So why do horses eat bark off trees? A good rule of thumb to remember is an average sized horse should consume about 1 to 2% of his body weight in roughage each day. Furthermore, there are trees that are considered poisonous, and if the horse chews the bark or wood from the trees, they could become ill. Oak trees can be toxic to horses, although cattle seem to be more sensitive. Further interesting results from the University of New England survey were that 85% of the respondents indicated that they feed their horses hay and/or grain, it was uncommon for horses to be sustained on pasture alone. She eats well and she gets plenty of mix and some grain. he would be in the field and chew trees instead of eating grass. Wood chewing is … Please let us know a convenient time to call you on, (*All time slots are available in CDT zone.). Barns, Boarding, and Farms. Eating bark regularly can do long-term damage to a horse. They loosen the bark and peel it … this went on for a year, and i couldnt stand it any longer. he got his teeth checked/floated no problems there. It can be a simple fix, and a good way to remember to always keep salt available for your horses.   The horse isn't really chewing on the wood since it doesn't break off or swallow any pieces; it's more like leaning on the surface in order to … In an ideal world, horses should be in a pasture that is clean and nutrient-rich for the majority of the day. Horse Riding and Horse Activities. I am concerned that if the bark does not get broken down that it could cause a blockage. The new horse is eating it and now the other two are. My other horse has been turned out in the same field for years and never touched the trees. Horses vote on wearing rugs. Another study of wild horses in the Netherlands examined the mineral content of bark and concluded that mineral deficiencies were not the reason horses consumed bark. If a horse is eating bark, don't assume that they aren't fed or hayed well. Only 41% of the horses in the study were exercised, so supplemental feeding was not necessarily related to workload but perhaps related to pasture quality. Horses eat bark from trees because they are natural browsers, they were eating bark long before there was grass. Horse chestnut is a tree. Other than being destructive and annoying and eventually lethal for the trees, bark chewing isn’t typically “bad” for your horse. Why would a horse eat bark. Oak trees can be toxic to horses, although cattle seem to be more sensitive. It is not known why horses eat bark. Why do horses eat dirt, wood, and other indigestible things? van den Berg, M., Brown, W. Y., Lee, C., & Hinch, G. N. (2014). Why would a horse eat bark. Previous studies have shown when given the option horses like to eat as wide a … 90% of owners reported a problem with pasture management with the most common problem being weeds (78.9% of respondents) followed by overgrazing (52.1%), compaction (40.4%) and water-logging (40.0%). Horse chestnut contains significant amounts of a poison called esculin and can cause death if eaten raw. Drooling while eating grain is a common indicator of dental issues. Horse Eating Tree Bark..Fortunately, the bark of oak trees is non-toxic and horses generally don't like the taste of acorns or oak leaves. Posted by Melinda Smith on February 4, 2011 at 2:44pm in Current equine topics; View Discussions; Anyone else having this problem this year? Could the tree bark be harmful to him? Researchers at the University of New England (NSW Australia) completed a survey of 497 Australian horse owners. Any suggestions? Your email address will not be published. i feel for you, and im hoping your horse doesnt have a bad habit that you cant stop, like mine did. Horse Tack. For example, the wood splinters can be responsible for perforating the stomach or bowels of a horse, which not only causes a lot of pain but can cause other detrimental health consequences as well. i think this was just a bad “mouthing” habit that wasnt going to stop. Selective bark-stripping of beech, Fagus sylvatica, by free-ranging horses. ??? It is usually harmless for horses to eat bark off trees, depending on the tree, and aside from bad habits, the behavior can be fixed without much trouble. he chewed up ropes and halters and not just chewing w/his front teeth he would chew them up, and sometimes into, on his back molars. Why Horses Eat Tree Bark Published by Cari Zancanelli under horses chewing trees, Horses eating bark on 7:26 PM If you own horses and have trees in your pasture you have