Well if your foal is eating its mom's fresh manure, that is normal. It's called coprohagia and it gets the foal's digestive system in working order. If it’s your adult horse, read further down.

 

Mom’s manure provides "starter" bacteria your foal needs for the system of fermentation and digestion that allows his intestinal tract to handle solid food. In addition, the environmental bacteria in its mom’s manure stimulate the foal's immune system, reducing the chances he'll get sick as he gets older. If it's fresh manure, there is less of a chance the foal will be infected by his mom’s parasites, as the eggs need to pass through to maturation in the manure before they become infective. In any event, be sure your foal is wormed properly as well. This type of behavior usually ceases by the time the foal is five months old.

 

If you see this type of behavior in adult horses, it may be a habit, and a very hard one to break. If it’s a habit, then usually it has to do with inappropriate feeding, boredom and/or a lack of exercise.

 

Studies have been done that show if a horse is not getting enough roughage he may eat his own manure just for something to do. The same studies say it's extremely important and necessary for a horse to use his lips, picking through grasses and other kinds of forage. If there's not enough forage, he'll start using his lips, picking through and eating manure. There are other reasons for horses eating manure too.

 

If a horse has been ill, and antibiotics have been used, these drugs may have killed off the good bacteria, present in the gut of all horses. These good bacteria help prevent invasion of harmful bacteria or fungi. Eating manure may help the horse replenish the good bacteria. If your horse eating manure disgusts you, then try feeding probiotics. They're a source of live naturally occurring microorganisms that can help your horse.

 

Horses are grazers, and if you have them in a pen or stall all day with nothing to eat, in between morning and evening feedings, you're asking for trouble. Make sure they have something to do and aren't standing all day doing nothing. A horse is a highly social animal and needs the company and companionship of other horses to stay healthy.

 

Always make sure your horse has enough forage to keep him happy, healthy and grazing.