Return to Questions and Answers Index

Q&A    Questions and Answers:


QUESTION:

Why do my horses insist on eating the bark off of the trees in their pastures instead of the rye grass that I planted? Is this normal or do they have a vitamin defiency?

- P. G.

ANSWER:

Quick answer: because they like the way it tastes. (Remember, even humans like the boiled-down sap that runs inside the bark of certain trees -- we call it maple syrup!)

For the longer answer, take a look at my previous Q & A's about cribbing -- which has some similarities to bark-eating. You'll find those discussions in Q & A #28 and Q & A #40

Happy Riding!

Previous Question  |  Next Question

Return arrow Return to Questions and Answers Index

Return arrow Return to the "Learning More About Horses..." page

   COPYRIGHT © 2000 BOB LEMEN, GRAND RAPIDS, MINNESOTA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  The contents of this document are not for reproduction.