Eating thistles

Last night I noticed one of our mares sort of nosing through our pasture and as I watched her I noticed she was looking for and only munching on thistles. She would take big mouth fulls and munch them down...carefully. Still sort of cringing at the thoughts of it but she really seemed intent on just the thistles. Is there something specfic that she is trying to get from them? I have noticed one of our ponies occassional eat thistles but this girl really had quite a feast.

do you remember the comments I stupidly made about thistles and nettles.......google thistles, it tells you whats in them.

I remember a bit about the difference between thistles and nettles. I have seen the horses take the occasional mouthful but this lady was really seeking them out....ouch!!!!!!

Thanks, JJ

Here is the link to natural sources of minerals and vitamins that horses will seek out...

https://maritimeequestrians.forumotion.com/bonding-with-your-horse-the-natural-horsemanship-way-f6/natural-resources-for-mineralsand-vitamins-t587.htm

I don't know anything about thistles, but I remember once that I had a chicken that couldn't walk. The german lady down the road gave it stinging nettles and it was walking by the end of the day. Perhaps the mare is eating them for medicinal purposes? Just a guess ..

We were talking to a neighbor, a farmer who knows all the old remedies and signs etc....and he was saying that this time of year, once the thistles start to dry, that they are easier for animals to eat and digest. They also have anti inflammatory agents and boost the liver in enzyme production so maybe it is just natural for animals to sample them. She was chowing down with everybody else tonight on a new roll of hay......no thistles in sight!!!

Tammy..interesting about the chicken...how did the lady get the chicken to eat the nettles??? Silly question, I know but I wouldn't think they would be very appealing..especially to a chicken.

She actually ground the nettles up with a pedestal and mortar (not sure of the spelling here) and then held the chick in one hand, the ground up stuff in the other and then he just pecked away. She was also a reflexologist so have him a "foot" massage. Then of course 4 months later I ate him!

Bet it was the tastiest chicken you've ever eaten..!!!!