Why Is My Horse Eating Dirt? Licking and Soil Eating

By Dr. Zubair Khalid, DVM, MS, PhD ·

Why Is My Horse Eating Dirt? Licking and Soil Eating

Why is my horse eating dirt? In most cases, a horse eats dirt because something is missing from the diet, the gut is uncomfortable, or the horse is bored and understimulated. Soil eating, also called geophagia, has been observed in both wild and domesticated horses and is generally regarded as a sign of nutritional deficiency or boredom [1]. Sometimes it is harmless, and sometimes it points to a problem that needs a veterinarian.

This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment.

Quick Answer

  • Soil eating is common and often linked to gaps in forage, mineral imbalance, or stalled turnout.
  • Horses on limited hay or high-concentrate diets are at higher risk for oral stereotypies like licking and chewing at surfaces [2].
  • Sand and dirt ingestion can build up in the gut and cause serious disease, especially in sandy or arid regions [3].
  • Get a hay analysis and a soil test before you add supplements, so you correct the real gap.
  • Call your veterinarian if your horse also shows colic signs, weight loss, diarrhea, or eats dirt constantly.

Why Does My Horse Eat Dirt?

Normal Foraging Behavior

Horses are designed to eat almost constantly. Their natural feeding pattern involves searching, selecting, chewing, and moving, a behavior called foraging [4]. When that pattern is disrupted by stall confinement or short feeding periods, horses look for something to do with their mouths. Dirt, fence posts, and stall walls become targets.

Some soil sampling is normal. A horse may mouth a patch of dirt out of curiosity, especially on new pasture. The behavior becomes a concern when it is frequent, intense, or paired with other problems.

Boredom and Lack of Turnout

Horses kept in stalls with little forage develop oral and locomotor stereotypies. In one study of stabled horses, about one third showed at least one stereotyped behavior, and the most common was crib-biting [2]. The authors linked these behaviors to restricted movement and diets high in concentrates with very little forage [2]. If your horse eats dirt, licks the ground, or chews wood, look hard at how much time it spends eating forage and moving around.

Forage Gaps and Hunger

A horse on pasture may still not get enough digestible energy and nutrients. Researchers measured feed intake and digestibility in horses grazing 24 hours a day and found that traveling activity affects how fast forage moves through the gut and how well it is digested [4]. In plain terms, a horse that walks a lot on poor pasture may burn more than it takes in. Hunger and nutrient gaps can drive soil eating.

Mineral Imbalance

Soil eating is often blamed on mineral deficiency, and there is some evidence for that. In a study of 13 geophagic sites in Australia, soil from the spots horses chose to eat had significantly higher concentrations of iron and copper than paired control samples [1]. That finding suggests horses may be drawn to specific minerals in the soil. It does not prove your horse is deficient, and it does not mean you should dump a mineral supplement into the feed. It means testing is worth doing.

Ulcers and Gut Discomfort

Gastric ulcers are a common reason horses lick dirt, chew wood, or eat bedding. Discomfort in the stomach or hindgut can drive oral behavior. Diet also changes how the gut moves. In one study, horses fed a complete pelleted diet had more contractions at one part of the large colon than horses fed hay with a small amount of pellets [5]. Gut motility and diet are connected, and a horse with an unhappy gut may try to soothe it by eating dirt.

If you also own dogs, some of the same questions come up with grass and soil eating. You can read more about that behavior in Why Does My Dog Eat Grass? and Why Is My Dog Licking Everything?.

Medical Causes to Rule Out

Sand Accumulation and Sand Enteropathy

Sand enteropathy describes gut disease caused by sand building up in the digestive tract. It is an increasingly recognized cause of gastrointestinal disease in arid areas, and signs range from colic and fever to poor performance and loss of appetite [3]. Diagnosis based on signs alone is nearly impossible, and radiographic imaging is considered the gold standard [3]. If you live in a sandy region and your horse eats dirt, this is the first thing your veterinarian will want to check.

Gastric Ulcers

Ulcers are common in performance horses, horses on limited forage, and horses under stress. Signs include poor appetite, girthiness, teeth grinding, and licking or chewing at surfaces. A veterinarian can confirm ulcers with gastroscopy.

Dental Pain

Sharp points, loose teeth, and worn molars make chewing painful. A horse that cannot chew hay well may drop feed, lose weight, and start mouthing dirt. Schedule a dental exam at least once a year, more often for older horses.

Parasites

Heavy parasite loads can cause poor condition, diarrhea, and pica-like behavior. Work with your veterinarian on a fecal egg count and a deworming plan based on your region and your horse's risk.

Metabolic and Nutritional Disease

Equine metabolic syndrome, Cushing's disease (PPID), and chronic kidney or liver problems can all change appetite and behavior. Bloodwork helps sort this out.

When Does Dirt Eating Become a Problem?

Occasional mouthing of soil is usually not an emergency. It becomes a problem when any of these apply:

  • The behavior is constant or getting worse.
  • Your horse is losing weight or has a dull coat.
  • You see colic signs, diarrhea, or a drop in performance.
  • The horse is eating large amounts of sand or dirt.
  • Other stereotypies appear, such as crib-biting, weaving, or wood chewing [2].
  • The behavior starts suddenly in an adult horse with no history of it.

Sand and dirt do not pass easily. They settle in the gut and can cause impaction, inflammation, and colic [3]. Treating sand accumulation often involves evacuating sand from the abdomen, which may include psyllium given with a laxative through a nasogastric tube, along with options such as mineral oil or sodium and magnesium sulphate [3]. That is a job for a veterinarian, not a home remedy.

What to Do Step by Step

1. Get a Veterinary Exam First

Book a physical exam, dental check, and fecal egg count. Ask about sand testing, especially if you live in a sandy area. Radiography is the gold standard for finding sand [3]. Your veterinarian may also recommend bloodwork and gastroscopy.

