Horses may seem big and strong but these animals require more care than they look like they do. To this end, you must take extra precautions in what you feed them. Horses are herbivorous animals and they get the bulk of their nutrients from the grasses and hays they eat. But the thing is, these animals can eat a lot of other things than just leaves. 

If you, as a horse owner, are worried about the food chart of these equines, then you can relax. In this article, you will know the endless supply of nutrients that horses can obtain from consuming certain foods and the risks associated with the over-consumption of such foods as well.

So read through to learn and understand some healthy feeds for your horse and become a better horse owner or an aspiring one too!

Clover

Horses eat clovers as they graze on pastures. Clovers are great sources of protein and fiber. They are leguminous and come with a lot of medicinal benefits. So, you can consider adding this to your horse’s feeding schedule. 

There are various types of clovers but horses eat three specific ones:

• Red clovers.
• White clovers.
• Alsike clovers.

Each of these types has abundant medicinal and nutritional properties in considerable proportions.

Nutritional Benefits Of Clovers

Clovers are rich in carbohydrates, protein, Vitamin C, fats, iron, and fiber. They are excellent blood cleansers and are perfect for healing skin disorders. Additionally, this plant releases nitrogen into horses when ingested and into the soil for quality grazing. 

Due to their medicinal properties, clovers serve as excellent tonics for ill or unmotivated horses. When horses consume red clovers, in-built toxins get expelled. 

With all these put into consideration, we can say with all confidence that clovers are a must-eat for horses.

Health Implications of Clover Consumption in Horses

Clovers can be toxic to horses if they are contaminated with mold or fungi. This could result in a couple of health issues such as:

• Photosensitivity
• Liver damage
• Bleeding

You can avoid this by keeping your horses under strict supervision when they graze, so they don’t feed on infected clovers.

Hay

Typically, hay is a prized feed for horses. It is rich in protein, minerals, and vitamins, and comes in three different types:

• Grass hay.
• Legume hay.
• Mixed hay.

These subdivisions all have a considerable amount of calcium, phosphorus, protein, copper, ADB, and zinc. So, your horses will still be getting the needed nutrients regardless of what hay you purchase and feed them with.

What Horse Breed Needs Hay?

In general, all horse breeds value hay. Due to its vast nutritional properties, equines like ponies, weanlings, yearlings, as well as adult horses need hay. All horses get most of their body’s calories and nutrients from hay.

Additionally, hay produces energy which helps horses keep warm during winter and builds their muscles and stamina in summer. Therefore, this feed is fit for all seasons and horse breeds.

How Much Hay is Required to Feed a Horse?

According to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, horses consume between 2 – 2.5% of their body weight in dry matter daily. In this case, dry matter consists of 90% hay. So, to know the right proportion, you have to calculate the average quantity of hay needed based on their sizes. Here’s a formula you can work with:

[2% or 2.5% × total horse weight (lbs)] / 90%

On average, mature horses need to eat 18-24 lbs worth of hay daily. Once you use this formula rightly, you will feed your horse with decent amounts of hay.

As a prenote, however, the feeding proportion can be altered when the hay loses value. After it is cut and laid out to dry in the field or kept in storage, hay starts losing its nutrients. Though protein and minerals may be relatively present in it, it will be lacking in vitamins. So beware of how long the hay has lasted before feeding your horses a set proportion.

Alfalfa

Naturally, this medicinal plant is rich in vitamins and minerals. Humans and animals alike feed on alfalfa for basic nutrients like protein and calcium. That said, horses can derive a lot of nutrients from this leguminous plant. This is why you should consider adding it to your horse’s diet.

In her article, Annemarie Dutton mentioned that the low amount of starchy carbohydrates in alfalfa makes it a perfect feed for horses with special health problems. Such horses include those struggling to maintain a healthy weight (that is, horses with low and stagnant weight) and those with muscular problems. In addition, horses with clinical disorders like Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) will gain a lot of health benefits from consuming Alfalfa.

What Kind of Horses Need Alfalfa?

Generally, alfalfa is a body-building feed. Therefore, it is most suitable for young equine breeds like racehorses, foals, broodmares, and growing offspring that barely take sufficient milk.

In addition to that, mature and lactating horses also need an alfalfa diet. These horses have a high nutritional need which can be met when alfalfa is added to their meal.

What are the Implications Of Over-Consuming Alfalfa?

Too much intake of alfalfa can pose a health risk to horses. Some of the problems your horse may develop along the way are:

• Overweight.
• Diarrhea.
• Orthopedic diseases.
• Gastric indigestion.
• Putrefaction in the hindgut.

With these in mind, you should be careful with the amount of protein you feed your horses. You can avoid these complications by limiting the alfalfa intake to half of your horse’s regular roughage. That way, you prevent excess energy from building up and turning into decaying fat in your horse.

Grass

Wild horses are known to thrive on a grass diet. In like manner, domestic horses do the same. They need more fiber and less sugar or starch and grasses provide that sufficiently. 

Taking the article written by Annemarie into account, horses feed on two diverse classifications of grasses. These categories include cool season grasses and warm season grasses. 

Cool-season Grasses

These grasses grow actively in spring and fall with a mowing height of 3-4 inches.

• Timothy Grass
• Orchard Grass
• Tall Fescue
• Kentucky Bluegrass
• Perennial Ryegrass

They can adapt to changing weather conditions but grow tremendously well when the temperature is between 60 to 75° F.

Warm Season Grasses

Warm-season grasses can be found in tropical regions during summer. They include: 

• Bermuda grass
• Bahia grass
• Crabgrass

These grasses thrive in scorching weather in tropical regions and grow actively in a temperature ranging from 75-90° F. But they turn brown during winter and won’t green up again until spring returns.

Regardless of the weather or season, your horse will always have grass to feed on.

Are Grass Clippings Safe For Horses?

Freshly cut grass is not advisable for horse consumption because horses tend to gobble down these clippings without chewing. Here are a couple of health issues that may arise from the consumption of grass clippings:

• Colic
• Laminitis
• Choking

Do away with grass clippings if you can. Instead, feed your horses hay. It will reap favorable results.

Fruits

Aside from the usual grass and plant feeds, you can treat your horses to some juicy, nutritious fruit choices. Treats are excellent training tools for horses. In that respect, fruits can serve as reward snacks after a hard, long day racing on the fields or treats for horse grooming. 

Horses can eat as many fruits as are available. However, due to metabolic concerns, most owners shy away from giving their horses fruits. In such cases, the simple solution would be to remove seeds, pips, or stones that may cause choking.

If you are thinking of adding fruits to your horse’s feeding schedule, then here are some good ones you can use.

Cucumber

Cucumbers are suitable fruit choices for equines, especially for medicinal purposes. Horses with weight-gain issues and insulin problems can be fed cucumber due to its low level of calories and sugar composition. Cucumbers are great because they are a good source of the following nutrients;

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin K
• Potassium
• Water
• Antioxidant
• Fiber

Feed your horse this fruit two to three times every week because it can help keep them hydrated while boosting their immune system.

Carrots

Carrots are great suppliers of Vitamin C for humans but do they provide similar nutrients to horses? Yes, they do. Carrots are rich in many minerals like:

• Potassium
• Fiber
• Vitamin C
• Protein
• Carbohydrate
• Vitamin A

Every part of the carrots is edible to horses including the leaves. Not only do carrots supply a considerable amount of water in horses for hydration, but they also help with muscle building and strengthen eyesight.

Since this fruit is beneficial, too much intake of it could lead to adverse effects such as:

• Dental issues
• Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP)
• Colic

On this note, horses suffering from dental aches or diseases and insulin problems should not be fed carrots as this may prolong or worsen the issue. 

Feeding your horse more than two big carrots a day can be considered over-consumption. Therefore, minimize your horse’s carrot intake to one or two medium-sized daily or three big sizes weekly.

Strawberry

Strawberries are excellent treats for horses during summertime. They are made of water and many nutrients which help with hydration and a host of other benefits. If you’re doubtful about this fruit because of its seeds, then you will probably have a rethink after learning about its abundant nutrients. Here is a list of them:

• Calcium
• Water
• Fiber
• Sugar
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Potassium
• Vitamin B9
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K

Strawberries are rich and tasty fruits and the seeds are soft and edible, which makes them safe for horses. But horses are not meant to eat too many strawberries because the sugar content can be harmful to their teeth.

In addition, a high intake of strawberries can cause colic and abdominal pain, as well as bloating and digestive issues. To avoid such problems, Annemarie advises that you feed your horses 5 to 10 strawberries per week or go for other berry options like raspberries, blackberries, cherries, blueberries, or red grapes. Each of them has similar health benefits to horses, so they are excellent choices.

Sweet Treats

Other than fruits and vegetables, horses love extra treats. Believe it or not, these animals have a sweet tooth. 

You can give your horse minute amounts of sugar cubes, sunflower seeds, oatmeal, and even pretzels. But don’t feed them cheese, yogurt, or anything that has milk properties. Mature horses are lactose intolerant and can get severe health-related problems from consuming dairy products.

With that said, you can balance your horse’s diet with a few sweets from time to time. But don’t make it a habit so they don’t develop health problems.

Do Horses Eat Meat?

For starters, can horses eat meat? The simple answer is yes. Horses can eat meat. Well, do they eat meat? No, not necessarily. For obvious reasons, horses are herbivores. Their teeth and digestive system are built primarily to accommodate a fiber diet. Anything other than grass, hay, or fruits can be detrimental to their digestive organs.

While horses do eat processed or cooked meat in certain conditions, it is not ideal. In some cases, they can be fed cooked fish. This can be permitted only if your horse is lacking basic minerals and protein. 

Annemarie referred to Tiberian horses that are fed blood and grain as supplements. So, horses can be fed meat when prescribed by the vet or so in dire situations.

Final Thoughts

As a rule of thumb, horses are not supposed to eat an excess of their regular roughage or less of it. Overfeeding and underfeeding have adverse effects on these animals. Similarly, feeding them the wrong thing can cause health implications in the long run and worse-case scenarios can completely ruin your horse’s digestive system.

Therefore, you have to understand the various types of food suitable for horses, their nutritional properties, and the effects of overconsumption. Based on the facts provided in this article, grasses like clover, hay, and alfalfa, as well as fruits such as strawberries, carrots, and cucumber are necessary additions to your horse’s feeding schedule. 

Conversely, meat and non-fiber products are not ideal feeds and should be served in barely perceivable amounts or in dire situations. Use this knowledge hub wisely and see how well you will groom your horses!

Check our guides on these specific foods for Horses:

• Can Horses Eat Clover?
• How Much Hay Does A Horse Eat?
• How Much Alfalfa To Feed A Horse
• Do Horses Eat Grass?
• Can Horses Eat Sweet Potatoes?
• How Much Water Does A Horse Drink A Day?
• Can Horses Eat Cheese?
• How Much Do Horses Eat?
• Can Horses Eat Grapes?
• Can Horses Eat Watermelon Rind?
• Do Horses Eat Meat?
• Can Horses Eat Corn?
• What Fruits Can Horses Eat?
• Cool Stance Horse Feed Review
• Horse Feeding Chart
• Renew Gold Horse Feed Review
• How Much Grain To Feed A Horse Per Day
• Can Horses Eat Pears?
• Best Weight Gain Feed For Horses
• Can Horses Eat Cucumbers?
• What Do Wild Horses Eat?
• Can Horses Eat Strawberries?
• Can Horses Eat Carrots?
• Can Horses Eat Banana Peel?
• Sentinel Horse Feed Review

Sentinel horse feed is an extruded feed that is designed to meet the overall health needs of horses. It is produced as low fat and low sugar feed for horses. 

Sentinel horse feed comes in different varieties. These include Active Senior, Senior, Safe Start, Grow and Excel, LifeTime, and Performance LS. 

