Hi Ronda,

Yes I know the horse of my friend who is "kissing" her even on command. It is so funny, but I don't know what the reason is.
Anybody out there who know's that?
Have a nice weekend, May.

Hi all!
From what i know it is because there is a mineral/s lacking in the horses diet. Ronda you had the vet to her a while back who said to give her salt for her urine? Is that correct?...sorry can't remember exactly! Does she still have the salt? If not she is probably looking for it on his skin. I knew when my old TB was lacking in something when he started to lick me. I don't know if it available where you are but seaweed meal is one of natures best multi mineral supplements. It has almost every mineral and trace element in it. It is weird but i have heard that blacks and chestnuts are realy succeptible to mineral imbalances! I don't think horses lick as an act of affection like dogs do. Hope this helps a bit :-) Have a lovely weekend!
May, I had a friend with a horse who would kiss on command! His name was Smooch! Is funny to see with their big tongues :-)
Janelle

Janelle,
Thank you so much, I really appreciate this information. It has been most helpful.
I had never thought to think this could be a mineral problem.
She has available to her at all times, and uses it, a mineral block.
As you say, however, she was on salt for a while and I have noticed she is drinking a great quanity of water, at this time.
I will call her vet to see if that may be the problem.
We have noticed she has always done this with my husband but not to the degree that she does so now.
I have been very ill for almost a month and my husband has been attending her in my absence.
She now follows him at all times, at present, whereas she never did so to the degree she does now.
I will look into this immediately.
Very interesting that you should pick-up on the blacks and chestnuts, Star is black and one of my daughters' horse, Charity, is a chestnut and has to be given extra minerals, amazing!
Do you know the science behind this or the reason? I am curious. Where might I find this information so I could pass this on to my daughter?
Again thank you,
Ronda

It may be just a sign of her companionship and devotion. Because you have been so very ill I think she has accepted your husband as a partner and companion. So sad to hear you have been so ill again too. My quarter horse tends to mussle and lick my arms and also my boots. He is so very gentle and I am constantly amused by it. He doesn't put his tongue out and lick like my cows and dogs do but you can feel his tongue while he is licking your arm etc. He hasn't got a mineral block so maybe I should get one though my vet has said it is not necessary in our area. I don't thing he will change his behaviour if he has one - he is my most devoted horse and my favourite too as he is Mr Personality Plus.

Hi Ronda,
The science of mineral usage is a very intricate one but i find it fascinating! I have a great book called 'Natural Horse Care' by a lady called Pat Coleby. It is all about minerals and vitamins and how the body uses them and what ailments are caused by mineral and vitamin deficiencies. It has a section on Sodium (salt) which is very interesting because it says a horse searching for salt is most likely lacking in potassium. Salt depresses potassium, so Star most likely has an imballance in this area if she has been fed salt in high quantities.Potassium can be added back to the diet using a small amount of Apple Cider Vinegar in the feed. The problem with mineral blocks is that there is usually not enough of it in there to be really useful to the horse and they are usually more salt than mineral! My Tb was a chestnut so i followed Pat Coleby's principles and had a very healthy horse until the day he died :-) I would definately ask your vet to check Star's mineral levels....it will be interesting to see what he says!
Hope this helps some!
Janelle

Ronda, really sorry to read that you've been ill. Hope you are feeling better very soon. Best wishes, Lizzie

Hi Ronda
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I just wanted to chime in to support Janelle about the Pat Coleby book. We feed our horses according to this diet, and they are all in good health and look great :-)
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I have used Pat Coleby's methods on many different breeds of horse and horses at different levels of health. Also with pregnant mares and our rescue horse - all with great results.
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Also, a friend of mine just gave me this website link:
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http://feedxl.com/
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This site allows you to enter in your horse's specific details in order to provide an analysis of the diet you are feeding them. Its pretty good. Pat Coleby's diet scored pretty well for my horses. The only thing I had to add according to my specific circumstances, was Vitamin E Powder. We are also a bit low in zinc, but within the acceptable limits. Unfortunately you do have to pay to use the site :-/ but I thought it was worth sharing :-)
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Kind regards,
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Gen

Hi Gen,
I might have to go look up that site...sounds good :-) I have only ever seen good results with the Pat Coleby method, although some vets really dislike it! Mine really doesn't agree with it even though my TB was 21 and looked 10! Have you found this with vets you have dealt with? Also do you still use conventional wormers??
P.s My brumby arrived last thursday!! He is lovely :-)
Janelle

nelliebell This sounds like an interesting book. I will have to look into it.

I do agree that much licking is not normal.

I have spent the last year trying to balance my horse out. Because I spent the money and time to Balance my mare out it gave us an extra summer and we were able to ride 2 months of that before she passed away.

Worms and Deficiency are a huge problem right now. It seems the information the vets give you are just the tip of the ice berg.

I also agree with Maggie. Star is getting comfort from your husband.

Having the issue of not being well enough to care for my horse for periods of time. I have gone through this shifting of affection. But my horse is always happy to see me and give me affection according to my health. Hope your husband is enjoying the extra attention Star is giving him.