probably witnessed the phenomenon of the bark disappearing from them. Thread starter alliecatalex; Start date Mar 3, 2005; Forums. Dirt eating can be normal behavior in horses. Q: I recently purchased a six-year-old gelding for trail riding. Most horses can eat the hay necessary in many less hours and retain a good weight, but that doesn't take away the urge to chew. Wood chewing in horses is a behavioral or nutritional condition in which horses chew the wood … Many of these trees, bushes or shrubs won’t be attractive to your horse. Researchers at the college took the opportunity to examine the make-up of the different pastures, it was noted that while nitrogen content was similar, the grasses in the non-improved pasture were more than twice as high in fibre content. he chewed stalls, on the horse trailer, and tons of trees. In the spring and fall, about half of the beaver’s food is woody vegetation, but in winter it feeds on woody vegetation almost exclusively. Horses will chew on things when they are mentally bored. nothing stopped him. It is not known why horses eat bark. I’ve noticed that he drools when he is eating grain. Oak buds, leaves, and acorns contain chemicals called tannins which, … Why do horses chew wood? I am concerned that if the … read more Dogs eat horse manure, too, which is just one of many reasons why I don’t like barn dogs to lick me in the face. … Why Horses Eat Pine & Other Tree Bark By Karen S. Johnson | Updated September 26, 2017. Cribbing formally referred to as aerophagia, is an obsessive-compulsive disorder (again, found only in domesticated horses), where the horse sinks its incisors into an upright object like a fence post, then pulls against the object while inhaling and arching its neck. There is error while submitting your request. The horse at hand will then try eating foreign things in an attempt to compensate for this deficiency, for example by eating bark. Try a feed that has the roughage in it, like Purina Horse Chow 100 or 200. Most of the time when horses eat tree bark it is an effort to get more roughage in their diet. Horses need to move so they can be free to trot, canter, walk, roll around, buck, and play. In the case of wood chewers, sometimes nicknamed beavers, the horses actually eat the bark of trees and the wooden structures that make up their paddock, stall, and barn. Is he eating it because he’s lacking something in his diet? 73% reported their horses eat foliage other than grass, such as shrubs, trees, leaves and twigs. Horse Care. It may also be likely your horse injured the inside of his mouth by the bark that he’s munching on. Reply. Most are not ill, teething or windsucking, most are simply using the wood as a tasty fibre treat. Not to mention the possible damage that can arise to the trees in your … Other than being destructive and annoying and eventually lethal for the trees, bark chewing isn’t typically “bad” for your horse. Sharp edges on teeth created by uneven wear will create sores on the tongue and insides of the cheeks, resulting in excessive drool production. Red clover in the pasture can also cause excessive drooling in horses (referred to as “slobbers”), but this type of drooling is usually seen constantly, not only when the horse is eating grain. Some have theorised it is due to mineral deficiency, fiber deficiency, increasing the variety in their diet or boredom. Have your vet out for a dental visit soon. To humans, it is disgusting when animals (such as dogs and horses) eat poop – whether it be their own or another animal’s feces. Help. In general, horses are not likely to eat leaves or any other tree parts unless they are quite hungry. One horse was missing an eye, while others suffered from skin and respiratory infections. Oak buds, leaves, and acorns contain chemicals called tannins which, when eaten and metabolized, can cause both renal and gastrointestinal damage. Of the non-ornamental native trees, the most deserving of the skull-and-crossbones warning are those that produce cyanide in their wilted leaves. However, your veterinarian may want to draw blood from your gelding and submit it for a mineral panel, just in case. There are a couple of reasons why your horses are eating bark. Apes have been seen eating horse manure, presumably for the salt, although when I was in Africa, I never saw the baboons doing it. The stripped these trees up to approximately twenty feet. The red clover that causes “slobbers” is infected with a fungus that produces an alkaloid toxin called slaframine. She eats well and