They all share similar benefits, which are:

• Excellent digestive system.
• Lower sugars and starch.
• Balanced pH level in the gastric region.
• Added fibers.
• Support to the immune system and joints.
• Balanced nutrition.

Sentinel Simply Lite

Sentinel Simply Lite is an extruded feed for adult horses that need to reduce their feeding rate.

Description

This horse feed comes in a dark green-coloured sac of about 50lbs. It is of low fat and balanced nutrition. It is excellent for the healthy growth of horses like miniature horses, easy keepers, and ponies that do not need extra calories. It is also a go-to option for horse owners whose pets suffer from digestive and metabolic health issues.

Benefits of Sentinel Simply Lite

This extruded horse feed is packed full of benefits which include the following:

• It contains nutrivantage, marine-sourced calcium, probiotics, and probiotics, which improve your horse’s digestive health.
• It keeps the gastric pH level of your pet at an optimal level with the marine-sourced calcium it contains.
• Your horse would be able to absorb, assimilate and digest nutrients easily as a result of microbial fermentation through the presence of probiotics and probiotics.
• It contains low starch and sugars.
• Your horse chews more when on this type of extruded feed. This is because this feed is airy, thus resulting in a slower time of consumption.
• It contains fibers from beet pulp and soybean sources.
• It contains a good amount of Omega-3 fatty acids and amino acids such as methionine, threonine, and lysine for tissue growth and development.

Sentinel Active Senior

This extruded horse feed is formulated for active senior horses that need extra calories.

Description

This horse feed comes in a red-colored sac of about 50 lbs. It is high in fat, additional nutrients, and fibers. It is an excellent choice for horses requiring a low protein diet, active seniors, and horses with specific metabolic and digestive issues.

Benefit

The following are the benefits of Sentinel active senior horses feed.

• It contains probiotics, prebiotics, nutrivantage, and marine-sourced calcium. This helps in improving your pet’s digestive health.
• It contains high fat, low sugars, and low starch.
• Your horse gets a lot of energy converted from fibers and fat.
• It gives your horse a lot of nutrients in a smaller serving quantity.
• It contains fibers from beet pulp and soybeans.
• This horse feed contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins B, proteins, and amino acids such as methionine, threonine, and lysine.

Sentinel Senior

This is an extruded horse feed that is formulated for less active senior horses, aging senior horses, or senior horses with weak teeth.

Description

This feed comes in a purple-colored sac of about 50 lbs. It is packed full of nutrient additives to meet your pet’s diet requirement and thus keep it healthy.

Benefit

It has the same benefit as Sentinel Active Senior, except that it contains nutrient additives that improve the health of aging horses, seniors with weak teeth, and less active senior horses.

Sentinel Safe Start

This extruded horse feed is specially formulated for lactating horse mums. It is otherwise known as Grower and Lactation.

Description

This horse feed comes in a pink-colored sac of about 50 lbs. It provides great support for milk production in horse mums. They are also great for horses with muscle, topline, and coat health issues.

Benefits

• It improves the milk production of female nursing horses.
• It supports the growth and development of juvenile horses.
• This feed supports horses with health issues in their coat, topline, or muscles.
• It contains almost all the benefits found in simple lite.

Sentinel Grow and Excel

This type of sentinel horse feed is produced specifically for adult horses that are breeding and growing.

Description

This is an extruded horse feed that comes in a light blue sac of about 50 lbs. It is specially made for adult horses that are breeding and growing. They are otherwise known as Sentinel Adult Breeding and Grower.

Benefits

• It is packed full of nutrients like probiotics, probiotics, Omega-3, and 6 fatty acids.
• It contains added nutrients and fibers to meet the requirements of breeding horses.
• It improves the growth and development of adult horses.
• It contains an appreciable amount of amino acids, low sugars, and starch.

Sentinel LifeTime

This extruded horse feed is designed for active performing adult senior horses. It shares a lot of similarities with Sentinel Active Senior.

Description

This horse feed comes in an ash-colored sac of about 50 lbs. The feed contains high fat, low sugar, glucosamine HCL, fibers, and chondroitin.

Benefits

The benefits of a sentinel lifetime are as follows.

• It is designed to meet the dietary requirements of active performing adult seniors.
• It improves digestion in your pet.
• It contains fat, amino acids, glucosamine HCL, chondroitin, and fibers.

Final Thoughts

The choice depends on the goal of the pet owner, the horse’s age and the specific needs of the horse. Some of these products are specifically designed to aid female nursing horses, and others are specifically made to meet the needs of senior horses.

The choice is yours to make, but you want to pay attention to the specific needs of the horse to decide which product will be best for it.

You want your horse to be happy eating snacks. But it is much more important to keep your horse healthy and safe.

Can horses eat banana peel?

The short answer is yes, but the bitter taste may not be popular with them.

Banana peels are just as healthy as the banana itself and also contain potassium and vitamin B.

Nutritional Facts of Bananas

The nutritional facts for 100 gram bananas according to the U.S. Food and drug administration are as follows:

Nutrient Name	Amount
Total fat	0.3 g
Saturated fat	0.1 g
Polyunsaturated fat	0.1 g
Sodium	1 mg
Potassium	358 mg
Total Carbohydrate	23 g
Dietary Fiber	2.6 g
Sugar	12 g
Protein	1.1 g
Vitamin A	1 %
Magnesium	6 %
Vitamin C	14 %
Vitamin B6	20 %

Can Horses Eat Banana Peels?

Some horses might love the flesh of a banana but turn their nose up or spit out a banana peel. Others genuinely can’t wait to eat a banana, peel and all. Make sure you’ve rinsed the banana skin and removed any stickers before feeding it to your horse.

Remove the stalky part of the banana peel, as this could choke your horse. Bananas are soft which makes them the perfect treat for an older horse that might not be able to chew coarser food.

Benefits of Feeding Bananas to Horses

When fed in moderation, bananas can aid digestion, gastrointestinal problems, and are a good energy source.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A promotes better eyesight and eye health, healthy skin, and a strong immune system.  It also helps to break down unwanted materials in the body. 

Potassium:

Bananas are high in potassium which helps regulate blood pressure and the nervous system and also helps keep your dragon’s muscles working and retain proper water retention.

Fiber

Bananas are rich in fiber, bulking up the stool for optimal digestion and preventing constipation.  

Vitamin B6 

Bananas are rich in vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 aids with building muscle mass, and also assists with hemoglobin production, and is essential for generating energy

Magnesium

Bananas provide magnesium to your horse. Magnesium also supports the horse’s nerve and muscle function and is a significant mineral in bone. It plays a role in insulin resistance and also prevents metabolic disorders. Magnesium also has a soothing result and is found in many supplements that help relax your horse.

Risks When Feeding Horses Bananas

Bananas contain high levels of starch. Too much starch in a horse’s diet can negatively affect digestion. Therefore, keeping this treat in moderation is essential.

Sugar Spikes

If your horse eats multiple bananas in one sitting, it will likely experience digestive issues and possibly sugar spikes.

A sugar spike can cause your horse’s insulin to become dangerously high, especially in horses with pre-existing insulin issues. It can also cause hyperactivity because of the excess sugar, making your horse more excited and active than usual, which could lead to them causing harm to themselves or the people around them.

HYPP Horses

Horses that should have controlled banana consumption suffer from Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP). These horses must keep their potassium levels very low. As bananas, and even their peels, have high potassium levels, it is best to avoid this treat altogether for HYPP horses.

Too much potassium can also affect a healthy horse. High potassium levels can affect a horse’s muscles preventing relaxation and leading to stiffness. It can also reduce absorption through the gut wall of other essential nutrients, such as calcium.

How Often Can Horses Eat Bananas?

We recommend that you give your horse a maximum of three to four bananas per week as more than this might make your horse unwell.

Although bananas are perfectly safe for most horses, that may not be the case for all of them. If you want to feed your horse a banana, introduce the food slowly into their diet and closely monitor how they react. If you have any medical concerns after your horse has eaten bananas.

Some people feed whole bananas to their horses without any adverse effects. Still, we recommend chopping the banana into smaller chunks or mashing it up before feeding it to your horse. The smaller pieces will reduce the chance of choking.

A good option for feeding your horse bananas is using them as a reward or a treat to help curb the number you feed.

How to Feed Bananas to Horses

When introducing any new food to a horse, first give it a tester. Ensure that your horse doesn’t have an allergic reaction or upset digestive system from eating the banana. Once you confirm your horse can safely eat banana peels or their flesh, gradually increase the amount to a whole banana over time.

Giving a horse medication is a challenge, and some horses will sniff out something unwanted in their food very quickly. Using some bananas to hide medicine is an excellent trick for hiding pills or powders.

Conclusion

It is safe to say that horses can eat banana peels if they don’t have any underlying health concerns. However, if your horse doesn’t like the peel, it doesn’t mean it won’t like the soft, sweet banana flesh.

Many horse owners agree that horses prefer carrots over other treats.  Carrots are very healthy for humans and are full of Vitamin C, but can horses eat carrots?

The short answer is yes, horses love eating carrots, and it serves as a healthy treat for your horse.

This article will explore the nutritional value, benefits, and risks of feeding carrots to horses.

The Nutritional Value Of Carrots

Nutritional information of 100g of raw carrots.

Nutrient	Amount
Energy (kJ/Cal)	156/37
Protein	0.6 g
Fat Total	0.2 g
Saturated Fat	0.03 g
Carbohydrates	6.8 g
Sugars	6.6 g
Dietary Fibres	2.8 g
Sodium	41 mg
Vitamin A	2 mg
Vitamin C	872 ug
Niacin	2 mg
Potassium	174 mg
Vitamin B6	0.12 mg
Folate	21 ug

The Benefits Of Feeding Carrots To Horses

Vitamin A:

Vitamin A functions as a powerful antioxidant for horses, functioning in all important ways in their systems. The vitamin works to support their reproductive functions and vision and gives another significant boost to their immune system.

Vitamin C:

Horses need Vitamin C to boost their immune system. Vitamin C fights against the free radicals and neutralizes them. It also plays a vital role in keeping a horse healthy during stress.

Potassium:

Potassium plays an essential role in normal muscle contraction and relaxation. It also controls the osmatic pressure.

Fiber:

Fiber keeps the gut full and the horse hydrated by acting as a water reserve. Therefore, it is excellent when it comes to digestive health.

Carbohydrates:

Carrots contain a significant amount of carbohydrates. Since this is a valuable nutritional ingredient that horses need, carrots come in handy to provide the same. Carbohydrates provide the energy that horses require to stay energetic. 

Protein:

Carrots are not a good source of proteins, but they supply horses with essential nutrients to play a significant role in the body. 

Risks Of Feeding Carrots To Horses

Although it is perfectly safe for horses to eat carrots in limited amounts, some potential health risks need to be avoided.

Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP)

HYPP is a disorder some horses may suffer from. As the name suggests, it is a severe condition and requires the horse owner to be vigilant about controlling their horse’s diet.

Paralysis happens when the horse consumes anything high in potassium, and carrots certainly fit those criteria.

Therefore, horse owners whose horses suffer from HYPP should avoid carrots and any other foods with potassium.

Insulin Resistant Horses

If your horse is a laminitic or EMS horse, you need to oversee their diet and consult your vet before feeding carrots to your horse.  This is because carrots contain sugar levels.  Although the sugar levels are low, it can trigger the release o insulin.

Teeth Issues

Horses with dental issues, including tooth loss and decay, often need to eat food that is softer and easy to chew. Carrots are crunchy, require a lot of chewing, and are not the best option for your horse.

Can Foals Eat Carrots?

Foals can eat carrots, but they should eat carrots as treats and rewards like adult horses. Foals love carrots a lot, so you should not give them too many carrots at a time.

