Q: My 30-year-old mare went off her feed for several days and would only nibble on her free-choice hay and grass when out in the pasture. She just had her teeth floated recently and shows no signs of illness. I’m worried if she does not start eating her senior feed she will start to lose weight. What can I do to encourage her to start eating her grain again?

A: Whenever a horse won’t eat, especially if it is a change from her normal behavior, always ask why. In many cases inappetence is a symptom of an underlying medical condition. The first step should always be to consult your veterinarian, especially if your horse normally has a great appetite. Medical causes of inappetence include pain, viral illness, stress, gastric ulcers, etc. Rule these conditions out as a key first step. In your mare’s case, you mention she recently had her teeth floated. Your vet can help identify if she has any new discomfort related to the recent changes in her dentition.

Reasons a Horse Stops Eating Grain

Medical causes aside, another common reason for a horse to temporarily go off feed happens when something causes the feed to be unpalatable. Moldy or rancid feed and contaminated or dirty feeders and bins certainly cause feed to be unpalatable. Make sure all bins and feeders are clean and free of leftover feed that has gone rancid. Always check for animal droppings, dead animals, or other contaminants when dumping feed into bins or feed pans. If multiple horses in the barn refuse to eat their meals at the same time, likely something is off with their feed. Remove, inspect, and discard the feed in question. If you’re concerned about moldy or rancid commercial feed, make sure to document the manufacturer’s date code (usually printed on the tape at the seam), collect a sample of the feed, and contact the manufacturer to report it. A reputable manufacturer should replace the product for you and investigate the issue further if needed. Hay can also be contaminated or moldy, so pay attention to your forages as well.

Feeding unnecessary supplements might also result in horses refusing to eat their meals. Many horses can be picky about them, so remove all supplements from the diet (if you feed them) to see if that results in better intake. From a behavioral standpoint, some horses stop eating if there has been a recent management change (moved paddocks, lost a friend, etc.). Finding anything that can make them more comfortable during mealtime could help. Some horses eat better when they can see other horses, while others want to be alone. There are those that eat more readily in a stall and those that prefer to be outdoors. You might need to experiment to find your horse’s preference.

Getting a Horse to Start Eating Again

If you’ve addressed the underlying cause of inappetence, getting her back on feed is important to not only prevent weight loss but also maintain proper gut health. Feeds readily accepted by most horses include fresh green grass, grain-based feed (sweet feed), oats, leafy alfalfa hay, bran mashes, beet-pulp-based feeds, and senior complete feeds. If a horse has grown picky about her usual feed, top-dressing with something a little more tasty (like sweet feed, oats, or even a few treats), switching brands to a feed formulated with palatability in mind or switching to a different feed form (such as from pelleted to textured) might help keep her eating.

Take-Home Message

Feeding calorie-dense feeds and forages also helps make sure every bite counts for horses that have grown to be pickier as they age. Other tactics such as adding molasses, applesauce, chopped carrots and apples (small pieces to reduce choke risk), bananas, or even carrot-flavored baby food on top of the ration can also tempt them to take a bite. Consider these as temporary fixes rather than a long-term solution. Always “listen” to horses that stop eating because they are likely trying to tell you something.

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