Quidding in Horses: Why Horses Drop Hay and Feed

Quidding is the term used when a horse partially chews hay, grass, or feed, forms it into a ball, and then drops it from the mouth. Pet parents often notice damp wads of hay in the stall, slower eating, or feed spilling from the lips. It is not a disease by itself. It is a sign that chewing is painful, inefficient, or mechanically difficult.

In horses, quidding most often points to a dental problem. Horses rely on healthy, evenly wearing teeth to grind forage well enough to swallow and digest it. When that process hurts or does not work correctly, a horse may avoid chewing on one side, stop and restart while eating, or drop feed altogether. Merck notes that quidding is a classic sign of equine dental disease, and uneven wear can create sharp points that injure the cheeks and tongue.

Quidding matters because it can lead to weight loss, poor body condition, choke, colic risk from poorly chewed feed, and reduced nutrient intake. Some horses also show behavior changes, resist the bit, or develop bad breath, drooling, or one-sided nasal discharge if infection is present. Even if your horse still seems bright, repeated quidding deserves a veterinary oral exam.

Dental disease is the leading cause of quidding in horses. Common problems include sharp enamel points, hooks, ramps, wave mouth, step mouth, loose teeth, fractured teeth, retained baby tooth caps, gum disease, and tooth root infection. Because horse teeth continue to erupt throughout life, uneven wear is common, especially in mature and geriatric horses. These changes can make chewing painful and less effective.

Mouth and soft tissue pain can also cause a horse to drop feed. Ulcers or cuts on the cheeks or tongue, foreign material lodged in the mouth, bit-related trauma, and painful oral inflammation may all interfere with normal chewing. Some horses show quidding along with drooling, head tossing, or reluctance to take the bit.

Less commonly, quidding is linked to problems beyond the teeth. Choke, neurologic disease that affects chewing or swallowing, severe sinus or tooth-root infection, and certain infectious oral conditions can all contribute. That is why quidding should be treated as a symptom rather than a diagnosis. Your vet will need to determine whether the issue is dental, oral, esophageal, neurologic, or a combination of factors.

Diagnosis starts with a history and physical exam. Your vet will ask when the quidding began, whether it affects hay, grain, or both, and whether your horse has had weight loss, bad breath, drooling, nasal discharge, choke episodes, or behavior changes under saddle. Body condition, hydration, facial symmetry, and manure quality can all offer clues.

A proper oral exam is usually the key step. Merck and AAEP sources note that a complete equine dental examination often requires sedation, a full-mouth speculum, and good lighting so the premolars and molars can be seen safely and thoroughly. This helps your vet identify sharp points, ulcers, loose or fractured teeth, retained caps, periodontal pockets, and signs of infection that are easy to miss on a quick look.

If your vet suspects deeper disease, additional testing may include dental radiographs, endoscopy, or other imaging. These tests can help evaluate tooth roots, sinus involvement, swallowing problems, or choke-related complications. The final diagnosis guides treatment, which may range from routine dental correction to extraction, infection management, diet changes, or referral for advanced care.

The best prevention is regular dental care. Merck and ASPCA guidance supports at least yearly dental checks for most horses, with some older horses needing more frequent exams. Routine exams help your vet catch sharp points, uneven wear, retained caps, and loose or infected teeth before they interfere with chewing.

Daily observation also matters. Watch how your horse eats hay and grain, and pay attention to slower chewing, feed dropping, bad breath, drooling, head tilting, or resistance to the bit. Early changes are often subtle. Catching them sooner can reduce the chance of weight loss, choke, and more involved dental procedures later.

Good feeding management can lower stress on the mouth. Offer appropriate forage, keep feed free of foreign material, and work with your vet if your horse is older, has missing teeth, or struggles with long-stem hay. Some horses do better with soaked pellets, chopped forage, or complete senior feeds. Prevention is not about one perfect plan. It is about matching dental care and diet to your horse’s age, mouth health, and comfort.