What is quidding and what can we do about it?

17 November 2025

Quidding is a term used to describe when a horse drops 'balls' of partially masticated (chewed) long stem forage, although they can also quid chops / chaffs and even feed.

Quidding should not be considered 'normal' and it can indicate that your horse is uncomfortable at best. If your horse is quidding the first port of call should be an examination by a vet or Equine Dental Technician.

A number of issues can cause quidding, but dental problems are the ones we hear of most frequently on the Simple System Feed Line.

Older horses will quid hay when they can no longer chew efficiently. By the time the horse is in their early 20's, the rate of wear on the crown (grinding surface), is likely to be more than the rate of eruption. The teeth are quite literally wearing out. If left, these horses will not be able to consume enough long-fibre forage to maintain a healthy body condition. A dietary change will be required to replace the forage they can no longer manage.

But what if the older horse has 'good' teeth and they are quidding? This is a something we frequently come across. A reason older horses who have regular dental checks and have seemingly good teeth for their age quid and / or lose condition, is due to what's occurring beneath the gums. As horses age, the roots of the teeth become shallower in the jaw - a result of continued eruptions of the teeth throughout their lifetime. When the roots are shallow, the teeth themselves become less stable which can make chewing uncomfortable. Overall forage intake may decline as they opt to chew less, or hey may not be able to fully digest this partially chewed forage. Such horses will need a replacement for hay in the form of a soaked mash, such as Simple System's HayCare.

Whilst we most commonly see quidding in older horses, it can occur in horses of any age. Youngstock may be undergoing dental changes, some horses may have diastema (gaps between the teeth), others could have missing, damaged or loose teeth, and they could have sharp edges or uneven wear on the grinding surface. All of which are examples (there are many more), as to why a thorough examination from a suitably qualified professional is essential to get to the root cause of the problem.

The next step for many horses is to either partially or fully replace the hay ration with an easier to manage soaked alternative. HayCare is ideal as it is nutritionally likened to good quality, high fibre hay. It is simple to feed and can be fed in the same dry weight quantities as hay - so if your horse requires ad-lib hay, HayCare too can be fed ad-lib.

Unmolassed beet pulp (PuraBeet), is another useful feed which can be used as a partial hay replacer. It is low calorie and high in fibre, but it lacks protein, vitamins and minerals. When feeding beet pulp, use twice as much forage pellets to create your hay replacer. Lucie Fibre Cubes and Blue Bag Grass Pellets are suitable choices to feed alongside.

If you'd like to discuss your horse's diet, the Feed Line will be happy to help. Contact 01728 604 008 or email any queries to info@simplesystem.co.uk. Alternatively, complete the advice request form for a free, comprehensive Feed Plan.