As a horse owner, you likely watch your horse eat every day. But are you looking closely enough? Is my horse properly taking in, chewing and swallowing both forage and feed? This simple question can be the key to solving mysterious weight loss or health issues.
By observing your horse while eating hay, grass and feed, you may find that while he is taking in food he may not be actually chewing and/or swallowing it – this is especially common in older horses with poor dentition that may be quidding forages or dropping feed. “Quidding” happens when a horse cannot grind their food properly, so they spit out partially chewed wads of hay.
The horse appears to be eating well, but in actuality the forage or feed is actually balling up in the cheeks and then being spit out by the horse. This means your horse is missing out on vital calories and nutrients, even though their feed bucket looks empty at the end of the meal.
Here is what you should look for during feeding time:
- Dropped Grain: Check the ground around the feed bucket for excessive amounts of spilled grain.
- Hay Wads: Look for wet, chewed-up clumps of hay on the stall floor or in the pasture.
- Slow Eating: Notice if your horse takes much longer than usual to finish their meal.
- Odd Head Tilting: Watch if they tilt their head sideways while chewing.
If you spot these signs, schedule a dental exam with your veterinarian immediately. Proper dental care ensures your horse gets the full benefit of the high-quality feed you provide.
Source: Purina Mills Equine Specialist