Reducing the number of carrots you give to foals at a time can increase their love and value for carrots. It will help you train the foals while using the carrots as a reward.

Can Horses Eat Carrot Tops?

The answer to this question is that horses can eat carrot tops. They are a rich source of forage for horses. However, you should ensure that you feed your valuable friends in moderation, even when they gladly demonstrate their love for the carrot tops.

Too many of them can result in health issues, which could ultimately affect the quality of health of your horses.

How Many Carrots Can You Feed Your Horse?

A horse’s diet primarily consists of grass and hay. Carrots should come in as a complementary diet. This implies that you should give them moderately. 

One of the dangers of allowing your horse to eat large amounts of carrots in a day is that it might feel satisfied and fail to eat other foods. The result of this is that it will miss out on valuable nutrients.  

If your horse fails to consume these nutrients, getting severe health problems is high. An excellent example of a disease that your horse is likely to develop due to eating excess carrots is colic.

To be safe, you shouldn’t allow your horse to eat more than two large carrots in a day. However, if you have the smaller ones, you can enable them to eat a number of them. 

Just make sure that the overall quantity of the small carrots does not exceed that of the two bigger ones.

How To Give Carrots To Horses

Here are some ways to feed your horse with carrots.

Wash the Carrots:

Always try to find organic carrots free of insecticides, pesticides, and other chemicals.  Wash the carrots thoroughly before feeding them to your horse.

Chop the Carrots: 

You should dice, chop, or cut the carrots into smaller parts to feed your horse. This safety practice will prevent your horse from choking. You do not have to chop the carrots into tiny pieces.

Mixed with Other Vegetables:

You can mix carrots with other vegetables that you are giving to your horse. We will list some great vegetables you can give to your horse later. Remember to chop the carrots.

Carrot Leaves: 

Did you think that your horse would reject the leaves of your carrots? Horses can eat carrot leaves, so you do not have to throw them away.

Final Thought

Carrots contain many vitamins and minerals that are essential for your horse’s health.  Always feed any treats with caution and understand that you should only provide them in moderation.

If you live near where strawberries are grown in patches, you might have seen horses grazing on them.  Horses love to eat a variety of fruits. But, can horses eat strawberries? 

The short answer is yes, but you should know what to expect when adding strawberries to your horse’s diet. 

This article will look at strawberries’ nutritional value, risks, and benefits in your horse’s diet.

Nutritional Value of Strawberries

Nutritional information of 1 cup of strawberries.

Nutrient	Amount
Calcium	27 mg
Fiber	3.3 g
Iron	0.68 mg
Magnesium	22 mg
Potassium	254 mg
Vitamin B9	40 ug
Vitamin C	97.6 mg
Vitamin E	About 1 mg
Vitamin K	3.7 ug
Water	91 %
Sugar	7 g

Benefits Of Feeding Strawberries To Horse

Not only will your horse love a sweet and juicy strawberry treat, but it will be beneficial to its health.

Water

Strawberries are 91% water and make an excellent snack for horses during summer times.  Horses are about 70% water, and strawberries are great to assist with their hydration.

Calcium

Horses require calcium for neuromuscular functioning, cell signaling, and blood clotting. Its most important role is maintaining the integrity of the bone structure.

Fiber

Fiber keeps the gut full and the horse hydrated by acting as a water reserve and assisting digestive health.

Iron

Iron is vital to the circulation of oxygen in the body.

Magnesium    

Magnesium has numerous benefits, such as supporting hoof health and recovery after exercise. It also prevents laminitis – inflammation of the tissues bonding the hoof wall to the pedal bone in the hoof.

Potassium

Potassium plays an essential role in normal muscle contraction and relaxation. It also controls osmatic pressure.

Vitamin B9

Vitamin B9 is vital for metabolic function in horses. It also regulates blood sugar levels, muscle development, joint health, and hormonal synthesis.

Vitamin C

This vitamin fights against the free radicals and neutralizes them. It also plays a vital role in keeping a horse healthy during stress.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is essential for a healthy immune system. It also supports normal nerves and muscle functioning.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K helps in blood clotting. The deficiency of vitamin K can lead to bleeding.

Risks Of Feeding Strawberries To Horses

Strawberries contain a large amount of sugar, and too much of it can be harmful to your horse’s teeth. If your horse already has any dental problems, you should avoid feeding it any fruit.

Strawberries are also acidic, and too many can increase the risk of colic and abdominal pain.

Too many strawberries can also cause bloat and digestive issues for your horse, causing discomfort and pain. More importantly, bloat will cause your horse to eat less of its regular meals, resulting in nutritional deficiencies and further digestive problems.

Lastly, if your horse has insulin resistance, you should speak to your vet first before feeding it any fruit, including strawberries.

How Often Can Horses Eat Strawberries?  

Strawberries can be fed to horses in small quantities but not more than six to ten every week.

Providing a horse with appropriate amounts is essential as overfeeding may lead to health problems. 6-10 strawberries every week keeps them healthy.

Strawberries are to be given as an occasional treat only and cannot replace any part of your horse’s regular diet. 

Can Horses Eat Strawberry Leaves?

Strawberry leaves are not toxic to horses but we recommend that you remove strawberry leaves before feeding them to horses.

Only remove them when you are about to offer the fruit to your equine friend. Early removal of leaves exposes strawberries to the surrounding air and bacteria, which spoils them.

How To Feed Strawberries To Horses

When feeding strawberries to your horse for the first time, start only with one or two as introducing a new item to your horse’s diet can upset its stomach.

Wash the strawberries thoroughly to get rid of any pesticides and chemicals. Check the strawberries to ensure there is no mold because which can make your horse sick.

It is advisable to cut the strawberries first to avoid choking. Do not feed more than two strawberries in a day and more than 10 in a week.

Never make strawberries or any other fruit a central part of the horse’s diet.

What To Do If Your Horse Gets Sick After Eating Strawberries

Typically, horses do not get sick after eating strawberries. However, if your horse has any medical condition such as diabetes, it could get ill.

If your horse gets sick, you should stop feeding him strawberries immediately. Second, do not panic. 

Contact a vet and get your horse the medical attention it needs.

What Are The Alternatives To Strawberries?

Strawberries are healthy and nutritious for your horse. However, here are some other safe berries you can try:  

Blueberries: They are among the most delicious and lovely berries for equines.

Blackberries: Blackberries are healthy treats, especially for the heart.

Cherries: Cherries are a good source of vitamin A and C for horses.

Raspberries: Raspberries are safe for horses as long as they are fed as treats.

Red Grapes: Sweet and tasty, red grapes are among the safest fruits for horses.

Summary

Strawberries are nutritious and delicious treats that are perfectly safe to give your horse as occasional snacks, and they provide health benefits too. However, too many strawberries can also cause digestive issues, like bloat, so moderation is key. 

We recommend no more than five to 10 strawberries a week. Also, organic varieties are preferable, and always make sure they are fresh, washed, and mold-free.

Continually research new food you want to introduce to your horse’s diet, and if you are unsure, contact your vet for advice.

Horses are herbivores and thrive on a diet of grass and other plants.  From this foliage, they extract the nutrients needed to grow healthy and strong. Therefore, a wild horse has a somewhat different diet than domesticated horses. 

What Do Wild Horses Eat?

Wild horses eat differently than domesticated horses. Instead of carefully cultivated pastures, hay, pelleted food, and other treats, wild horses eat what they can find and when and where they can find it.  

It means grass but sometimes also a variety of weeds and shrubs. Since wild horses are scavengers, they do not always meet their nutritional requirements, especially in winter. 

Wild horses don’t have most of these modern “delicacies” available to them that domesticated horses do. Over the ages, horses in the wild developed the ability to eat many different foods and plants that their domestic counterparts won’t eat today.

Here’s a list of some of the foods and plants that horses in the wild eat. 

Grasses

When you see the word “grass,” don’t think of the pretty, well-maintained lawns. Wild grasses, in many cases, look more to you like weeds. 

There are dozens of different grasses in the wild, and horses can eat many of them for great nutrition. Of course, grass species can differ depending on the climate and continent where you find them, but many are nutritious and delicious for the wild horses.

Bushes And Shrubs

Bushes and shrubs are sometimes harsh, prickly, and woody and are difficult for domestic horses to digest.

Wild horses, however, have adapted to eating different kinds of shrubs and bushes. However, these types of plants are wild horses’ least favorite, and they will usually only eat them if there is nothing else to feed on in the area or if they are starving.

An example of one type of bush or shrub that wild horses eat is sagebrush in the American west. It can be dry and tough in the drier months, but you can sometimes find lots of fragrant sage with small, tender “leaves” and flowers that are easier for horses to eat during the spring.

Wild Forbs

Forbs are net-shaped veins in the plant leaves and bright, attractive flowers. When you look at a wild meadow with lots of flowers, you probably see examples of plants that you can categorize as forbs.

It would be difficult for horses in the wild to survive by only eating forbs, but most wild horses do eat them, which come packed with vitamins, minerals, and moisture.

Weeds

Horses will eat weeds in the wild if they are hungry enough.

Interestingly, many plants we would consider weeds can sometimes be very nutritious options for eating in the wild. Of course, a few types of plants might be poisonous but wild horses know which ones to avoid.

Wild Apples And Other Fruit

It is not very common for wild horses to find edible fruit in the wilderness.  If they are lucky enough to come across a wild fruit tree or berry bush, they will eat as many as possible.

What Do Wild Horses Eat In Winter?

During the winter season, heavy snowfall covers much vegetation that wild horses rely on for survival. But the horses have dig out the snow with their feet, where they can reach the vegetation and feed on it.

They also have to look for clean water, and as such, they find a stable source and stick by it for the winter.

How Much Food Does A Horse Eat?

A horse should eat approximately 2% of its total body weight per day.

Considering that the average weight of an adult horse is about 1000 pounds (around 500 Kg), it should eat at least 20 pounds (approximately 10 Kg) of food each day.

An adult horse can drink up to 10 gallons of water per day. Therefore, fresh water is an absolute necessity for a horse’s survival.

When Do Wild Horses Eat?

A wild horse has a tough life and spends more time eating and searching for forage than its domestic counterpart. The wild horse grazes on average 16 hours out of every 24, so they’re using quantity to make up for the poorer nutritional content of the forage they find. 

It also means they almost constantly have forage moving through their digestive system.

Is It Ok To Feed Wild Horses?

Feeding wild horses is not recommended. Instead, this is a protection measure for feral horses because wild horses have a different diet compared to domesticated horses and are not used to eating the same food.

These foods can be harmful to their well-being and can prove fatal for wild horses. Something as simple as a watermelon could be lethal to them.

Be careful about what you dispose of in an area known to be populated by wild horses

Foods That Are Harmful To Wild Horses

Most Cruciferous Vegetables

When horses consume broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower in significant quantities, they can cause colic disease in the wild horse.

Bran

Bran and its associated by-products can result in stomach issues for wild horses.

Meats

Horses are naturally herbivores. Their digestive system isn’t evolved enough to feed on any form of meat, including processed meat.

Onions

Plants from the entire allium family, including onions, garlic, leek, and chives, can cause serious health problems.

Processed Carbohydrates

Bread and doughnuts are dangerous for wild horses. They are a choking hazard and create other issues in the digestive tract.

Conclusion

Wild horses feed on various grasses, shrubs, wild forbs, and weeds. During the cold winter months, they will dig in the snow to get to the vegetation below. Do not feed wild horses since their digestive system is different from domesticated horses.

You might be looking for a delicious, crunchy treat for your horse.  What about cucumbers?

Cucumbers are safe for most horses.

Let’s take a closer look at cucumbers, analyze their nutritious value, and if they are safe for horses to eat.

