My old guy quids hay and has started quidding grass, too. Keeping the grass mowed helps him tremendously. He quids as a result of missing teeth. He is 27. His 29-yo pasture mate doesn’t quid at all.
He gets soaked alfalfa cubes and soaked senior feed.
Some older horses quid for years. I can remember one of indeterminate age who happily chewed longish grass for years sucked out all the “soup” and left neat quids all about. The horse was also on a great deal of senior feed.
I also know on who quids hay, but not grass, yet.
It is just not uncommon in older horses whose teeth have retired. The main thing is to keep a sharp eye on their total nutrition, and feed accordingly.
My Saint Horse (rip) had lost all his molars but kept plump with soaked porridge, until he died at 34. He quidded. I think he gummed grass and hay to get the flavor then spit it out. Like someone who chews tobacco, for example.
I just had the vet out for this - my 32 yr.old just started and my 33 does it occasionally on hay. The younger guy is missing a BUNCH of teeth and the ones he has have just lost most grinding capabilities. The older guy has all of his teeth, but they are pretty useless for grinding. Just old guy teeth. I was told to keep them on pasture as much as possible, (neither quids grass, yet), keep up with their soaked senior chow, and keep giving them hay to chew, knowing most will be wasted, but they will chew and suck the liquid out. Also, keeping a close eye on weight and condition as time goes on, knowing they may need an extra daily meal of soaked senior chow in the future.
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