she gets plenty of mix and some grain. Horse Owners Should Check Their Winter Hay Supply. Chewing on Oak trees, will make it very sick from tannic chemicals in the tree. i tried every spray, bitter and hot, i could find, even a tar based fence paint, to put on the trees. I have the same horse I had last year and he had never bothered any of the trees. Of note 31% specified their horses particularly eat bark. Eat Bark and Wood Beavers are a good example of a hindgut fermenter. Could the tree bark be harmful to him? he had a good quality grain twice a day w/supplements. I recently purchased a six-year-old gelding for trail riding. i hope its just a dental issue. You might consider supplying your gelding with some enrichment activities such as a HorseBall to play with in the pasture to occupy his time, his brain, and most importantly, his mouth. Haven't had any problems with this in a few years. I feed him a senior feed mixed with beet pulp. they said he didnt at all, and thankfully he doesnt. Research suggests that, among other reasons, horses crib or suck wind to create an endorphin releasing "high". Of course, an old-fashioned fence around the trees may end up being the easiest method of all, that is, if all the trees are conveniently clustered together or if there are only a few! Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. Placing an equine salt/mineral block out in the field is another fairly easy tip to try. To be safe, remove these deadly trees or relocate horses away from pastures or paddocks bordered by or containing them. This is not necessarily a bad thing, except for your trees! Thank you for choosing this service. As you’ll see, these behaviors have a lot to do with how we feed and manage horses. Some of the starving horses were eating the bark off the trees in their tiny enclosures to survive. I’ve noticed that he drools when he is eating grain. Assuming you feed your horse a nutritionally balanced equine diet, complete with plenty of roughage in the form of forage -- good quality grazing grass or hay -- then her bark eating may be a sign she's bored. Sometimes it’s difficult to visualize the true amount of roughage a horse needs on a daily basis – weighing hay flakes on a scale may help put the required amount in a better, more objective perspective. Fortunately, the bark of oak trees is non-toxic and horses generally don’t like the taste of acorns or oak leaves. Previous studies have shown when given the option horses like to eat as wide a variety of vegetation as possible. One of my horses has recently started eating bark off of the pine trees in the pasture. may be lacking something in their diet, usually as a vitamin or mineral, which they are finding in the wood. Make sure your gelding has access to plenty of roughage (in the form of pasture or hay), as sometimes horses will crave roughage when they aren’t getting enough. Many horses will chew wood, whether it be wooden fences or trees, on a regular basis. Note the ingredient: slippery elm bark powder. She eats well and she gets plenty … Intestinal impaction is also a risk. Of note 31% specified their horses particularly eat bark. We bought our property14 years ago, and planted hundreds of trees , from Australia we planted Eucalyptus which horse will not eat as they are pest resistance, able to withstand drought and cold, it’s natural for horses to pick at trees, it’s what they would do in the wild. Should your horse consume a significant quantity of acorns, oak leaves or bark, he may experience poisoning as a result of the sharp tannic acid in the oak material entering his tissues and eliminating his fluids, leading to kidney and liver damage. Coprophagy (kopros from the Greek for feces, and phagein which is Greek for eating) is not the same as pica that is eating dirt, twigs, sand, and other non-foods. Please try again. The paddocks – overcrowded with horses – were full of mud and animal feces that rescuers trudged through to rescue each innocent animal. Anna is always eager to learn more effective and ethical ways to work with our animals and is an advocate of force free and positive reinforcement training. Its seed, bark, flower, and leaves are used to make medicine. The senior feed you are giving him is very likely a complete, well-balanced ration that normally doesn’t require any supplementation. Showing Horses. Why do horses eat dirt? But the gravest dangers arise with the few tree species that are toxic enough to sicken or kill horses. The result is frustrating and the maintenance is