The Nutritional Information Of Cucumber

Nutritional information of one-half cup (52g) of cucumber according to the USDA.

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	8
Fat	0.1g
Sodium	1 mg
Carbohydrate	1.9 g
Fiber	0.3 g
Sugar	0.9 g
Protein	0.3 g
Vitamin K	8,5mcg
Vitamin C	1.5 mg
Potassium	76,4 mg

Cucumbers have vitamins, minerals, low sugar, and are low in calories, suitable for horses with weight gain and insulin-resistance problems. Like other foods, however, there are facts that horse owners should know.

Health Benefits of Feeding Cucumbers to Horses

Vitamin A:

Vitamin A functions as a powerful antioxidant for horses. The vitamin works to support their reproductive functions and vision and gives a significant boost to their immune system.

Vitamin C:

Horses need Vitamin C to boost their immune system. Vitamin C fights against free radicals and neutralizes them. It also keeps a horse healthy during stress.

Potassium:

Potassium plays an essential role in normal muscle contraction and relaxation. It also controls osmatic pressure.

Fiber:

Fiber keeps the gut full and the horse hydrated by acting as a water reserve. It helps maintain digestive health.

Vitamin K:

Vitamin K helps in blood clotting, a deficiency of which can lead to bleeding.

Antioxidants:

Cucumbers have high amounts of beneficial antioxidants, components that help reduce inflammation in an equine’s body.

Water:

While horses require drinking water to stay hydrated, they also require hydrated foods to supplement their daily fluid needs.

Cucumbers are up to 95% water, making them especially important for horses that require extra hydration.

Low Carbohydrates and Sugar Content

Cucumbers are low in calories, carbs, and sugar, which means that horses can eat them and not gain weight.

Health Risk Of Feeding Cucumber To Horses

Cucurbitacin:

Cucumbers contain cucurbitacin that causes gas to build up in some horses.

Since horses cannot burp or belch, it can cause discomfort or even colic. Worse still, a gas rupture may occur in your pet because horses do not have a two-way food transport system in their food pipe, making it hard to burp or vomit.

If you notice that your horse has any discomfort after eating a cucumber treat, you should stop feeding cucumbers to them altogether.

There are plenty of other nutritious veggies that your horse will love.

Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP):

Some horses can suffer from a disorder called HYPP. As the name suggests, it is a severe condition and requires the horse owner to be vigilant about controlling their horse’s diet.

Paralysis happens when the horse consumes anything high in potassium. Therefore, horse owners with horses that suffer from HYPP should avoid carrots and other potassium foods.

Tooth Issues:

Horses with dental problems should not eat large pieces of any food, including cucumbers.

Prepare the cucumbers in a way that will make them easier for the horse to chew and digest.

You should also do this for horses that eat their food too quickly and have a history of choking on their food.

Overfeeding:

Overfeeding is also a valid reason to feed your horse cucumbers. Your horse should eat 1 to 2 cucumbers per week.

Can Horses Eat Cucumber Skin?

Yes, the skin of a cucumber is edible and generally safe for horses to eat. However, some horses can be sensitive to it and may experience an allergic reaction.

If your horse is sensitive to cucumber skin, it is best to peel the skin off before feeding them the cucumbers.

If you are not sure whether or not your horse is sensitive to cucumber skin, start by feeding them peeled cucumbers and see how they react. If there are no problems, then you can try feeding them unpeeled cucumbers at a later time.

Can Horses Eat Cucumber Seeds?

Yes, cucumber seeds are part of the cucumber’s flesh, making them healthy and easy to digest.

Horses enjoy these crunchy seeds. They have enormous health benefits too.

Cucumber seeds contain beta-carotene and fiber, helping horses with immunity, normalizing bowel movement, and achieving a healthy weight.

How Often Can Horses Eat Cucumber?

Cucumbers should be considered a treat for your horse, not a staple diet. As much as cucumbers are fibrous, rich in water, and contain vital nutrients, you should offer them to your horse in moderation. Provide only one or two cucumbers a week.

This precaution is critical, mainly since the veggies cause gastrointestinal complications.

Regulating the quantities will offer the horse’s digestive system stability and consistency, preventing gas build-up and colic.

How to Prepare Cucumber For Your Horse

Wash It

You should always wash any vegetables before feeding them to your horse as it removes any unhealthy chemicals or bacteria on the outside.  Buy organic cucumbers as they are free from pesticides and other harmful substances.

Peel

Decide whether you want to leave the peeling on or take it off. Either way is safe for your horse.

Try feeding a small piece with peeling and one without to see if your horse favors one or the other.

Chop, Slice, or Shred

The easiest way to feed a cucumber to your horse is to cut it up into round slices and feed it piece by piece. Remember to think about your horse and any issues they may have, including dental problems.

If you feel that your horse will have a hard time chewing the cucumber up or you think it will eat it too quickly, you can always chop it up into smaller pieces.

You can also try shredding it or even blending it in a food processor. You can then sprinkle that on your horse’s hay or grain for an easy-to-eat treat.

Summary

Your horse will enjoy the refreshing taste of cucumber in its feed. Cucumber is safe to feed your horse in moderation as a treat.  

However, as with all foods, it is best to moderate your horse’s intake, perhaps once or twice a week. If you do, count on these veggies for natural hydration, low calories, low carbs, and low sugar content-nutritional values that help lower blood sugar and reduce obesity in horses.

If your horse is too thin, from either a short-term or a chronic condition, you can maintain its weight with careful feeding.  

Feeding a horse for weight gain is not complicated. Knowing that you need to is the hard part.

We first need to understand why horses lose weight.

If you care for your horse every day, you may not notice slight variations in its body condition that indicate weight loss.

Then one day, he turns toward you with a faint outline of every rib along his sides, and his hips a little less rounded. 

Your horse is losing weight, and you ask: Is he sick? Am I not feeding him correctly? What is wrong?

A  horse typically loses weight because it does not meet its caloric needs. Either it is burning more energy than it is consuming, or somehow it is not properly utilizing the feed that it does eat.

Why Do Horses Lose Weight?

Illnesses

Several diseases can lead to weight loss.  Symptoms are diarrhea, colic, fever, or lethargy. In some instances, signs of illness might be subtle or nonexistent. 

If your horse starts losing weight and its diet is unchanged, we recommend that you contact a veterinarian who can check its liver and kidney function and screen for chronic infections.

Dental issues

A horse’s dental health can affect its eating ability. Uneven wear can cause hooks, waves, and other problems that inhibit chewing, and cracked, broken, or infected teeth can be painful enough to prevent a horse from chewing his food properly. In addition to weight loss, signs that a horse is experiencing dental problems might include dropping partially chewed feeds from the mouth, bad breath, fussiness with the bit, and undigested grains and bits of hay in the manure.

Social Problems

Horses who live in stable herds develop distinct social orders, and those at the bottom of the pecking order, often the very young, the aging, or the submissive, may be chased away from the hay feeder and other food sources. One solution is to bring the low-ranking horse into a paddock or stall where he can eat undisturbed. 

Environmental conditions

Horses burn more calories to stay warm in cold weather, but extreme heat can also cause them to lose interest in food.

In the winter, you can help a horse keep warm with blankets when temperatures dip. 

Pastured horses should have access to shelter that will shield them from prevailing winds. Access to hay will also help a horse generate internal heat around the clock. Slow feeders can keep the hay clean while helping the ration last longer.

Getting Started With Weight 

Once you have identified and addressed the most probable reasons for your horse’s weight loss, you should develop a program to stop the reduction.

If you have a skinny horse whose vertebrae, ribs, and other bones are prominent, seek medical attention. Giving starving horses too much food too quickly can cause digestive consequences that could be fatal.

However, if your horse is only moderately thin, you can probably manage his weight gain yourself.

As you help your horse gain weight, changes to your horse’s diet need to be made gradually. After all, your horse didn’t become skinny overnight.

Abrupt changes in weight can lead to colic, laminitis, and other illnesses.

The forage

Before shopping for new products, gradually increase your horse’s current feed.  The average pleasure horse can maintain a healthy weight on forage alone with light to moderate work.

A horse needs to consume a daily ration of 2 to 3 percent of his body weight each day to maintain a steady weight.  Of the ration, at least 1.5 to 2 percent needs to be some form of forage. 

Choose the best quality hay you can find for your underweight horse.

It is suggested that you increase the amount of hay until his total feed reaches at least 2.5 percent of his desired body weight. 

You want to choose the highest quality leafy, green hay with a minimum of brown stalks and mature seed heads for your horse. One quick way to test the quality of hay is to squeeze a handful. Stiff stalks that hurt your palm are not a good choice if you need a higher-calorie feed.

Blending a flake or two of good-quality alfalfa with a ration of grass hay is another way to add nutritional value to your forage. Alfalfa is higher in calories and protein than grass hays, which makes it an excellent choice to help to add weight to a thin horse.

Other Fiber

Beet pulp is another fiber supplement, which contains about the same digestible energy as good-quality hay. Horses seem to like beet pulp. It is a suitable medium for blending in supplements or other feed additives such as oils or rice bran. 

Introduce it slowly, one pound (dry weight) per feeding, up to 0.5 percent of your horse’s body weight. 

Although beet pulp is a good source of calories, it is not a complete protein source, and it is relatively low in vitamins and most minerals, so it works best as an addition to, not a substitute for, your horse’s regular rations.

Fat and Calories

Forage is not a calorie-dense food, and there’s a limit to how much a horse will eat in a day. So if your horse has been consuming forage and is not gaining weight after several weeks, add more calories to his ration.

The safest way to increase your horse’s energy ration is to boost its fat content. While carbohydrates and proteins offer around four calories per gram, fats provide nine calories per gram. If introduced slowly, horses can adapt to higher fat intakes.

You’ll find many supplements and feeds on the market formulated to help horses gain weight safely. Most contain high amounts of fat and amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that support a horse’s build and maintain muscle. 

One of the simplest and cheapest ways to add fat to your horse’s diet is vegetable oil from the grocery store, which can be poured over his regular concentrate ration. Corn oil is palatable to most horses, but you can also use canola, peanut, or any other vegetable oil your horse likes. 

Rice bran is another source of fat that most horses love, and it’s also rich in vitamin E and fiber. The biggest concern with rice bran is that it is also high in phosphorus, inhibiting the amount of calcium available in the horse’s body. If you’re feeding natural rice bran, you might want to add a calcium supplement or another calcium-rich food, such as alfalfa.

Concentrates

Commercial concentrates, formulated for complete, balanced nutrition, can be a valuable source of calories for an underweight horse, but use them wisely. First, select a product formulated for your horse’s age and activity level. Then, follow the instructions on the label to introduce the feed carefully into its diet.

No matter what type of concentrates and added fats you incorporate into your horse’s diet, remember to make sure he always gets at least 1.5 to  2 percent of his body weight in forage each day. 

Weight Gain Feed For Horses

Forage is essential for horses that need to gain weight.

Choose a bucket feed high in fiber and oil as the primary energy source in the ration. These slow-release energy sources are less likely to encourage the horse to waste energy on over-excitable or fizzy behavior. 

Fiber and oil provide plenty of energy. Alfa-A Oil, for example, contains as much energy as a conditioning mix (12.5 MJ/kg) but with around ten times less starch.

How Long Will Weight Gain Take?

Gaining weight will not happen overnight, and as a horse owner, you should have reasonable expectations as to how long it will take. Weight gain can take up to 6 months to achieve your horse’s ideal body weight and would require very energy-dense feeding rules.

Conclusion

Whether your horse is underweight or overweight, it is vital to regularly evaluate his condition through advancing age, environmental changes, and performance demands. Addressing unwanted fluctuations before they become potential health risks is the key to maintaining optimal body weight.

