What is he lacking?

[Doodle92]

Indy has been licking the mud at the gate, when he goes out. Yesterday he even was taking little bites. He has a Himalayan salt lick in his stable. He also gets a full ration of a feed balancer. Only other feed is a couple of handfuls of meadow grass. He gets adlib hay, out on pretty decent grass in the day. He didn't do it every day but does most days. He will lick for a minute or 2 before going down the field. Any ideas?

I used to see Robin do it sometimes too and never worked out why. Do they just like the taste?

 

[carthorse]

Sometimes they do just like the taste. It doesn't sound like his diet is lacking anything, and he's not doing it for long periods of time as though he's trying to get a dose of something so I'd guess it's just tasty - maybe something has been there in the past that makes that area taste slightly different?

 

[Jessey]

I wouldn’t worry too much, as his diet should be pretty well covered by what you’re already doing, sometimes it can take 6/8 months for everything to balance up if they were previously not getting everything in their diet.

 

[chunky monkey]

The cows do lick the ground. Sometimes they will paw and lick on an area where weve had a bonfire in the past. It changes the composition of the soil so can be higher in certain minerals. The animals seem to know what they need and regulate there body with what they are missing.

Does he have a hedge to pick at. You could get some ash or willow branches and hang them or just place in the field. He might debark for the tanning and minerals.
Occasionally if I saw Chunky licking I would buy a big horselyx block and leave in field that would sort him. We put mineral block out for the cows when start debarking trees and it stops them.

 

[Doodle92]

Thanks everyone. Of course he didn't do it today. No hedges for him to nibble at and can't put anything in field as he shares with 4 others but I could put something in his stable

 

[chunky monkey]

Yes I was going to suggest putting something in the stable if you can hang it against the wall.

 

[Frances144]

Apparently a salt lick is not enough salt for a horse. Do you add salt to his feed?

A salt lick is generally
not enough on its own for most horses, although it is a necessary free-choice supplement. While it helps with basic needs, horses often cannot consume enough salt from a hard block due to their smooth tongues, especially in hot weather or with heavy work.

Key Considerations for Salt Intake:

• Requirements: Horses need roughly 1–2 ounces of salt per day (about 2 tablespoons) to maintain health.
• Limitations: Because horses have smooth tongues, they may not be able to get enough salt from a block.
• Alternatives: Loose salt or added salt in feed is often more reliable than a block.

 

[Doodle92]

No I don't add salt to his feed. Never really thought about it, could never get robin to take even a tiny bit.

 

[Frances144]

Lack of salt can make them eat mud. Well, it does with my Shetlands.

 

[Frances144]

You just put in their food. They don't even notice. Use salt without anti-caking agent.

 

[carthorse]

You just put in their food. They don't even notice. Use salt without anti-caking agent.

I have to disagree with them not noticing, some may not (or not care if they do) but others really do and will refuse a feed with even the smallest amount added.

 

[Jessey]

It took me a while to get Jess to accept salt in her feed, I had to start with a tiny pinch and gradually build up, I can put 2 tablespoons in a double handful of chaff now and she doesn’t mind, it just took her a while to get used to it. The other 3 never cared.

 

[chunky monkey]

Chunky never touched salt licks when offered. I just used supermarket table salt. Added a small quantity everyday. If I added too much he refused his food. Billy didn't care how much I added.

 

[Doodle92]

You just put in their food. They don't even notice. Use salt without anti-caking agent.

I tried and tried with salt with Robin. Tried electrolytes as he was eventing and working hard. Tried different kinds of salt. He would refuse to eat. Even a pinch in a decent amount of food and he rejected it. I eventually used the syringe electrolytes.

 

[Frances144]

Keep telling yourself no two horses are the same. Start with a teaspoon-full and see how you get on.

 

[carthorse]

I tried and tried with salt with Robin. Tried electrolytes as he was eventing and working hard. Tried different kinds of salt. He would refuse to eat. Even a pinch in a decent amount of food and he rejected it. I eventually used the syringe electrolytes.

I had exactly the same with Jim @Doodle92 , even a pinch in meant the entire feed was rejected usually by kicking it over or throwing it at me! And for days after feeds would betreated with suspicion. I did find that I could get a half dose of Equine America Apple Lytes down him in a decent sized feed, but that was after trying quite a few other ones that were rejected. Luka isn't happy if I put salt in his feed but he'll have a good go at a salt lick and will eat Apple Lytes, interestingly he prefers the plain white salt licks in his stable if consumption rate is anything to go by.

 

[Bodshi]

Mine both have 2 tbs salt a day in their feeds - luckily for me they don't mind at all. The feed consultant told me why it was necessary (to balance something, potassium maybe?) but I can't really remember. It hasn't stopped Raf chewing wood though. I tried some salt stuff from Trinity Consutants that was supposed to give them whatever they're lacking when they opt to chew wood, but that made no difference either. The only thing that stops him is nice green grass!

 

[Doodle92]

I had exactly the same with Jim @Doodle92 , even a pinch in meant the entire feed was rejected usually by kicking it over or throwing it at me! And for days after feeds would betreated with suspicion. I did find that I could get a half dose of Equine America Apple Lytes down him in a decent sized feed, but that was after trying quite a few other ones that were rejected. Luka isn't happy if I put salt in his feed but he'll have a good go at a salt lick and will eat Apple Lytes, interestingly he prefers the plain white salt licks in his stable if consumption rate is anything to go by.

The rectangular type ones? Rockies is it maybe? I'll get one of them to try.

 

[carthorse]

@Doodle92 yes the plain white Rockies one.

I do wonder if we sometimes read too much into things, with a balanced diet it really could be simply a patch of earth he likes the taste of, after all I eat many things for that reason.

 

[Doodle92]

You are probably right @carthorse