Q. My horses eat dirt, even with mineral and salt blocks available to them. I also give them vitamins and digestive enzymes. Why do they do this?

Susan Horner, Fulton, Mo.


A. Your question is a common one! There are several theories about why horses eat dirt (a behavior known as “geophagia”), including nutritional imbalances and boredom.

Consuming a little dirt or sand usually goes without incident, but ingestion of large amounts can lead to serious digestive problems in horses. If you notice a change in stool consistency (i.e., diarrhea) or signs of colic, you should contact your veterinarian immediately

Create a free account with TheHorse.com to view this content.

TheHorse.com is home to thousands of free articles about horse health care. In order to access some of our exclusive free content, you must be signed into TheHorse.com.

Start your free account today!

Already have an account?
and continue reading.