Pears are a juicy and delicious snack that people love. Horses are known for loving to eat treats, and they will always want them. But, sometimes, we need to get creative when choosing healthy treats for our horse friends. Pears are healthy fruit for humans, but can horses eat pears?

The short answer is yes. Pears are entirely safe for horses to eat. Plus, horses love their naturally sweet flavor and crisp skin.  They must, however, be given in moderation and not as a staple food. 

This article will explore the nutritional value of pears, the health benefits and risks, and some more.  If you are interested to find out more about horses and pears, please read on.

The Nutritional Value Of Pears

Nutritional information of one medium-sized pear (178g) provided by the USDA.

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	101
Fat	0.3 g
Sodium	1.8 mg
Carbohydrates	27 g
Fiber	5.5 g
Sugars	17 g
Protein	0.6 g
Vitamin K	7.8 mcg
Potassium	206 mg

There are hundreds of types of pears grown worldwide. Despite the variety among this type of fruit, most pears have high amounts of fiber and low amounts of protein. These are both great features that all horses need. Not to mention, pears are packed full of vitamin C, vitamin K, copper, potassium, niacin, proto vitamin A, and antioxidants.

Health Benefits of Feeding Horses Pears

Potassium:

Potassium plays an essential role in normal muscle contraction and relaxation. It also controls the osmatic pressure.

Improves Digestive Health

Pears have high fiber, which is excellent for digestive health. Feeding your horse pears can help regulate their bowel movements and feed the healthy bacteria found in their stomach. More healthy stomach bacteria result in improved immunity, better aging, and less constipation.

Anti-inflammatory

Pears fight inflammation because of their high flavonoid antioxidant content. These antioxidants decrease inflammation, which reduces heart disease, obesity, and several other adverse health effects found in horses.

Carbohydrates:

Pears contain a significant amount of carbohydrates. Since this is a valuable nutritional ingredient that horses need, pears come in handy. Carbohydrates provide the energy that horses require to stay energetic. 

Better Heart Health

The number of antioxidants in pears improves heart health. For example, pear includes procyanidin and quercetin, which are antioxidants that benefit the heart by decreasing inflammation and increasing good cholesterol.

Water Content

One more benefit that pears offer is their hydration ability. Since they’re 80% water, eating a pear or two can provide a considerable amount of fluids. During the sweltering summer months, this comes in handy when horses can become easily dehydrated. 

Vitamins

Pears also contain quite a good amount of vitamins and minerals. For instance, they contain vitamin B2, essential for proper metabolism, energy production, muscle development, and hormone fabrication. They also contain vitamin B9, aka folic acid, which is indispensable in red blood cell production and anemia prevention.

Additionally, pears contain vitamin C and vitamin E, which play vital roles in many biological processes, such as immunity, neuromuscular functions, wound repair, skin, ligament, and tendon integrity.

Potential Risks of Feeding Pears to Horses

Large Quantities 

As with anything else, too much of a good thing is never a good thing, and pears can be harmful. However, the danger doesn’t lie with the actual fruit but with how you feed it to your horse. 

For example, giving your horse too many pears will cause disturbance in their digestion and cause issues like gas, bloating, and diarrhea. Moreover, the horses will feel full, making them start dismissing their usual diet loaded with the necessary nutrients.

Big Pieces 

Giving your horse a whole pear without cutting it into pieces or removing the core is a terrible idea. While it’s true that most horses chew their food before swallowing it, not every horse chews well or even at all. That’s especially true for older horses that tend to have dental problems. 

High in Sugar

Furthermore, pears are full of sugar. With regular consumption of large quantities, your horse will readily gain weight until it becomes at risk of heart or joint diseases. Not only that, but all the sugar can increase your horse’s chance of developing digestive issues and colic.

While some horses can enjoy this sugar in moderation, others simply can’t due to certain medical conditions. 

For example, pears are off-limits for horses that are obese, have laminitis,  or have insulin resistance/metabolic disorders. In addition, horses with hyperkalemic periodic paralysis should also steer away from pears due to their potassium content. 

How Often Can Horses Eat Pears?

On average, horses can eat up to two pounds of pears twice a week. You can offer a chopped medium-sized pear as a treat every day.

Of course, if your horse has or is at risk of metabolic diseases or laminitis, you should take care with high sugar treats. If in any doubt, you should discuss it with your vet to ensure you’re providing a well-balanced meal. 

Things to Remember

• Chop up pears to keep your horse from choking.
• Introduce pear treats slowly and monitor your horse’s reaction.
• Consult a vet if you notice any digestive issues in your horse after eating pears.
• Avoid overfeeding pear treats by limiting the amount you feed each day.
• Make sure horses cannot access any fallen fruit from pear trees.   

Are Pear Seeds and Cores Safe For Horses?

Pear seeds contain substances that can produce small amounts of natural cyanide, a dangerous substance that can be dangerous to all animals and humans in larger quantities.

Of course, it would take a large number of pear seeds to cause any issues in horses, but to avoid the danger altogether, try not to feed them to horses.

The core of a pear is not necessarily safe for horses to eat. While the fruit itself is safe, the core of a pear is hard to chew and can cause a horse to choke.

Choking incidents are extremely dangerous for horses, and even if they are saved from choking, some will develop pneumonia which can be fatal. 

Preparing Pears for Horses

To prepare pears for your horse, follow these steps:

• Wash the pear to remove bacteria, dirt, and pesticides
• Remove the stem and seeds
• Cut the pear into edible chunks
• Offer your horse the pieces one at a time. 

Final Thought

Pears make a great treat option for horses. They are safe, healthy, and tasty treats for horses if fed in limited amounts. Avoid feeding pears to horses with insulin resistance or HYPP. Healthy horses should have no problem eating pears as a treat. 

Always research food you would like to introduce to your horse, and if you feel unsure, please contact your vet for advice.

Besides hay, another food your horse will enjoy is grain. However, knowing how much grain to give to your horse is tricky.

This eye-opening article discusses how much grain to feed a horse per day and other important things to consider when feeding horses grain.

Do Horses Need To Eat Grain?

Normally, pleasure and trailer horses do not need grain if you are wondering how much grain to feed your horse per day. But that is not the same with other horses. Grains are often referred to as concentrates rich in the calories horses need. 

Feeding your horse grain when it is involved in heavy exercise is advisable.

But note that the same amount of grain is not applicable for all situations and horses. Sometimes you will have to cut back on the grain quantity you feed your horses, and other times, you will need to bump it up a notch.

Although horses engaged in labor may be fed grains, the general rule is to feed them grains often, but in small amounts. How much work they do, how often they work, and how much hay they have eaten are some of the factors to consider when feeding your horse grain.

How Much Grain To Feed A Horse Per Day

Here is the grain feed needed for an average adult and healthy horse of 1000 pounds.

Activity	Amount of Grain
No Work	None
Light (1-2 hours per day)	1-3 lbs. of grain (1-1.5 lbs grain per hour of work)
Medium (2-4 hours per day)	3-8 lbs. of grain (1.5-2 lbs grain per hour of work)
Heavy (4 or more hours per day)	5-10 lbs. of grain (1.5-2.5 lbs grain per hour of work)

For proper calculation and portioning of grain rations, you can consult your veterinarian or use the National Research Council as a guideline. 

Also, note that the daily nutrient your horse needs depends on its health status, activity, age, stage of pregnancy or lactation, and broodmares.

What Happens When A Horse Eats Too Much Grain?

Too much of anything is not good. This saying also applies when feeding your horse any grain of your choice. When nutrients are imbalanced, horses get metabolic disorders like epiphysitis, osteochondrosis, and laminitis.

When eaten in excess, corn with the highest energy content can cause obesity in horses. In addition, diets high in grain feeds can cause digestive issues like stomach ulcers and colic.

Grain Feeding Tips

• When feeding your horse grain, go with the rule of “less is more.”
• Keep grain limited to your horses and only provide it when necessary.
• Feed less or no grain to horses that don’t work or participate in any activity.
• Horses need more grain when participating in high-intensity training (sports).
• Feed your horse grains when forage doesn’t suffice for their energy needs.
•  Grain is essential when horses are nursing a growing fowl.

Popular Grains To Feed Your Horse

It is noticeable that grains fill a significant part of horses’ diets in recent times. Barley, corn, oats, wheat, soybeans, and beet pulp, to mention but a few, are some popular grains fed to horses. 

Below are the characteristics and reasons these grains are a significant part of horses’ diets.

Barley

Barley is like oats for your horse but has some distinct characteristics that affect its use. Barley is a heavy feed that has reduced fiber compared to oats. Also, its kernel is harder than an oat’s, so it is rolled before feeding to a horse. 

Crushed or ground barley is too heavy and can cause your horse to have colic if fed. So, you either don’t feed this alone to your horse or mix it with a bulkier feed like wheat bran before giving it to your horse.

Corn

As one of the highest energy-dense feeds, corn also contains increased carbohydrates. So, a particular amount of corn includes three times the average amount of oats. In most cases, corn has been ruled too hot to feed horses. Nevertheless, corn is an excellent grain feed for horses that meets their energy needs.

Corn’s quality depends on the moisture content and percentage of well-formed kernels. Hence, there should be fewer spoiled kernels; all kernels should be separated, and there should be less than 14 percent moisture content and no damage by mold or insects. 

Highly starched and readily fermented corn can cause damage to horses.

You can feed your horse corn with the following methods:

Ground or crushed corn: This process makes the corn too small. Hence, the horse is likely sick with colic if the corn passes too quickly through the small intestine. 

On the other hand, you can feed your horse whole-ear ground corn because the cob is low in energy and rich in fiber.

Cracked corn: This method is perfect because it helps horses digest corn quickly.

On the cob: This is the best presentation for horses that eat their grain too fast. However, horses with weak teeth won’t find this method convenient.

Steamed rolled corn: This technique further processes the corn to ease digestion by providing more room for digestive juices.

Oats

This is the safest and one of the common grain choices to opt for as a horse owner. Its fiber content of about 13 percent makes it a safe bet for horses. 

Your horse can meet the nutrient requirements to remain healthy, energetic, active, and strong by eating oats.

Something worth noting is always to ensure that you buy clean and properly stored oats to feed your horse.

Wheat

Wheat is mostly intended for human consumption. So, the by-products of the milling process (wheat bran and wheat middling) are left to feed horses.

Wheat bran is the hard outer part of the kernel, while wheat middling is the fine particle of the wheat kernel derived when milling.

While wheat bran is a 12 percent digestible protein, exceptionally palatable, and often used to add bulk to a horse’s diet, wheat middling should be mixed with a bulky feed before giving it to your horse.

Final Thoughts

Whether a horse can be fed grain depends on many factors, including whether it is a pleasure horse or a labor horse.

You also want to consider how much labor the horse does per day and its weight to arrive at a safe measure of grain to be fed. It is also important that you do not feed the horse too much grain at once.

Grain is perfect when served as smaller meals throughout the day rather than given at once.

Complete nutritional support in equine nutrition!

The newly formulated Renew Gold allows horse owners to take full advantage of the numerous nutritional benefits of stabilized Rice Bran. 

Renew Gold provides substantial nutritional support for horses of all types and disciplines thanks to its unique blend of stabilized rice bran, CoolStance Coconut Meal, Flax, and Fermented Yeast Culture!  

Product Description

Renew Gold offers the Renew Gold SeniorTM and the Renew GoldTM, which are very efficient feed options for your horses.

Renew Gold SeniorTM is a product that takes the digestibility concerns of older horses into account.

Renew GoldTM allows horse owners to provide their horses with the nutritional advantages of stabilized rice grains in an even more advanced and effective formula.

The Improved Formulation

What makes the Renew Gold Feed the sought-after choice, especially for senior horses? 

Check out what the feed formula contains to understand why your horse keeps coming back for more.

