horse is picking up worm eggs.  

if you find that your horse is doing it because s/he is bored, then find some horse toys to toss into the pasture/stall...and spend more time playing with your horse.  this may help, as well.

Answer 6

yes ive seen a lot of it, probably means something is lacking in their diet

Answer 7

Yes and no.

One of my uncles horses did it. She had the right nurtritions, and was completly healthy. Turns out she pooed right where a mineral block use to be. So she was just trying to get more of it. So we bought another one and that stopped.

But sometimes they will do it to get more nurtrition.

Your horse may be eating to fast. See if she is, and try to stop that by hand feeding her. Even if you just give her hay. Which if she is doing this then you need to give her mineral blocks. And there is something you can give them that makes there poo taste really nasty and will make them stop. But i cant remeber what it is. You can ask some one at the feed store though. good luck

Answer 8

it is not normal for anything or anybody to eat p**p. Maybe try feeding more or even changing diet. Sounds like your horse is very hungry or got brain damage.

Answer 9

thats freakin hilarious! no its not normal

Answer 10

well is it normal for you to eat your own faeces

Answer 11

no, they typically eveny won't eat the grass where they p**p at too if i were you, i'd ask a vet, because that could cause them to get parasites and worms.

Answer 12

No not normal-

1) try giving it a supplement vitamin/mineral block- this horse may be looking for something missing in it's diet/nutrition

2) check it for worms- p**p eating can lead to ingesting worm eggs

3) your horse may be bored or frustrated- give it a toy in it's stall- like a soccor ball

4) are you spending time with this horse? it may be lonely & eating manure out of frustration/lonliness

Answer 13

no, but just like other animals, if an animal does not get enough nutrients or vitamins, it will try to get them from its p**p, which has a lot of nutrients and vitamins.