Why Does My Horse Eat Dirt?

Have you provided your horse with a balanced diet supplemented with all the necessary nutrients?

Have you provided plenty of drinking water for your horse?

Does your horse eat dirt in a bare pasture?

Does your horse show any sign of an upset stomach (abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, etc.)?

Was there an obvious change in the routine of your horse (changes in location, feeding schedule, owners, or herd mates)?

Horses that are lacking in minerals or that are otherwise nutrient-deficient may be eating dirt to fill the gaps in their diets. Make sure your horse’s feed is properly supplemented – though, this usually isn’t a problem for the average pasture horse. Additionally, horses that are lacking in fiber may eat dirt, chew on rails, or strip bark from trees. Ensure that your horse is getting enough roughage in his diet to keep things moving along and prevent colic.

Soil contains water and salt. A thirsty horse may eat the dirt in his pasture if his trough is empty, and the salt in the dirt can make him even thirstier. Always make sure your horse has access to fresh, clean water. Dehydration can be dangerous, and cause all sorts of health problems.

With nothing to eat in a bare pasture, a hungry horse may resort to eating dirt. If your horse is getting enough forage, try to spread it out throughout the day. Don’t drop his hay all at once – try feeding a few times a day, to avoid binging. And, always make sure that your horse is getting enough proper nutrition.

A horse with ulcers, parasites, or just an upset stomach may eat dirt, looking to ease their discomfort. Clay, which is often found in top-level soil, is known to stick to toxins and help remove them from the body. Your horse may be looking for clay to pass something through his system. If you think that your horse may have ulcers or parasites, call your veterinarian right away.

Changes in location, feeding schedule, owners, or herd mates can cause some odd horse behavior. If you notice that your horse is eating a large amount of dirt at once, or he’s exhibiting other odd behavior, call your veterinarian. However, he might just need a little more time to adjust to new changes in his routine.

Because horses are constantly eating rough foods, their teeth are constantly being filed down. If a horse is grinding his teeth improperly in an unnatural way, it can lead to dental and health problems. Dirt contains hard particles, like small rocks or sticks that can help file down a horse’s teeth in a more natural, even pattern. Horses kept in a pasture often don’t need to have their teeth floated as often as their stabled counterparts.