At my mares meal time(s), I recently noticed her scooping water in her mouth from her water trough and diligently wetting her hay before each bite. I have never seen any other horse do this manuver. Is this something I should be concerned with or does she just prefer moist feed ?
2007-02-20 10:31:29 · 7 answers · asked by denisesnewsmail 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
You may want to call a vet or an equine dentist to have a look at your mares mouth. She may need her teeth floated or have some other type of gum or tooth damage that when wetting her food makes it easier for her to chew or she may be simply washing her mouth out if she's getting feed or hay caught in her teeth. You may also want to get the levels of your hay checked. At my ranch we check our hay and sometimes if the calorie content is too high we'll "wash" the hay in water as this helps lower the calories. Many people, including myself, sometimes practice the art of dunking or soaking feed and hay in water before feeding it to our horses if they are having trouble digesting or have sensitive teeth and can not chew properly. With many people this has lowered the risk of colic in their equines and improvements in weight issues.
Just in case I would start soaking her hay for her. By her soaking her hay herself she is contantly dunking her head into her water tub and potentially leaving hay or feed behind to spoil the water. You may not notice it at first, but most horses will stay away from their water tub if there is too much debris, dirt, or fallen and wasted hay and feed. I'd hate for your equine to either dehydrate or have a toxic allergic reaction from moldy and spoiled hay or feed.
2007-02-20 11:03:06 · answer #1 · answered by silvaspurranch 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have several horses that take their hay over and dunk in their water buckets before they eat it. They have good teeth they just like doing it. I think they just like doing it because they know I have to clean out all the time to get the hay out... HEE HEEE
But you might want to keep an eye on her. If you feed out any grain, even if it is a small amount. Watch her eat it. Does lots of it come out while she is eating. That is usually a good indication that she might need her teeth floated.
2007-02-20 12:58:25 · answer #2 · answered by Kim 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's normal for some horses, so it's nothing to be concerned about. At my farm, the pony that I ride occasionally does that. What we do is put the hay in a hay net, and submerge it in water for 3-4 hours, and then give it to our horses. Just make sure that if you do that, give it to the horse immediatly after you pull it out of the water.
2007-02-20 10:38:45 · answer #3 · answered by BlueEyedAngel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If her teeth check out ok then I'd say wet her hay. Soaking or wetting the hay just prior to feeding prevents dust from being a problem anyhow - just as long as you don't keep it soaked too long and alow mildew or mold to start. Some horses just prefer dunking...
2007-02-20 13:41:29 · answer #4 · answered by dressage.rider 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a preference. At every barn I have worked at, with about 80 plus horses, there was always one or two dunkers. (Every or almost every mouthful of hay goes in the bucket before chewing)
We tried different quality hay and everything- doesn't matter- it is just a habit that creates a mess for you, but doesn't hurt anything for the horse.
2007-02-20 10:35:21 · answer #5 · answered by D 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she just started then she could need her teeth floated. She may be dunking her hay b/c it makes it easier to chew. Ask around for a good horse dentist or ask your vet if he/she can do it.
2007-02-20 10:40:32 · answer #6 · answered by KD 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Blink, thank you for being one in all those dazzling horse proprietor, and carring on your horse in his progressed age. I'ved owned horses for extra effective than 30 years. I at the instant have 9 horses. 2 of them are 29 years previous, and one is 25 or so (unknown, like yours). between the 29 3 hundred and sixty 5 days olds is a purebred Morgan. i've got owned him, in view that he become 2 years previous. He has serrious issues protecting weight on now. He additionally has choking issues. I have been given his teeth floated, and he's on a worming time table too. i began feeding Nuetrena Senior horse feed. Then I have been given around to analyzing the lable, and become horrified to come across that the fat come from animal byproducts. In different words, floor up bits of animal. i won't be in a position to purchase or use products which bypass against nature (my horse has under no circumstances hunted a cow and eaten it). After lots lable analyzing, I settled on Purina Senior Horse feed. My "toddler" has been on it for 2 years now. i'm waiting to feed it devoid of turning it right into a mash. My horse incredibly does not like delicate foodstuff, yet he has a choking situation. 0 issues of the Purina Senior Horse. suited of all it incredibly make a brilliant distinction in his project! It took approximately 3 months, and he positioned all his weight decrease back on. He looks super now. for further fat, I upload one cup of Canola oil to his feed additionally. extra fat are solid (oil), extra sugars (grain) might reason serrious well being issues. you may get a 5 gallon jug of the canola oil at Costco, or Sam's club for a incredibly smart value. in the experience that your horse will eat the beet pulp, it is an EXCELENT theory. some horses turn their nostril up at it. upload a sprint molasses, cut back up carrots, cut back up apples, or applesauce to the beet pulp. in case you employ beet PELLETS be confident to soak them. some human beings feed the shreaded beet pulp devoid of soaking them. For a senior horse, I soak the two. desire this enables! ~Garnet Homesteading/Farming over two decades Horse proprietor over 30 years
2016-09-29 09:41:17 · answer #7 · answered by barksdale 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