On the other hand my horses follow me around when they need a little extra something in there diet or they have a cold. So this could point to your husband missing a little something that you do. Like maybe you give Star so many Horse Treats they supplement the diet and you didn't realize it.

Another possibility is the stress your horse has over you not being well is depleting his Selenium or something else.

Relax and enjoy the adventure of figuring out what causes Star to change. No Worries Star will Love You For It.

Hi everyone,
Thank you for your comments, I really appreciate this.
I have an autoimmune disease, which attacks my system now and then and leaves me very vunnerable to anything going around, so right now I have infection all through my body and am on the weak side.
My husband is a sweet man and very gentle, animals sence this and are very comfortable around him.
I don't feed Star extra treats, so I don't think that would mix her up and the salt I gave her was only as directed by her vet but I'm going to look into this.
I do think that perhaps she is lacking in something as well.
This seems to have co-insided with her winter diet, no green grass.
She has pretty good hay and her fat and fiber is especially for horses, plus her mineral block is also equine.
When my husband helped me go and see her she did not leave us.
It was so cute, she stood right there being as nosey as can be and as close as she could be when we were in her stall making sure it was as it should be.
I have also asked that she not be put directly into her stall with the doors closed before dark, I want her to be exposed to the dark a bit, Paul puts her in around 9 o'clock.
We have wild animals around that go in packs and as she is by herselve we put her in at night.
I have noticed she is calmer since I have started this, it was suggested this might help to build her confidence.
I will be calling her vet today to ask about the lack of minerals.
She is very comfortable around us and has stood behind me when she has been frightened by something so maybe she is just being friendly with Paul, I don't know.
I really appreciate all your help. I knew you guys would understand and be helpful.
Have a great day,
Ronda

Hi Janelle
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Yes, I have found this with some Vets. But the interesting thing is the Pat Coleby diet scored fairly well on that website, which was designed by Vets; but it was low in zinc and vitamin e when taken into consideration with the grasses we have here. My 17 year old gelding Ranger and mare Babe both could pass for 10 year olds too! All of my horses are shiny and look like I groom them every day, but I actually don't...
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I only use a conventional wormer on my horses when they look like they need it (which is not often). When I get a new horse, I use a conventional rotation of wormers with different active ingredients in conjunction with the Pat Coleby diet for 1 year and then worm as required. I have just started doing worm egg counts, but you have to make sure you take samples at different times of the day too to get an accurate result. I also plan to use a conventional rotational worming program for my foals until they are yearlings and then worm as required from then on.
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For those who are not familiar with the Pat Coleby diet, it takes roughly one year for the copper and other vitamins and minerals to build up in the horse's system to provide resistance to worms. After about a month on the diet, the sulphur will keep flies and biting insects away without having to use chemical sprays too.
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Congratulations on the arrival of your brumby :-) That's sooo exciting!! I hope you enjoy your journey with him. It will be a fantastic experience for you. Good on you :-)
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Hi Ronda
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I am sorry to hear that you are unwell at the moment. I hope you are feeling better soon. Good luck with STAR :-)
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Kind regards,
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Gen
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Ronda
I hope you are feeling better and are able to spend more time with your horse. I believe horses help you center yourself and become calmer. At least that is what happens with me. So glad your husband was able to connect with STAR. As far as licking, horses don't normally lick to show affection but rather they lick to groom or gather minerals and salts missing from their diet. I started giving my horse Himalayan salt lick. He had a large salt lick in his stall and very seldom used it. I decided to try the Himalayan salt lick so I purchased on that looked like a small brick and placed it in his feeder so when he is eating his supplement feed he also licks the salt lick. Himalayan salt is rock hard and does not break down from moisture and horses don't bite them. Since my horse us using the salt lick I decided that we would try it at home as well and I purchased a grinder with the Himalayan salt I really lick cooking with it since I am less apt to over salt stuff.
Also iif you suffer from sinus problems if you hold ground that is in a container, the air that you breath in will be a little salty and help heal the sinuses.

Cheers

Thank you Dennis,
I'm still a little weak but am progressing daily.
I don't feel anxious, I'm too tired for that, I think and I was able to go outside for a few minutes this morning to see Star.
She is so likeable and is going to make a great horse as she matures.
She definetly keeps us centered that's for sure.
I eat sea salt on everything, I have low blood pressure and it gives me energy, prescribed by one of my specialists.
Star really likes her mineral block and licks away at hers.
I use a salt spray for my nose and sinus cavities, it really does work, right.
Buggsy is doing very well and is so grown up now. Star really enjoys having him around. He's a big boy now. My daughter gave me a beautiful expensive cage for him, real fancy !!! He's living in style.
Paul is doing so well with Star, she lifts her feet for him beautifully and he is grooming her daily for me. ( And this from a man who grew up in the capital city !!!)
Have a great day,
Ronda

Nice to hear things are progressing Majestic. Love to hear about horses enjoying their People partners
There is some much Good Health Information in this conversation.
Gen your mention of minerals and worms explains some things for me, Thank You for Sharing. I will have to get Pat Coleby's book to investigate her theory.