Cool Stance Coconut Meal

The Cool Stance coconut meal contains easily digestible energy and high-quality proteins. 

These help enhance muscle growth and development. Coconut meal is also low in nonstructural carbs and high in medium-chain fatty acids and soluble fibers (starch).

Flaxseed

Flaxseed is another beneficial ingredient in the newly formulated Renew Gold. 

It serves as a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which helps improve coat issues, increase hoof quality, strengthen the immune system, help with weight gain, and eliminate skin issues. 

Flaxseed is also a source of low-starch digestible energy in the Renew Gold feed.

Calcium Carbonate

This superb equine mineral supplement promotes healthy bone, tooth, and hoof growth and maintenance. 

It is beneficial for horses that require more calcium, horses on heavy cereal diets (cereals can be high in phosphorus), horses that need to balance calcium to phosphorus or calcium to magnesium ratios, or simply for healthy bones, teeth, and hooves.

No Corn

Renew Gold has also created a formula that contains no corn; the formula is 100% active, as colic and founder can be caused by finely milled corn. 

Corn is often broken, steam flaked, or rolled when fed to horses. Horses that are fat, insulin resistant, or prone to laminitis should not be consuming any form of corn. This is often the case with draft horses. 

Also, when replaced with oats volume for volume, it is easy to overfeed.

Microbial And Processed Yeast Cultured

Improved digestion fiber (in structured carbohydrates like hay or pasture) is the principal energy source for the horse’s digestive system. 

This roughage’s breakdown depends on the availability of a healthy population of helpful bacteria in the hindgut. The processed yeast culture aids in the establishment of a healthier environment for beneficial bacteria, resulting in more efficient hay digestion.

Non-GMO Ingredients

Renew Gold Horse Feed is made without any GMO ingredients. It is a fully organic horse feed to help your horse stay in its best shape possible.

How is Renew Gold Feed Any Better?

Renew Gold is true science that aids in the development of sound horses. 

Renew Gold provides substantial nutritional support for horses of all kinds and applications thanks to its unique blend of three protein and fat sources and other premium quality ingredients. 

Renew Gold can help your overall feeding program go more smoothly by giving valuable “Cooler Energy.” Renew Gold is also calcium and phosphorus balanced, allowing it to be fed with any hay.

How To Use Renew Gold Feed

To incorporate Renew Gold horse feed into your horse’s diet, a few things must be considered. 

First, you want to consider what product you are using and ensure that you are using the right product for the right horse. 

In 30 days, supply accordingly:

(The recommended product for horses under 1 year is the Original Renew Gold.)

Give only 1/2 pound daily

1-3 years – 3/4 lb

For mature horses with a low workload – 1 lb

For mature horses with moderate to high workload – 1-1/2 lbs

For senior horses (15 years+) – 1 lb

What Changed?

You might be wondering, why change a formula that worked so well previously? 

Unlike the previous formula, the new Renew Gold formulation now concentrates on not just a healthy diet for your horse, but also tools to give your horse a better lifestyle. 

The new formulation now contains ingredients that improve the shine of their coat, hooves, hair, and energy levels. The idea behind upgrading the formula was simply a movement to make an already great equine nutrition even better.

The new formula has been carefully put together from the experience of over 1 million bags sold. 

The new formula for horses is made by actual horse owners, with the ability to interact with customers’ needs appropriately. 

The new formula now contains: 

• Higher protein quality and natural vegetable fats. Additionally, the newly formulated Renew Gold contains higher lysine levels that allow your horse to make good use of the new improvements.

• This upgrade is an even more concentrated formulation of Renew Gold horse feed that helps your horse properly accommodate all nutrients. 

Overall, the Renew Gold horse feed is very efficient and beneficial for horses.

This has been backed by the many positive reviews of the product and evidence of healthy horses. Proof of this is that 91% of the total customer rating on amazon.com was a 5-star review.

Renew Gold is a calcium/phosphorus-balanced hay supplement used with grass and alfalfa hay. Only feed as directed. 

Introduce Renew Gold gently, as you would any further adjustment to your horse’s diet. For seven days, gradually increase the daily rate to the full targeted amount. 

Ensure your horse drinks clean water. Store the product in a sealed container. It is ideal for feeding it within its production year. 

You also want to keep the Renew Gold Horse feed away from direct sunlight, in a cool, dry place.

Knowing what your horse can and can’t eat, and how much to feed horses per day matters significantly. Once you are familiar with all the ratios and quantities to feed your horse, you can be sure that they are less likely to become susceptible to health complications. 

This informative article sets out some horse feeding charts with information on what and how much to feed horses during the different stages of their lifespan.

Horse Feeding Chart For Grains

Grains are not necessary for pleasure and display horses as they do not engage in labor. But grains give some energy boost to horses that do labor. 

Grains are usually lower in fiber and calcium but higher in carbohydrates and phosphorus. Hence, this is the reason some owners with sporty horses incorporate grain into their horse’s diets. 

Before presenting it to your horse, it is essential to ensure that the grain is clean, insect-free, bright-colored, and mold-free.

Activity	Amount of Grain
No Work	None
Light (1-2 hours per day)	1-3 lbs. of grain (1-1.5 lbs grain per hour of work)
Medium (2-4 hours per day)	3-8 lbs. of grain (1.5-2 lbs grain per hour of work)
Heavy (4 or more hours per day)	5-10 lbs. of grain (1.5-2.5 lbs grain per hour of work)

Horse Feeding Chart for Cool Stance Feed

The Cool Stance feed is another excellent yet innovative and healthy feed option. Cool Stance feed introduces a “grain-free” diet, unlike every other type of feed. 

The copra used in this feed is free from aflatoxins. Aflatoxins are toxins generated by fungi commonly found in products like cottonseed, tree nuts, maize (corn), and peanuts. 

Your horse no longer has to put up with a risk of severe damage to the liver due to the inability to digest fats, make proteins and decrease clotting properly. 

Horse type	Level of activity	Stance Ib per day
Foals		Free choice in a creep feeder
Weanlings	After three months of age	1.1 – 2.2
Broodmares	First two trimesters Last trimester	2.2 – 6.6 6.6
Wet mares	Early lactation Late lactation	6.6 – 8.8 4.4
Horses on Layoff or in Recovery	Not in work	1.1 – 2.2
Performance horses	Light Medium Heavy	2.2 4.4 6.6 – 8.8

Horse Feeding Chart for Renew Gold Feed

Renew Gold feed is packed with vital vitamins and nutrients that help to improve your horse’s health (internally and externally). It suffices for both concentrated meals and supplements in your horse’s diet. 

Therefore, your horse requires little to no additional supplements to support the treatments of underlying conditions when fed Renew Gold.

Combining four nutritional ingredients (CoolStance Coconut Meal, stabilized rice bran, fermented yeast, and flax) works to become one powerful feed (Renew Gold). 

Renew Gold provides an improved immune system, natural anti-inflammatory system, incredible energy, and digestible fats that enhance the appearance of your horse’s coat and hooves.

Horse Type	Stance lb Per Day
For horses under one year	1/2 pound daily
1-3 years	3/4 lb
For mature horses with a low workload	1 lb
For mature horses with moderate to high workload	1-1/2 lbs
For senior horses (15 years+)	1 lb

Horse Feeding Chart For Fruits

Apples and carrots are the conventional favorites of horses. However, some other fruits can sit well with horses that they would enjoy. In addition, you should wash fruits thoroughly to remove dirt and lingering chemicals. Cut treats (fruit) into smaller chunks before feeding because horses are at the risk of choking when they are fed fruit in large quantities.

The amount of fruit acceptable to feed your horse is of equal importance. In this case, apply the method of little is plenty; one or two pieces of fruit is enough for a horse. Fruits are naturally high in sugar and calories, so horses are susceptible to tooth decay and weight gain.

Furthermore, it is best not to leave your horse with a belly full of fruits because this can cause colic or other health complications. Ensure that your horse does not have access to windfall fruits from wild trees or spoilt or moldy fruits. These can pose many health issues for horses that continually feed on them.

In the case of fruits for horses, moderation is key.

Fruits	Ways to Feed them to Horses	Benefits
Carrots	Feed them just the way it is by letting them bite off one piece at a time or chop them up to mix in other feeds. They can also eat the carrot leaves and tops when you are sure they are free from pesticides.2 per day at different times max are advisable.	Low in sugar and carbohydrates and high in fiber which helps to maintain a healthy digestive system.
Apples	Serve in smaller chunks without the seeds and stalks on the top.1-2 apples per day max are ideal for feeding your horse.	Improves vision and the functioning of red blood cells, and serves as a powerful antioxidant.
Pears	Feed your horse ripe and juicy pears because they are easy to digest. Remove the stalks and seeds because they contain toxic cyanide, and the stalks can choke them.	Helps the horse’s body repair and grow, fight strange substances that can harm their body, and aids the development and maintenance of their bones, heart, and other vital organs.
Watermelon	You can feed the whole part of the watermelon to your horse (seed, rind, and the flesh part). Ensure that you cut these into small chunks and easy-to-chew pieces.	Relaxes blood vessels, boosts blood flow to specific areas, and serves as a water source to keep your horse hydrated.
Strawberries	Cut in small chunks before giving strawberries to your horse.6-10 strawberries per week max are the ration for your horse.	Rich in minerals, water, antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins
Mango	You can feed your horse mangos as long as you remove the pit, which can choke them. Other parts, like the skin and flesh, are acceptable for consumption.0.5 kg of mango max per day occasionally is advisable.	Lots of fiber helps maintain vision (color and night vision) and improves immunity.
Pineapple	Feed small chunks after removing the skin thoroughly. Several slices once or twice a week are advisable.	It helps to calm horses under a stressful environment, provides energy, keeps them hydrated on a hot day, and maintains the structural integrity of their bones and teeth.
Bananas	You can feed with the peel as long as you take away the woody stem that can choke your horse. 3-4 bananas per week max are advised.	Serves as an immune booster to keep your horse healthy, aids digestion, and helps their muscles and nerves to work correctly.
Oranges	It is safe to feed your horse the oranges’ rinds (peels), seeds, and flesh. One sliced orange per day is the ideal portion to feed horses. Don’t feed horses that suffer from insulin resistance or hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP) oranges.	Orange seeds contain antioxidants that help boost energy, are low in calories, and have high water content.

Cool Stance Copra is a special horse feed with a reduced amount of NSC (Non-structural carbohydrate). It contains a high digestible energy content. 

This horse feed is a natural product made from coconuts that are grown without chemicals.

Check out this detailed review of the Cool Stance Horse Feed.

What Makes Cool Stance the Perfect Feed for Your Horse?

The Cool Stance Copra is a premium quality coconut-based meal. The product is made from the white inner part of coconuts called copra.

This white part of the coconut is dried, baked, and ground to make the Cool Stance horse feed. The objective of the process is to ensure the easy digestibility of the feed product. 

It provides good quality protein, healthy fats, and good fiber, and it is low in NSC. This means that it is low in sugar and starches. 

Low Sugar/ Low Starch Content

Unlike other feeds, it is not going to make your horse hot. It will also not trigger excessive energy to make them high like many other feeds tend to.

If your horse is taking more load or labor, trotting more, jumping more, and doing work that demands that he spends his energy, you want to feed him Cool Stance Horse feed to replenish his muscles. 

The Cool Stance horse feed perfectly complements your horses’ food program.

Healthy Fats Source

Another reason Cool Stance is a great option is that it is a good source of healthy fats. 

What makes it different from other feeds is that it is high in medium-chain triglycerides. These are simply a unique type of fat because the muscles in the horse’s body can use it readily for energy. 

Since it is a good source of healthy fat, it is great for skin and coat health. If you want a shiny and soft coat, Cool Stance horse feed is a great compliment for a feeding program. 

