Eating Manure

I've been seeing a few horses eating poop lately so I'm wondering whats going on. I know with other animals eating poop is a sign that they are missing something in their diet. Is this true for horses as well? If so, any idea what they might be missing?

90% of the time it means they're missing some sort of vitamin or mineral in their diet. You can put them on an all-around supplement, or you can get these little tray things. You put the trays in the stall or pasture, and you put a different vitamin or mineral in each one. The horse will eat whichever one he needs, and then you can only give them that one instead of spending money on other vitamins and minerals that he might not need. There are a few people in my barn that do this.

I know foals will eat manure to help build up the microflora (probiotics) in their hindgut. You may look into using a good probiotic for a while and see if he quits.

I have some good products and articles on Omega Horse Solutions you may look at to get an idea of what to look for. My two colts are on the dac 911 - the new one is on it because I am changing things around on him and I know it is causing some stress and my 2 yr old is on it due to the recent move from SC to Fl. I will leave them on it for 1 month and then switch to dac Digestive Aid (my 3 yr old filly is already on it.)

There is at least one digestive article in the articles link on the site.

None of the horses are mine. I'm new at this barn but I've noticed a couple of horses doing it. I didn't know if it was something I should mention to the BM or BO. They do give supplements, but I'm not sure how often or what kind since I haven't been there that long.

Yes, it's a sign that the horse is missing something in their diet. A lot of times they are missing copper.

Every time I have seen it, it has ended up being a bad case of worms. Suggest maybe they have a fecal float (charming name!) done to get an egg count. Parasite oveload can cause many mineral and vitamin deficiancies. A couple good wormings done fairly close together should fix it. Do this under vet supervision though, as I have seen one colic from mass dying of parasites.
GL!

Definately lacking something (good flora is my guess) in their diet. Probiotics are needed as I'm assuming their getting most other nutrients in their feed??

Another good supplement out there I swear by is Equerry's Choice. www.equerrys.com

I don't know much about nutrition so I don't know what they are getting in their feed. I do know what they are being feed, just not what they are getting from it. I know the are given other supplements at some point but I'm not sure what they are being given or how often since I've only been there a few days.

I would tell the owners, then. If someone saw my horses eating their manure, I would want them to tell me.

Ok thanks everyone! I will try and figure out which horses were eating it and let the owners know.