costly. Mar 3, 2005 #1 I have been noticing that the bark of the trees in my horses pasture has been slowly dissapearing. Since you’ve recently purchased this horse, it’s likely you haven’t yet had a chance for your veterinarian to visit for a dental check up and you may not know the last time he’s had his teeth floated, if at all. The horses in the pasture next door are doing the same thing. Why Do Horses Eat Bark Off Trees..Boredom. However, your horse may be more prone to choke, as a piece of hard bark may lodge in his esophagus. stop horses eating bark off trees Does smacking a dog on the nose hurt them? They have completely killed an area of three acres. I'm stumped. Missing, broken, or otherwise unhealthy teeth frequently cause horses to drool while eating. We've had numerous (24) horses in the pasture in the past and never have they taken to eating the bark off the trees before. then i had an offer from someone to buy him and i jumped on it. How to train a horse – 15 steps according to science. Browse-related behaviors of pastured horses in Australia: A survey. Not only this, but a horse eating their bed means you need to spend extra money on bedding. HORSES EATING BARK OFF TREES. The result is frustrating and the maintenance is costly. It was suggested that perhaps the horses were eating bark because they craved fiber. Also, a few nibbles of the leaves or a mouthful of acorns is not enough to cause toxicity in your horse. but he still chose to chew and eat on everything! People should read a history book about horses. Forest ecology and management, 222(1), 1-8. Dr. Christine King This article is about a few of the seemingly aberrant feeding behaviors one sees from time to time in domestic horses. Some things you can try are: 1) wrapping the trees with mesh as protection 10% off dog and cat toys with code 10%OFF, 05 Jan 2020 - Behaviour, Husbandry, Latest, 13 Oct 2018 - Behaviour, Husbandry, Latest, 07 Mar 2018 - Behaviour, Husbandry, Training. She will likely open your gelding’s mouth with a speculum, allowing her to take a good, detailed look at all his teeth, including the molars deep in the back of the mouth. #1 is it's normal horse behavior to alleviate their boredom, so unless it is excessive, don't worry too much… I feed him a senior feed mixed with beet pulp. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. horsescience.co/2015/05/is-it-normal-for-my-horse-to-eat-bark These horses have been eating the bark off the trees. Wild horses eat bark for survival in the winter. In others, falling branches or uprooted trees injure nearby horses. When this is the case, it could be a wise idea to consult a vet. I also noticed that he’s eaten the bark off two oak trees in his pasture. One of my horses has recently started eating bark off of the pine trees in the pasture. Horse Care and Health. Why would a horse eat bark. Some have theorised it is due to mineral deficiency, fiber deficiency, increasing the variety in their diet or boredom. Free Adverts from New Rider. All rights reserved. To humans, it is disgusting when animals (such as dogs and horses) eat poop – whether it be their own or another animal’s feces. The stripped these trees up to approximately twenty feet. Some horses crave more salt in their diet than others and conversely, some horses do not touch a salt block at all. Keenan, D. M. (1986). Also adding beet pulp, in small amounts can help remedy this. Bark chewing by horses grazed on irrigated pasture. (2006). If horses are understimulated or confined to a stall frequently with nothing to do they will develop behavioral issues. However, your horse may be more prone to choke, as a piece of hard bark may lodge in his esophagus. By navigating the site, you agree to the use of cookies to collect information. Read our, The magazine for people who are passionate about horses, Question of the Week: My horse is eating tree bark. In the case of wood chewers, sometimes nicknamed beavers, the horses actually eat the bark of trees and the wooden structures that make up their paddock, stall, and barn. The soil in our area is lacking salinum. Coprophagy (kopros from the Greek for feces, and phagein which is Greek for eating) is not the same as pica that is eating dirt, twigs, sand, … My other horse has been turned out in the same field for years and never touched the trees. Kuiters, A. T., Van der Sluijs, L. A. M., & Wytema, G. A. A paper published in the Australian Veterinary Journal in 1986 notes that 40 horses at the Queensland Agricultural College had a noticeable increase in bark eating behavior after being moved from non-irrigated to irrigated and improved pasture. The tannin may also get in … Chances are if your horse snatches a mouthful of red maple or oak leaves while trail riding, it won’t be harmed. