why is my horse eating sawdust?

[HoofHeartSoul]

If this were another horse I would say he is trying to get more roughage/forage…however, this doesn’t seem to be the case with my horse:

Every time I notice this he has plenty of hay in his stall,water,salt,etc.

I believe it usually happens in winter after turnout and it is only when they put in NEW sawdust it seems.

I have smelled the sawdust and it doesn’t smell like anything has spilled on it.

also he is NOT eating grain/hay out of the sawdust, he is eating the actual sawdust, mouthfuls of it.

The only thing I can think of is some sort of stomach upset or discomfort.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[Big_Grey_hunter]

Horses are weird.

[PeteyPie]

He’s bored.

[chicamux]

I had a horse that had gone thru roughage deprivation early in his life and ate tree wood during that period. Also had anotner mare who was fed little hay but lots od calories. She was accustomed to eating fence boards and barn wood. Both of these horses would eat boards and sawdust even thoug they had hay, althoughmit got better with time. Pine is especially attractive. Now I have a boarder who also was badly underfed before he came here. He also is attracted to sawdust even thoug he has limitless hay

Chicamuxen

[twelvegates]

If you do a Google search on this subject, it seems that other horses have done the same, and ulcers are the usual suspect.

[HoofHeartSoul]

He just came in from turnout so i’m not sure if it was boredom but possibly, he likes to have a job to do and I haven’t been riding.

That doesn’t explain the fact that this usually happens in winter.

There is a round-bale out in the pasture, but am no sure he is able to eat out of it because some other horses chase him away.

I was wondering if it was because his stomach was upset because he wasn’t able to eat all day while he was out and it was frigid! ( he didn’t want to venture out into the artic chill to nibble at the snow covered grass either, away from the round-bale)

He has free choice access to hay while in his stall.

I guess it could be a habit but why only in winter? I have owned him for over a decade and he has never been without hay for long periods since I have owned him.

Ulcers or gut/stomach irritation are possible: Especially if he wasn’t able to eat hay out of the round-bale and since there isn’t any grass and/or didn’t even want to try and nibble on any grass roots in the pasture under the snow because of the cold.

ulcers COULD have developed shortly I suppose.

I consider him a ulcer-prone horse anyway ( they all are ulcer prone, but I consider him especially sensitive but stoic about it)

[HoofHeartSoul]

He is also prone to eating certain spots of dirt.

[HealingHeart]

Sawdust is process with oils, perhaps he it going after what he smells, not us

Btw, these oils vary by processing plants/source, if you can, try a different brand.

[HicksteadFan]

What is the sawdust made of? Horses actually like the taste of some types of wood. I think cedar is the one they really like. (I think but I’m not absolutely sure.)

Does the horse eat mouthfuls or just nibble on it? My horse sometimes goes through her whole stall looking for any leftover bits of hay and will nibble some clean sawdust here and there.

[HoofHeartSoul]

@HicksteadFan

What is the sawdust made of? Horses actually like the taste of some types of wood. I think cedar is the one they really like. (I think but I’m not absolutely sure.)

Does the horse eat mouthfuls or just nibble on it? My horse sometimes goes through her whole stall looking for any leftover bits of hay and will nibble some clean sawdust here and there.

Old post but just popped up in my notifications.

It is pine bedding and it is mouthfuls, he is not scavenging for loose bits of hay. He only eats the clean sawdust

[Simkie]

I think you answered your own question–he’s getting chased off the round bale and not getting the hay he needs, so he’s eating the sawdust out of desperation. In other seasons, there’s pasture grass available, so he doesn’t eat the bedding.

Sounds like he needs an alternative hay source or nicer friends if there can only be one source. At this point, eating the bedding might be a little habitual, but I’d guess it will slowly go away once he’s able to eat the hay he needs.

”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹”‹

[candyappy]

I would hope the situation was solved as it was happening over 4 years ago.

[pony_baloney]

My old guy will nibble at his shavings. He’s on soaked hay pellets and I’m guessing he misses chewing actual roughage.

[HoofHeartSoul]

@candyappy

I would hope the situation was solved as it was happening over 4 years ago.

Sadly it was not solved and I just got a notification about this post the other day ( yes 4 years later lol)

I figured instead of starting a new thread I would respond to the replies that I apparently missed , maybe not the best idea…

it is spring now and grass is growing ( so no horses pushing him off of the hay feeder ) and horse is still eating sawdust by the mouthful especially after grain/slop.

he only consumes the fresh shavings .

[Simkie]

@HoofHeartSoul

Sadly it was not solved and I just got a notification about this post I made the other day , figured instead of starting a new thread I would respond to the replies that I apparently missed , maybe not the best idea…

it is spring now and grass is growing ( so no horses pushing him off of the hay feeder ) and horse is still eating sawdust by the mouthful especially after grain/slop.

he only consumes the fresh shavings .

If he spends the winter being pushed off the hay, and isn’t getting adequate forage because of that, eating the bedding may be habitual at this point.

[mmeqcenter]

Has he been treated for ulcers in the four years since this thread was started?
As others said, it’s habitual now and he’s hungry. He needs turnout mates that will allow him to eat, or to be out by himself.
I would stop bedding with shavings in his stall, bed with hay or straw. Or leave him out 24-7.