Versatility

Cool Stance is a versatile product as it is appropriate for various horses. It is the ideal feed choice to support your horse’s performance and lifestyle. 

You can serve Cool Stance horse feed either wet or dry. But many horse owners like to feed it wet. Feeding it wet increases the ease of passage of the food into the horse’s stomach for easy digestion and the risk of a clog in the throat is avoided. 

Cool Stance horse feed can absorb up to 3 times its weight in water, so it is a really good way to keep your horses hydrated. Add the water and stir until it turns into a delicious and nice-smelling mash. 

Most horses love the taste, so even if you have a picky eater, this is a great product to try with them because the chances are that they will love it. 

Many horses can’t eat hay very well and are not well adapted to high-ground feed, so this is a great feed choice for your horses.

Benefits of Feeding Horses Cool Stance 

After extensive research on the impact of high starch diets on horse behavior and performance, which is the traditional diet, the solution proposed is the addition of coconut meal and oil to the horse’s diet.

This has been a great success as most horses fall in love with this feed in no time due to its rich and nutritious content. You can feed Cool Stance to any horse, whether breeding, lay-up, or working. 

The oil extraction of this feed is mechanical from wild-harvested coconuts in the South Pacific. 

The heating of the white flesh of the coconut during production to mechanically extract the oil makes it brown. Cool Stance feed does not have any coconut husk or shell because it is 100% white coconut meat.

Check out some of the benefits of feeding your horses Cool Stance Feed.

• It contains high-density energy from oil and digestible fiber, about 1630 calories/Ibs.
• It is a low GI (glycemic index) feed containing less than 11% of NSC (Non-Structural Carbohydrates).
• It is rich in MCT (Medium Chain Triglycerides) and aids in fast digestion, unlike other polyunsaturated oils from corn, flaxseed, and soy.
• It lessens the need for hay.
• It helps to prevent metabolic disorders like colic, laminitis, etc.
• Provides a balanced and necessary supply of protein and energy.
• It is made up of saturated coconut oil and is not susceptible to oxidation or rancidity.

Serving Sizes for the Cool Stance Horse Feed

It is important to note that the Cool Stance Horse Feed has different serving sizes for various horse sizes. So when figuring out what is right for your horse, you want to check the bag for the serving sizes.

Horse type	Level of activity	Stance Lb per day
Foals		Free choice in a creep feeder
Weanlings	After three months of age	1.1 – 2.2
Broodmares	First 2 trimesters Last trimester	2.2 – 6.6 6.6
Wet mares	Early lactation Late lactation	6.6 – 8.8 4.4
Horses on Layoff or in Recovery	Not in work	1.1 – 2.2
Performance horses	Light Medium Heavy	2.2 4.4 6.6 – 8.8

Tips for Feeding Your Horse Cool Stance

• Ensure that you gradually introduce Cool Stance into your horse’s diet for about ten to fourteen days. If you are not comfortable feeding and giving it alone to your horse, you can mix it with concentrates or grains.
• Cool Stance can absorb a minimum of three times its weight in water. For instance, you can add three quarts of water into 3 Lbs of Cool Stance. You can leave it soaking for hours without a problem as Cool Stance contains low starch and sugar levels. Hence, you can serve your horse wet or dry Cool Stance, as it prefers.
• It is necessary to feed your horse Cool Stance in addition to roughage like pasture or hay. Providing this combination helps your horse to get adequate fiber.
• Ensure that you store Cool Stance in a dry and cool place to preserve it.
• Feed twice per day.
• Cool Stance should be fed with a high-quality mineral/vitamin supplement and high-quality grass hay because it is not a complete feed.

As a horse owner, you love your horse and probably like to spoil them with some treats from time to time. But unfortunately, everyone has a different idea of what treats are best, and your horse will gobble up everything you place in front of them.

We ask: What fruits are healthy treats?

This article will list healthy fruits that can be fed to your horse in moderation as treats and touch on the fruits that we should avoid.  If you would like to find out more, please read on.

Can Horses Eat Fruit?

Horses can eat most fruits, especially apples, pears, and melons. However, you should always remove any stones, pips, or seeds as these can be a possible choking hazard. 

Can Horses Eat Apples?

We all know how much horses love apples, ask any person what horses like to eat, and chances are they’ll mention apples. As well as being tasty and juicy, they’re also extremely healthy.

Apples are full of vitamins and minerals that can have benefits such as reducing the risk of obesity and heart problems. They also contain dietary fiber, which helps the horse digest the apple and all other foods.

Can Horses Eat Bananas?

Not only can horses eat the whole banana (including the peel), but it also has several health benefits too, including preventing ulcers and even repairing cell damage.

Can Horses Eat Apricots?

Apricots are full of goodness and high in vitamins A, C, and E and antioxidants that can help protect your horse from many illnesses and bacterial diseases.

Like apples, apricots also contain dietary fiber that will help to keep your horse’s digestive system in tiptop condition from start to finish.

Can Horses Eat Pears?

Pears contain a few more calories than apples but have less sugar and 50% more dietary fiber. As with apples, you should remove the stalk, seeds, and leaves before cutting them in half and feeding them to your horse.

Can Horses Eat Oranges?

Not all horses will like the taste of oranges but they’re perfectly okay for them to eat. What’s more, they can also help to boost your horse’s energy levels.

Oranges have the same amount of sugar as melons but have fewer calories and more vitamin C.

Can Horses Eat Grapes?

Red and green grapes make wonderful juicy treats for horses.  You can serve them fresh or frozen. The sweeter the grape, the more likely your horse is to accept this treat. 

Recent research by supplement companies has found that grapes are packed full of prebiotics and probiotics, which means that grapes have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and even anti-cancer properties.

Can Horses Eat Mango?

Mangos are perfectly okay for horses to eat, but they are relatively high in sugar, so they should only be fed as an occasional treat.

Before feeding mangos to your horse, though, you should remove the peel and the stone because they both contain toxins. 

Can Horses Eat Melon?

As long as you remove the seeds from the melons, you can safely feed them to your horse. They’re delicious in the summer for helping to cool your horse down.

Whether it’s honeydew, cantaloupe, honey globe, or snap, all melons are perfectly okay for horses to eat. They generally have a low sugar content and a high water content which means that your horse can eat more of them than some other fruits. As long as you clean it properly first you can also feed the rind to your horse, although I wouldn’t recommend feeding the seeds.

The exact amount varies between different melons, but they all have a plethora of vitamins and minerals that will help keep your horse healthy. From their coat to their bones, melons can benefit every part of your horse.

Can Horses Eat Strawberries?

Strawberries make fantastic healthy treats for horses. They’re packed with nutrients that help boost your horse’s immune system and an assortment of vitamins and minerals that will keep your horse healthy. They’re also low in sodium and are virtually fat-free.

Can Horses Eat Pineapples?

The flesh of the pineapple is more than okay for horses to eat. It’s tasty and can help boost your horse’s overall health.

Not only are pineapples super tasty they also contain a lot of bromelains that will help your horse digest their food.

How to Feed Fruit to Horses

While they don’t contain as much as oranges (and nowhere near the amount of kiwi), pineapples still have their fair share of vitamin C.

There are many ways to feed fruit to your horse with the most obvious way being to cut the fruit into smaller pieces and then provide it straight to your horse but if you want to make treats a bit more ‘interesting’ for your horse then here are a few different ways to feed them to your horse.

Mix with their feed: 

It might not seem like a treat to your horse, but it’s a great way to spoil them without encouraging bad habits. Your horse will just think it’s part of its food but will still get the goodness from the fruit.

Ice lollies: 

You can chop some fruit up, mix them with water and then either pour them into an ice cube mold or, if you have a big enough freezer, freeze a block and feed your horse. It will keep them cool and keep them occupied for a while.

Hide the fruit: 

If you have a horse feeder, you can put chopped-up pieces of fruit inside and allow your horse to find them for himself. This will keep him stimulated but will also encourage his natural foraging instincts.

Use a syringe: 

Once you’ve blended the fruit into a puree, you can put it into an old dewormer syringe and then squirt it directly into your horse’s mouth, as you would do with dewormer. This will stop your horse from associating the syringes with dewormer paste, making that task easier next time too!

Final Thought

Fruits are rich sources of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making them a valuable addition to any horse’s feeding regimen. Diets that need to be low in sugar and starch can still safely accommodate moderate amounts of fresh fruits. It will not only be pleasing to your horse but will offer additional nutrients that likely do not exist in the current diet.

A classic summer treat for many of us is crunching down on sweet-tasting corn on the cob. Much like when you crunch down on an apple or a carrot, some of us have asked: Can horses eat corn?

Yes, horses can eat corn. Corn is a palatable grain that gives a lot of energy, making it ideal for horses to maintain an excellent body condition. It is perfect for horses with a high activity level, such as working and performing horses.

This article will cover the nutritional value, benefits, risks, and more when feeding corn to horses. 

Nutritional Value of Corn

The nutritional profile of North American corn.

Nutrient Name	% Amount
Dry Matter	87.2 %
Crude Protein	9.5 %
Crude Fibre	2.3 %
NDF	11.9 %
ADF	3.1 %
Lignin	0.6 %
Starch	73.1 %
Total Sugars	3.1 %
Digestible Energy	1.54 Mcal
Calcium	0.2 g
Phosphorus	2.9 g
Magnesium	1.2 g
Potassium	3.5 g
Zinc	23 mg
Copper	2 mg
Iron	21 mg

Benefits Of Feeding Horses Corn On The Cob

Vitamin A:

Vitamin A functions as a powerful antioxidant for horses, functioning in all important ways in their systems. The vitamin works to support their reproductive functions and vision and gives another significant boost to their immune system.

Starch:

Corn has a lower fiber but a higher starch content than other grains such as oats. Also, it can produce twice as much energy as oats per volume. Therefore, be very careful with your horse’s weight, especially when they do not have an effective way of utilizing the extra energy.

Energy:

Corn has a variety of value in a horse’s diet, but it is primarily added to feed as an energy source. It is one of the most energy-dense feeds, with a digestible energy value that is more than twice that of oats at a whopping 1.54 Mcal of digestible energy (DE) per pound.

Corn has high energy content per weight and a high weight per unit volume. Therefore, feeding a volume of Corn thus provides a horse two to three times more energy than that same volume of oats. So attention to weight is necessary when feeding Corn.

Potassium:

Potassium plays an essential role in normal muscle contraction and relaxation. It also controls the osmatic pressure.

Risks of Feeding Horses Corn on the Cob

Too Much Starch:

You should take care when feeding corn to horses. As with most cereal grains, it’s best not to provide large quantities at any one time. 

Starchy foods like corn are digested in the small intestine, but if a horse overeats, some of them may enter the large intestine undigested.  It will upset the balance of good bacteria in the large intestine, which is supposed to digest fiber.  It could lead to digestive upsets such as diarrhea, colic, and laminitis.

Hyper-activity:

When you see a horse with corn in its diet that is acting hyper, more often than not, it’s due to an owner who substituted straight corn for an equal volume of another grain in their horse’s diet.  They unknowingly supplied more than twice the energy to their horse in the same amount. 

Digestive Issues:

An older horse or horse with dental issues needs an easy-to-chew and highly digestible source of nutrients to maintain its health and condition. They have a more challenging time with digestion. 

These horses will have difficulty eating whole corn.  In addition, struggling to chew and feed properly can compromise the rest of the digestion process, often resulting in weight loss.

Mycotoxins:

Corn is susceptible to various molds that can produce mycotoxins that seriously affect horse health.

This danger is more prevalent in states with warm, humid climates during the corn growing season. The mycotoxin fumonisin can infect the corn kernel, and unfortunately, horses will readily eat contaminated corn since the fumonisin toxin doesn’t decrease the corn’s palatability.