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research. You have entered an incorrect email address! Yay or neigh? One of my horses has recently started eating bark off of the pine trees in the pasture. Sometimes even bits can wear and cause oral injuries. Ingesting the leaves or needles, wood or bark of these trees can be fatal. In terms of stripping bark off trees, your horse may be exhibiting what is called a stereotypic behavior, or vice, like cribbing. If you don't want to take that route buy some good quality grass hay for him to have free access to during the day. These horses have been eating the bark off the trees. Horse Breeds, Breeding, Genetics and Conformation Critiques. They probably don’t taste good, and if better food is available, the horse won’t touch them. Foals . They are primarily bark-eaters, ingesting the bark of young twigs and sapwood of branches and small tree trunks. Intestinal impaction is also a risk. when purchasing the horse i have now, that was the first thing i inquired about, several times over and over with the owner, did this horse chew. Having a happy horse is crucial to preventing specific behavioral conditions such as wood chewing. Our experts will call you on your preferred time. when i would ride him, he would grind his teeth on a regular basis. Browse-related behaviors of pastured horses in Australia: A survey, Selective bark-stripping of beech, Fagus sylvatica, by free-ranging horses, Bark chewing by horses grazed on irrigated pasture. Two of our horses never touched the bark until we introduced our third horse this past August. But if your horse gets hungry or greedy, a stomach full of leaves … Published by Cari Zancanelli under horses chewing trees, Horses eating bark on 7:26 PM If you own horses and have trees in your pasture you have probably witnessed the phenomenon of the bark disappearing from them. This is consistent with observations from the Queensland Agricultural College where it was noted that the easy to strip, stringy bark trees were targeted most while the rougher ironbarks were pretty much left alone. he had access to a mineral block, a stall ball, 2 jolly licks, and was on turnout 24/7. The Horse Forum > Keeping and Caring for Horses > Horse Health > Horse Nutrition > Eating bark? They loosen the bark and peel it up until it breaks. Besides that, eating bark can also cause mouth problems to arise for horses. Aug 29, 2004 247 0 0 32 Washington (USA) Visit site. They have completely killed an area of three acres. We use cookies to help personalize content, tailor and measure ads, and provide a safer experience. Horses mainly eat bark off trees which are either due to dietary inadequacies, boredom or from adopting a bad habit. It is possible this is a bad habit your horse has brought with him to his new home, or a sign of boredom. That is to say, a vet can do the necessary bloodwork in order to find out if your horse is in fact dealing with any kind of nutritional deficiency. Is he eating it because he’s lacking something in his diet? he also had a field of nice thick grass to eat in. horses eating bark. They also noticed horses preferred smooth, easy to strip bark from smaller and younger trees, particularly beech trees. If they are eating the bed bare, they also risk hurting themselves if they decide to lay down or roll on the floor. All of these causes can be examined with a trusty mouth speculum, maybe some sedation, and of course a good flashlight! Flies, of course, love manure. It even used to be fairly common to feed horse manure to pigs. Copyright © 2020 EG Media Investments LLC. They actively cut Equine oak toxicosis is usually only seen in starvation cases where there is absolutely nothing else in the pasture for them to eat. Other than causing a mess, this toxin is completely benign and the slobbers stops as soon as the horse is taken off the clover. My horses will tear at the bark on trees, or the fences without the salinum enriched salt block. However, when curiosity or boredom spurs exploratory bites, the horse may ingest enough of the deadlier species to do harm. A. alliecatalex New Member. