Eating Straw ?

[Rick]

Hi, me again, Does anyone have problems with thier horses eating the straw ? If so, do they get sick?, a belly ache ?

The other day I had to put my horse in another stall which had straw down for the bedding.I use saw dust and wood shavings for bedding in Sherman's stall. When he went in he started gorging himself on the straw and then he was feeling very ouchy ! that afternoon into the next day.

Sherman is usually very easy going. But He was even pinning his ears all the wasy back when someone tried to talk to him or pet him. This is not like him. Don't get me wrong, he has his bad days, but not like this.

I really think that he got a belly ache from the straw.

Keep in mind he LOVES !!! to eat. :D

He could have just got done eating and if you walk in, he will act like he's hungy to you, at least till he see's that you won't feed him, then he will settle down.

Any feed back is very welcome. Thanks

[Medalia]

Some horses just eat straw. My old horse did that as well, and there wasn't really a reason for it.

I think that horses eat because they get bored and that's a natural thing to do, so he probably was bored, and ate his bedding.

You can try to put one of those cage things on them, like some stallions have so they can't bite, but they can drink.

It might help out a little. :)

[summer]

Watch out for straw eaters! Some horses nibble a bit if they are in for a long time, just out of boredom, but some actually enjoy it. A horse died at a yard I worked in recently (the poor horse was very hungry and shouldn't have been put on a straw bed anyway), from a very severe case of colic. Confirmed straw eaters really should stay on shavings. If you want to use straw, make sure your horse has plenty of hay, some toys to play with (hang a big turnip in the box; it tastes better than straw and if its hanging it will take him a long time to eat it), or you could spray the straw with something that tastes bad (we sprinkle Jeyes fluid on a bed of one of our ponies, although lemon juice seems to work just as well). Watch that your straw eater isn't suffering from boredom, or he may start other habits like cribbing or even eating his own droppings if he's on a shavings bed.

[Vicki]

My old pony is very greedy and has to be kept on shavings. She even ate straw that I had sprayed a jeyes fluid solution onto. She obviously got quite a taste for it!

To be on safe side I would keep him on shavings.

Regards
Vicki

[intouch]

Are you saying that these horses eat straw in preference to hay, or are they eating their hay and topping up on straw? I've never found a problem with my horses nibbling a bit of their bedding in the morning if they have finished their hay. Isnt straw what a lot of the expensive long fibre feed products are made of? Everything in moderation!

[Rick]

This is the 1st time that he has been bedded with straw since I've had him. No he does not eat straw instead of hay. He started qorging himself when we 1st put him in but since then he just nibbles. When he get done eating his hay he keeps nibbling while also eating the straw.

Out of all the reply's no one (except Summer) told me if this is not good for them. Will they get a case of colic?Can horses digest it ok ? He sure acted ouchy the day after. Sherman was also passing ALOT of gas
the afternoon of his 1st taste of the straw.

I am not sure why he is eating the straw, he gets plenty of hay. He looks like he has a pot belly already from the winter.

[bren]

It may depend on what kind of straw it is. I just read somewhere that wheat straw is tastier to horses than oat straw. Marty is eating our straw as well and I'm sure its wheat straw since our neighbour grows wheat every year. I think I will try something different next year as he can clear the shelter in a couple of days! But really it shouldnt hurt him, a lot of people feed hay free choice from one of those huge rolls left out in the pasture. I hope that straw isnt used in the processed food since its very expensive!

[Vicki]

Yes horses/ponies can get colic from gorging on straw. If they just nibble a little bit then fine, but my pony will finish her huge haynet in an evening and then party on the straw for the rest of the night and take the opportunity to nap during the day in the field!!

Straw is used in some chaffs but it is usually very finely chopped.

There are no hard and fast rules about colic caused by straw - some horses/ponies digestion can cope with it, some can't. I will not take the risk again.

Vicki

[Rick]

Thanks again for all the reply's. :D

I am putting Sherman back in another stall and will bed with saw dust. We usually use the saw dust but had to use straw when we ran out. I will watch him and like Vicki, I too will not take the risk.

Thanks again.