A Preliminary Investigation into Forage Dunking Behavior in Horses in the UK

Forage dunking refers to a horse collecting forage with its mouth, dunking it in a nearby water source, and eating the dampened forage as it normally would. It is primarily thought to function as a method to rehydrate the forage or is observed when dental pathology is present, though limited research has been undertaken into this specific behavior. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of forage dunking behavior in horses in the UK and potential relationships between the behavior, horse activity, or management practices. An online survey consisting of 20 closed-answer questions was distributed via social media for 3 weeks. Questions focused on horse demographics and their daily management practices, and the presence of forage dunking behavior. Likert scale statements were aimed at gaining further insight into potential influencing factors. A chi-square test of association was used to analyze the collected data. Based on 414 valid responses, a prevalence of 42.7% (n = 161) was reported for forage dunking. This was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in dressage horses (54.8%) compared to other disciplines (36.4–51.0%). Horses housed in American barns were also more likely (P ≤ 0.001) to dunk their forage compared to horses housed in other stable designs. While 50.3% of owners reported that feeding dry forage increased forage dunking behavior compared with feeding soaked or steamed forage, soaking or steaming did not eliminate the behavior (P > 0.05). Of the 71 horses with reported health conditions, 46.5% (n = 33) were reported to dunk their forage, especially those with laryngeal hemiplegia (83.3%). Results from this study suggest that forage dunking may not only be used to rehydrate forage but may, in some way, be used to make the forage more acceptable or palatable to horses with respiratory disorders, particularly those with laryngeal hemiplegia. Forage dunking behavior was not eliminated by feeding soaked or steamed forage; thus, the reasons behind this activity need further investigation to determine if this behavior is beneficial or detrimental to equine health.