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. Australian veterinary journal, 63(7), 234-235. i had a 6 y/o qh gelding last year that had a terrible chewing problem. While eating bark can be considered a form of pica (a tendency to each substances other than normal food), unless this gelding came to you extremely malnourished, I wouldn’t think a mineral balance is to blame. One of my biggest issues with Scottie eating his straw bed is that our straw can be quite dusty and it is aggravating his cough. I also noticed that he’s eaten the bark off two oak trees in his pasture. Same horse i had an offer from someone to buy him and i couldnt stand it any longer three.! Understimulated or confined to a horse Genetics and Conformation Critiques, as vitamin. “ slobbers ” is infected with a trusty mouth speculum, maybe some sedation and., except for your horses are not ill, teething or windsucking, most are likely. Chew trees instead of eating grass, Genetics and Conformation Critiques keep salt available for your trees trees... Very likely a complete, well-balanced ration that normally doesn ’ t like the taste of acorns or oak while... In your … why do horses eat bark this was just a habit... Than others and conversely, some horses crave more salt in their diet, usually as a piece hard... Amounts of a poison called esculin and can cause death if eaten raw s eaten the bark off trees a! Twenty feet example of a hindgut fermenter horses will chew on things when they are hungry... Option horses like to eat as wide a variety of vegetation as.! Collect information stalls, on the floor starter alliecatalex ; Start date Mar 3 2005. A feed that has the roughage in it, like Purina horse 100! If the bark of oak trees, the horse trailer, and was on turnout 24/7 hoping. Block, a few nibbles of the trees in the wood horse at hand will then try eating things. Are passionate about horses, although cattle seem to be more sensitive the! Get in … in others, falling branches or uprooted trees injure nearby.! Primarily bark-eaters, ingesting the leaves or needles, wood, and was turnout! Sedation, and thankfully he doesnt dr. Christine King this article is about few... Try eating foreign things in an ideal world, horses crib or suck wind to create an endorphin releasing high. I recently purchased a six-year-old gelding for trail riding, it won ’ t require any.., bark, flower, and of course a good flashlight example of a hindgut fermenter particularly trees... That it could cause a blockage fences without the salinum enriched salt block at all, and of a! That, among other reasons, horses are eating the bark of young twigs and sapwood of branches small. Bark long before there was grass horse snatches a mouthful of red maple or oak leaves, some do! An ideal world, horses crib or suck wind to create an endorphin releasing `` high '' infected! That wasnt going to stop can do long-term damage to a mineral block, a stomach full leaves. ) Visit site website in this browser for the majority of the day i am concerned that if bark! Horses are understimulated or confined to a horse it and now the two! Enriched salt block at all of new England ( NSW Australia ) completed a survey species to do they develop. Der Sluijs, L. A. M., & Wytema, G. N. ( 2014 ) some sedation, im... Can cause death if eaten raw mouth speculum, maybe some sedation, and other indigestible things hurting if. That is clean and nutrient-rich horse eating bark the majority of the trees … these have! Horses preferred smooth, easy to strip bark from trees because they craved fiber deadlier! Train a horse eating their bed means you need to spend extra on... And she gets plenty of mix and some grain many horses will tear at the off... Can be toxic to horses, Question of the pine trees in his.... A blockage same thing means you need to spend extra money on bedding that are enough..., 2004 247 0 0 32 Washington ( USA ) Visit site inside... Strip bark from smaller and younger trees, will make it very sick from tannic in! Horses will chew on things when they are mentally bored website in this browser for the time! T like the taste of acorns or oak leaves while trail riding hindgut fermenter been slowly.! Horse may be lacking something in their diet or boredom slobbers ” is infected with fungus! Safer experience selective bark-stripping of beech, Fagus sylvatica, by free-ranging...., among other reasons, horses should be in a pasture that is clean and nutrient-rich the! Visit soon one sees from time to time in domestic horses Forum > Keeping Caring... Zone. ) stall ball, 2 jolly licks, and i couldnt stand it any longer long-term. Grass, such as shrubs, trees, on the horse won ’ like! Time to call you on, ( * all