Why Do Horses Eat Dirt? (Find Out!)

If you spend any time looking at horses, you will notice them exhibit certain behaviors.

While most of them are regular behaviors and aren’t cause for concern, one behavior that you may find strange is your horse eating dirt.

If you’re like me then you didn’t know the reason for this and that’s why you’re here now!

But why exactly do horses eat dirt?

Well, I was curious about this and decided to do some research and am excited to share it with you today.

So, without wasting any more time, let’s answer the question “why do horses eat dirt?”

Horses eat dirt for many different reasons such as boredom, stomach ulcers, and lack of certain vitamins, minerals, and microbes, etc. While eating dirt is not harmful to horses and is a regular behavior it can lead to stomach/digestive problems in the future, however, if consumed frequently in large quantities.

You shouldn’t be alarmed if you notice your horses eating dirt, but you should keep an eye on them to make sure they aren’t consuming too much of it.

But do foals (young horses) also eat dirt, can eating dirt damage a horse’s teeth, and how do you stop your horse from eating dirt?

We are going to explore all of these questions and more in this article as we dive deeper into the topic of horses eating dirt.

Let’s get into it!

Why do horses eat dirt?

As mentioned above, horses eat dirt for many different reasons.

We will explore a few of these in this section.

Boredom

Probably the most common reason for your horse eating dirt is boredom.

If your horse spends the majority of its time cooped up in a stable or isn’t getting sufficient exercise or physical and mental stimulation, then it is very likely that it is bored and is simply looking for something to do.

In the wild, horses forage for food all day and are constantly stimulated in different ways.

Domesticated horses, however, have their food brought to them and live a relatively comfortable life.

If your horse is eating dirt, then you should analyse what a typical day looks like for your horse and try to include more activities/things to curb its boredom.

Stomach ulcers

Another common reason that horses eat dirt is due to stomach ulcers.

Ulcers are wounds that occur on the lining of the stomach and can develop in horses that are under a lot of stress or are in high-pressure environments or situations.

Stomach ulcers are usually accompanied by other symptoms such as weight loss, lack of energy, loss of appetite, irritability, and other various behavioural changes.

If you notice that your horse is eating dirt you should look out for these symptoms as eating dirt can be a good indicator of something else occurring.

Lack of nutrients, minerals, and microbes

While this is a lot less common in modern society due to the advancements in horse nutrition and high quality feeds available, it is still possible for this to occur.

Your horse may be eating dirt due to a lack of certain vitamins, minerals, or microbes that are currently missing from their diet.

It is important that a horse has the required number of vitamins and minerals within their diet.

If your horse is eating dirt, it may be worth taking a look at their current diet and identifying whether or not they are getting sufficient nutrients.

Not enough “chew time”

As mentioned before, horses in the wild graze throughout the day and this is referred to as “chew time”.

Domesticated horses, however, have set feeding times and eating patterns.

Chew time is important for your horse’s mental health and if they are not getting enough of it, they will resort to ‘grazing’ on whatever is around them to replicate the sensation- this is usually dirt.

Is eating dirt bad for your horse?

Eating dirt is normal behavior that most horses exhibit and is not a cause for worry as long as they are not consuming it in excess.

If horses consume too much dirt over a long period of time, this can have serious negative effects on their overall health and wellbeing.

It is important to be observant of your horse’s habits and work to cut out any detrimental behaviour as soon as possible.

Do foals eat dirt?

The answer to this question is yes, foals do eat dirt.

Just as with adult horses, it is common to see foals, young horses, eating dirt out of boredom and due to a lack of salt, minerals, or microbes.

There is no reason to be alarmed, however, as this is normal.

Simply monitor your foals to make sure they aren’t consuming excess amounts of dirt as this can lead to serious health problems later on in their life.

How to stop your horse from eating dirt?

Stopping your horse from eating dirt can be a relatively simple process as long as you understand the reasons for which your horse is eating dirt.

First you must determine if your horse is simply eating dirt because it is bored or if there is a more serious underlying problem such as stomach ulcers.

Once that has been identified you can then work to implement different solutions to the specific problem.

For boredom, find new and interesting ways to stimulate your horse such as through more exercise or the use of a toy.

By getting more exercise throughout the day such as extra riding or other forms of training, your horse will be les bored and thus less likely to eat dirt.

For stomach ulcers, if you notice other signs in addition to eating dirt, consult with your vet immediately to find the best course of action and/or the best medicine or remedy to take.

In the meantime, work to reduce the stress that your horse is under and create a clam environment for them.

For not enough “chew time” you can offer them hay throughout the day using a slow feeder.

This will give your horses the chance to graze throughout the day which will increase their chew time and improve their mental health.

It is important to keep a close eye on this however to ensure that your horse is not overeating or prioritising hay over their regular nutritious diet.

In conclusion, horses eat dirt for many reasons including stomach ulcers, lack of certain nutrients, and most commonly boredom.

Eating dirt is not harmful to horses but has the potential to be if consumed frequently in too large a quantity.

By identifying what the cause of your horse eating dirt is you can work to get them to stop this behaviour in a simple and quick fashion.