2. Test Your Forage

Send a hay sample for nutrient analysis. This tells you the protein, energy, and mineral content of what your horse actually eats. Without it, you are guessing. If your horse is on pasture, ask your extension office about pasture testing and soil testing.

3. Fix the Forage Base

Most horses need long-stem forage available for most of the day. Slow-feed hay nets, multiple small hay feedings, and more turnout time all help. A horse with a full, busy gut is less likely to eat dirt. Diet composition affects gut motility, so the type and amount of forage matter [5].

4. Balance Minerals Based on Test Results

If the hay analysis shows a gap, choose a ration balancer or mineral supplement that matches it. Do not add iron or copper blindly. The Australian soil study found higher iron and copper at geophagic sites, but that does not mean every dirt-eating horse needs more of those minerals [1]. Your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist can build a ration that fits your hay and your horse.

5. Increase Turnout and Movement

Horses that move and graze all day have less time and reason to eat dirt. Turnout with a buddy, pasture time, and free-choice forage address both the physical and behavioral sides of the problem. Stalled horses with little forage are the ones most likely to develop oral stereotypies [2].

6. Add Enrichment

If turnout is limited, add slow feeders, hay balls, and multiple feeding stations. Spread small amounts of hay around the stall or paddock. Provide safe items to chew, such as a plain salt block or a commercial lick, and rotate them so they stay interesting.

7. Manage Sand Exposure

If your horse is on sandy ground, do not feed hay directly on the sand. Use mats, feeders, or tubs. Keep water clean and free of sand. Ask your veterinarian about a sand removal protocol for your situation.

8. Track the Behavior

Keep a simple log. Note when your horse eats dirt, how long it lasts, what it ate that day, and whether turnout was normal. This record helps your veterinarian spot patterns.

What Not to Do

Do Not Punish the Behavior

Punishment does not fix a nutritional gap or gut pain. It can increase stress, which makes stereotypies worse. Focus on the cause.

Do Not Assume It Is Just a Bad Habit

Dirt eating can be a sign of sand accumulation, ulcers, or a real deficiency [1][3]. Dismissing it as a quirk can delay treatment.

Do Not Add Random Supplements

More minerals are not always better. Excess iron and other minerals can cause their own problems. Test first, then supplement.

Do Not Rely on Home Sand Remedies

Sand removal often requires psyllium combined with a laxative given by nasogastric tube, and sometimes mineral oil or sodium and magnesium sulphate [3]. Your veterinarian will choose the right approach and dose for your horse's weight and condition.

Do Not Ignore Other Stereotypies

Crib-biting, weaving, and wood chewing often travel with dirt eating. They point to the same underlying management problems, mainly restricted movement and low forage [2].

When to Call a Veterinarian or Behavior Professional

Call your veterinarian the same day if your horse shows colic signs, stops eating, has a fever, or passes little or no manure. These can signal sand impaction or another serious gut problem [3].

Call for a routine visit if the dirt eating is new, ongoing, or paired with weight loss, poor coat, or a drop in performance. A full workup can rule out ulcers, dental disease, parasites, and metabolic issues.

Ask for a referral to a veterinary behaviorist or an equine nutritionist if the behavior continues after you fix forage, turnout, and mineral balance. Some horses need a structured behavior plan along with diet changes.

Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian

This article covers common causes and general steps, but every horse is different. Only your veterinarian can examine your horse, run the right tests, and set a treatment plan. Red flags that need same-day or emergency care include colic signs, fever, no manure, severe lethargy, and sudden refusal to eat. Routine visits are appropriate for new or worsening dirt eating, weight loss, or behavior changes. If you are unsure, call your veterinarian and describe what you see.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I be worried if my horse eats dirt?

Not always, but it deserves attention. Occasional mouthing is common, while constant dirt eating can point to a forage gap, ulcers, mineral imbalance, or sand accumulation. A veterinary exam and a hay analysis are the fastest way to find out which one applies to your horse.

Can dirt eating cause colic in horses?

Yes. Sand and dirt can collect in the gut and cause sand enteropathy, which is a recognized cause of gastrointestinal disease in arid regions. Signs can include colic, fever, poor appetite, and poor performance, and diagnosis often requires imaging. Keep hay off the ground and talk to your veterinarian about sand screening if you live on sandy soil.

Does my horse need a mineral supplement if it eats dirt?

Only if testing shows a real gap. Soil at geophagic sites has been found to contain higher iron and copper than nearby control soil, which suggests horses may seek out certain minerals. That does not mean every dirt-eating horse is deficient, so test your hay and let your veterinarian or nutritionist build the right ration.

Will more turnout stop my horse from eating dirt?

It often helps a lot. Horses kept in stalls with little forage are more likely to develop oral stereotypies, and diets high in concentrates with low forage increase the risk. More turnout, more chewing time, and free-choice forage address both the boredom and the gut side of the problem.

How do I stop my horse from eating sand?

Start by keeping hay and feed off the ground and using mats or feeders. Then ask your veterinarian about a sand removal plan, which may involve psyllium with a laxative given by tube. Do not try to flush sand out on your own, because the wrong approach can make things worse.

Related Articles

References

  1. Geophagia in horses: a short note on 13 cases. Applied animal behaviour science, 2001.
  2. Colombian Creole Horse: Frequency of oral and motor stereotypies. Veterinary world, 2022.
  3. Sand Enteropathy-What We Know So Far and Why There Is Still So Much to Learn. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 2026.
  4. Feed intake, digestibility and passage kinetics in grazing horses. Scientific reports, 2026.
  5. Diet composition influences equine large intestinal motility as measured by transcutaneous ultrasound. American journal of veterinary research, 2026.

Further Reading