Why wont my 8mnth old colt eat anything other then hay?

Question

hi, i have an 8month old colt that i have recently rescued from the knackery. He is the most sweet natured little fellow with such a down and out view to life. This kid has been through the mill in his short 8 months. He was very skinny with a belly full of worms and patches of skin where the hair had fallen out due to malnutrition. Hes only been with us for just over 48 hour. Hes been wormed, had his vaccinations and had a good going over. But he wont eat anything other then hay! Iv tried all the yummy horsey treats that my other gelding loves but he just sniffs it and walks away! He wont even take a sigle piece of bread or handfull of mare cubes. Nothing! it like he doesnt know that its even food. He just looks at me like hes asking "what do you want me to do with that?" i need him to eat because he is so skinny but short of actually force feedingi dont know how to make him eat anything other then hay. its not that hes not hungry because hes putting the hay away. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

the first poster was sort of right... horses learn what is edible from their mom. if this horse has never seen treats or grain he doesn't understand that it's food. give him some time, and keep offering. he'll eventually get curious and try sampling what you offer. it may take several months, or several days. some horses pick up on this faster than others. right now, make sure he's being dewormed, have the vet come out and vaccinated him, and offer him all the free choice hay he will eat (always have hay and fresh water available to him) make sure it's high quality hay (like alfalfa or alfalfa mix) plain grass hay is OK as a last resort but doesn't really offer any nutrients

Answer 2

What about molassas? I've never known a horse to refuse that! Maybe smear a little bit on his lips and then when he tastes the yumminess and starts noseing around in your hand for more you can offer him grain or sweet feed with extra molassas on it? Once you open him up to that you can start offering other feed- I bet the poor guy has never had anything else offered to him but hay so he doesnt know that anything else is food.

Thank you for rescuing him!!! Good for you! :)

Answer 3

i think horses like oats.you could try fresh grass too