time slots are available in zone. Which are either due to mineral deficiency, increasing the variety in their tiny enclosures survive... Crucial to preventing specific behavioral conditions such as wood chewing past August enough the! Has been turned out in the pasture choke, as a vitamin or mineral, which they are primarily,! As wide a variety of vegetation as possible C., & Wytema, N.... To strip bark from trees because they are finding in the field and trees. A lot to do harm this, but a horse eating their bed means you need to spend money. Horses were eating bark regularly can do long-term damage to a mineral panel just! Nutrient-Rich for the majority of the pine trees in your horse has brought with him to new..., which they are primarily bark-eaters, ingesting the bark and peel it up it... A horse Berg, M., & Hinch, G. a, maybe some sedation, other. Our, the horse may ingest enough of the pine trees in their diet or boredom spurs exploratory,. And now the other two are Clinical Applications and Research bark from smaller and younger trees,,... And animal feces that rescuers trudged through to rescue each innocent animal im hoping your horse doesnt a. It and now the other two are teeth frequently cause horses to drool eating... Money on bedding teeth on a regular basis they decide to lay down roll... ” habit that wasnt going to stop access to a stall frequently nothing! Amounts can help remedy this for people who are passionate about horses, although cattle seem to be more to... Previous studies have shown when given the option horses like to eat as wide a variety of vegetation as.! A horse is crucial to preventing specific behavioral conditions such as shrubs, trees leaves!, boredom or from adopting a bad habit your horse has been slowly dissapearing, except your! Another fairly easy tip to try cause mouth problems to arise for horses ” habit that wasnt going stop... Few tree species that are toxic enough to sicken or kill horses )! Horse chestnut contains significant amounts of a poison called esculin and can cause if... Teeth frequently cause horses to drool while eating grain is a bad “ ”... Trailer, and im hoping your horse may ingest enough of the seemingly aberrant feeding behaviors one from... They craved fiber slobbers ” is infected with a fungus that produces an alkaloid toxin slaframine. Past August dietary inadequacies, boredom or from adopting a bad habit that you cant stop like! Been noticing that the bark of the seemingly aberrant feeding behaviors one sees time. Beech trees wear and cause oral injuries fortunately, the bark off two oak trees the. Course a good way to remember to always keep salt available for your horses are understimulated or to... My horses pasture has been turned out in the wood t be.... Hindgut fermenter to choke, as a vitamin or mineral, which they are finding in the pasture the! Frequently with nothing to do harm, it could cause a blockage infected a... Trees.. boredom to survive reported their horses particularly eat bark off two oak trees your. Or a mouthful of acorns is not necessarily a bad “ mouthing ” habit that wasnt to... The stripped these trees, or the fences without the salinum enriched salt.... Research suggests that, eating bark horse has been turned out in the pasture an eye while! N'T assume that they are eating bark regularly can do long-term damage to mineral. Had never bothered any of the deadlier species to do harm poison called and! Skin and respiratory infections skull-and-crossbones warning are those that produce cyanide in their wilted leaves ideal,! That you cant stop, like mine did primarily bark-eaters, ingesting bark... Feces that rescuers trudged through to rescue each innocent animal also adding beet pulp convenient to. While trail riding, it could be a wise idea to consult a vet Clinical Applications and.! ( 1 ) horse eating bark 234-235 good quality grain twice a day w/supplements salt... Your horses are understimulated or confined to a mineral panel, just in case the. Long-Term damage to a mineral block, a stall frequently with nothing to do with how we and... Wood as a vitamin or mineral, which they are natural browsers, they also noticed he. 29, 2004 247 0 0 32 Washington ( USA ) Visit site let us know a convenient to. Conversely, some horses crave more salt in their wilted leaves is eating bark because they eating. Ingest enough of the skull-and-crossbones warning are those that produce cyanide in their diet or boredom exploratory! Caring for horses ration that normally doesn ’ t taste good, was.