Fumonisin causes a neurological condition called equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM), also known as moldy corn disease.

ELEM causes the degradation of the white matter of the horse’s brain, resulting in blindness, coordination problems, and death.

Genetically Modified Organisms:

You might want to know that 86% of all U.S. Corn products are Monsanto GMO and are carcinogenic.  Next to soy, corn is one of the most prevalent genetically modified foods in the US food supply.

Can Horses Eat Corn Cob?

The cob boosts the fiber content of corn. Its kernels only contain around 2% fiber makeup, but the cob increases that number significantly.

Horses tend to enjoy cobs for chewing once they have finished eating the grains. Cobs should not, however, be introduced as the primary food source or a regular part of the diet.

Can Horses Eat Corn Husk?

Like all the other parts of the corn, toxins can also grow on husks. If any sign of fungus or mold can be seen, do not feed it to your horse.

There is little nutritional value for horses found in the husk but little else of concern. Horses shouldn’t be eating corn husks as a regular part of their diet, but a chomp here and there, provided there is no fungus, should not harm them.

Can Horses Eat Corn Stalk?

Corn stalks are often used as part of horse bedding. And while not primarily used as a food source, the same careful consideration should be given to the kernels because stalks are just as susceptible to that same toxic fungus.

How to Feed Corn to Horses

You can steam flake, crack, or roll corn and add it to a mixture before feeding. It is not advisable to use corn as the sole grain for horses due to its high starch content. Instead, you can mix the corn with other grains to balance the amount of starch your horse gets.

Processing effectively reduces the amount of fermented starch in a horse’s intestines. However, it disrupts the structure of starch, making it more vulnerable to digestive enzymes in the intestines. Also, consider using commercial corn since it is tested for mycotoxins.

If you want to treat your horse to some fresh corn, the best way is to buy corn kernels from the store. These will be free from toxins and already prepared for the horse to eat safely.

Final Thought

While corn husks do not pose a massive risk to your horse, any form of corn, including the stalks, kernels, and cob, should be given strictly, in moderation, and watchful. The most significant risk is mycotoxins, as these can be difficult to detect. 

Since corn husks have little nutritional value, we recommend leaving them off the menu altogether. There are plenty of other yummy treats to offer your horse!

Grass, hay, carrots, apples. We think of horses as herbivores, living off of a vegetarian diet.  But you might have wondered – do horses eat meat, too?

This question might seem weird, but horses are routinely fed dried fish through winter for extra protein in Iceland.

This article will explore the reasons why horses are fed meat.

Horses Are Herbivores

Horses are herbivores, so they need plant products such as grass, fruits, etc. In addition, they have a delicate digestive system geared up to process plant matter and not meat. Therefore, horses will not naturally eat meat on their own, whether domestic or in the wild.

Digestive System

A horse’s stomach and the intestines are large and long. Therefore, plant matter takes longer to digest and break down inside the body to allow all the nutrients to be absorbed fully.

When you compare it to a carnivore’s system, stomachs that are designed for eating meat are smaller and the intestines shorter.

Therefore, meat is digested faster and expelled from the body more quickly. Carnivores also have a particular type of liver that removes toxins found in various meats. Unfortunately, horses’ livers lack this vital function.

Furthermore, horses are unable to vomit. This leads to scary complications if they eat some bad meat for some reason. 

Teeth

Another difference between horses and traditional meat-eaters lies in the teeth. Horses have flat, molar-like teeth meant for grinding and chewing rather than tearing and ripping, like the sharper teeth in carnivores.

Instead, horse mouths contain twelve incisors used for cutting plants, twelve premolars, and twelve molars, which are used to grind down on traditionally tough stems and leaves.

Reasons Why Horses Eat Meat

As a Supplement

Sometimes, horse owners in Europe and America will add beef gelatin and bone meal to horse feed. While not fed to horses outright, these are common supplements, fortifying food with additives to help horses stock up on needed proteins and fats.

Horses can also suffer from pica, a mineral deficiency. As a result, they may find themselves gnawing on things such as bones or cartilage to balance out those missing nutrients.

Salty Taste

Things such as dried fish may not be desirable to a horse because they are meat, but rather for their sodium content.

A horse will enjoy licking something salty. Its body craves these minerals, hence the appeal of the Icelandic dried fish.

Times of War

Times of war or other hardships have led to some historical accounts of horses eating meat.

In desert lands where vegetation was scarce and warring regularly occurred, people fed their horses a mixture of honey, dried locusts, and dried camel meat. 

Cold and Harsh Climates

Climate, especially harsh winters, can lead to more carnivorous tendencies. In a harsh climate, Tibetan horses are often fed a mixture of blood and grain. 

These additions to their diets keep their systems healthy and help them survive a cold, unforgiving winter. But they are not eating meat so much as being fed meat derivatives here. 

Healthy Food and Treats for Horses

Pasture Grass

Horses love grass, and you should allow them to eat as much grass as possible.

Hay and Straw

You can give hay and straw to your horses. One benefit of hay and straw is that it does not stink nor have a foul smell like harvested grass. Hay and straw are more suitable for long-term storage.

Hay contains the necessary amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, fibers, etc., for horses, so hay usually makes up most of a horse’s diet.

Cereal Grains

Grains such as wheat, barley, rye, etc., are favorite foods of horses, and you can regularly provide grains to your horses.

Remember to properly store your grains moisture-free to prevent bacteria and fungi spoilage.

Fruits and Vegetables

Your horse loves fruits and vegetables. Remember to give horses fruit as treats. Horses can eat fruits such as:

• Apples
• Bananas
• Oranges
• Mangoes
• Pineapples

Give horses a lot of vegetables as vegetables contain the needed amounts of nutrients that horses need. Vegetables are just like grass and hay but have more nutrients. Examples of vegetables that horses can eat are:

• Asparagus
• Brussel Sprouts
• Celery
• Cabbages
• Lettuce

Make sure to give your horses a lot of vegetables. Remember that you can mix carrots and other vegetables for variety.

Commercially-Made Treats

You can shop for commercial treats for your horse if you run out of other treat ideas.

Note that horse treats usually contain a lot of carbohydrates and energy, so you should not give your horses too many treats.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that the horse’s biology is not set up to eat meat.  From its teeth to the stomach to extracting nutrients, a horse’s body is naturally vegetarian. While there are some exceptions or additives to their diets, it does not mean most horses should or could eat meat.

Every person that has cared for horses knows that they love treats. Although treats do not have much nutritional value, they are an important part of your interaction with the animal. Treats can be used to reward or calm an animal. But what treats can be given to a horse?

Horses enjoy various fruits and vegetables. Do horses like eating watermelons? Absolutely! Unlike dairy products,  they are not harmful. In fact, in Europe, it is common to give horses watermelon as snacks.

The portions must be cut into small bites.  Serving large portions of any food is dangerous as the animal could choke or have a hard time digesting it. 

But Which Part of Watermelon is Better?

Which part of the watermelon can be given to a horse? The truth is, both the sweet part and the rind are good for them! In fact, most foals prefer the rind. Instead of dumping them after eating the watermelons yourself, you could leave them in the stable for your livestock to enjoy. 

Of course, watermelons do not provide much nutrition and should not be used as a substitute for proper feed like grass or hay. Watermelons are 90% water and the rest is sugar.

How Much is Enough?

Horses should not be given large quantities of watermelons. The high sugar may pose a threat to the horse’s well-being especially if ingested daily. These treats should be eaten in moderation.

It is recommended to limit a horse’s consumption to two cups of watermelon rind per day. 

Potential Problems Caused by Watermelon Consumption

Watermelon is not recommended for horses with high insulin resistance conditions such as equine Cushing’s disease.

As horses get older they have dental problems that make chewing difficult though they may still be able to eat the flesh without any difficulty.

Watermelon Benefits

Watermelon rinds are a rich source of fiber, potassium, and amino acids. They provide vitamins A, B6, and C. In other words, a heart-healthy snack for both humans and horses.

Fiber is essential in a horse’s diet. The horse’s gastrointestinal tract is a huge organ and it needs to be kept full. The fiber provides the bulk to keep the gut full and healthy. Amino acids keep the blood pressure low and support vascular health.

Fiber is also fat-free, contains no cholesterol, and has only 30 calories per 100g. and is low in sodium. All of which makes watermelon rinds one of the best possible treats you can feed a horse.

Mixing a few chunks with your horse’s feed will vary its meals and encourage him to eat everything. You can also mix the watermelon with wheat, oats, or сoсonut oil to make delicious treats that yоur horse will love.

What Other Treats do Horses Enjoy?

Their usual favorite fruits are apples (without the core), berries, grapes, and watermelon. They can be both dried or raw, but it is important to be cut up into small pieces to avoid any choking hazards. Their favorite vegetables are carrots, lettuce, green beans, and celery.

Other treats that you can give your horse are sugar cubes (be careful to keep them small), pretzels, sunflower seeds, and oatmeal. Always consult a vet about your horse’s diet. Having a balanced nutrition-rich diet is crucial for a horse’s health.

Experiment by giving them various snacks. Make sure to not exclude their main feed.

And What Should be Avoided at All Costs?

Bear in mind that not everything is appropriate for horses to eat. They are lactose intolerant – they cannot consume cheese, milk, yogurt, and eggs. Other foods to avoid are avocado, meat, lawn clippings, and chocolate.

Nightshades are very dangerous for horses. This family also includes tomato, eggplant, and pepper. Horses are not attracted by the smell or taste of these vegetables. However, they may be tempted to eat the stems and leaves while they are growing if they have access to them in a pasture. They are toxic and affect the nervous system, sometimes resulting in death.

What Is Involved in a Horse’s Diet?

Horses can be demanding in their daily food intake. They are supposed to be fed hay and its contents and volumes vary with age. Forage for horses is usually divided into two categories – legumes and grasses. 

Alfalfa is much more nutrient-dense than most grasses, making it an important part of a horse’s diet. It is known to contain more digestible energy, as well as crude protein and calcium while having less unneeded carbohydrates such as starches and sugars.

Horses fed mostly with grass hay might lack the nutrients contained in watermelon rinds. Therefore, this snack could be a great solution if your horse does not finish its food.

Are other melons good for a horse? If we are talking about honeydew, cantaloupe, Galia, or any other type of melon, horses can eat them. The nutritional value will vary with each fruit and of course, your horse might not like the taste of all of them but there’s no reason why they can’t eat any type of melon.

In conclusion, you can feed watermelon rinds to your equine pet. It is a common treat used by European horse owners and it is one of the healthiest choices.

Proper nutrition is essential for a horse’s health and performance. Paying close attention to its diet should be a priority for every owner. Forage is the main component in their diet which is either legumes or grass. Treats are also often involved either as supplements due to their minerals or simply for fun and interaction.

Treats For Horses

Most horses love treats. Although they are sometimes picky, horses prefer fruits and vegetables such as carrots, watermelon rinds, berries, and apples.  They can be both dried or raw, but they should be cut up into small pieces to avoid choking. Their favorite vegetables are carrots, lettuce, green beans, and celery.

Do Horses Enjoy Grapes and Their Benefits

But can horses eat grapes?  Yes. They provide several important nutrients and contain natural sugar.

Grapes regulate sugar levels in animals. Also, they contain high amounts of water and help to prevent dehydration. 

If your horse refuses to drink water, feeding them fruits or vegetables can compensate for this shortfall

Grapes also provide fiber, vital in a horse’s daily feed. The general rule is that horses need 1 kilo of fiber per 100 kilograms of bodyweight. Grapes are a good supplement if your horse does not meet this threshold.

Grapes are very safe to eat. Due to their small size, there is no risk of choking. They are easier to feed since most treats require cutting into small pieces in order to avoid any choking hazards.

Important Notes To Take

Sometimes horses refuse to eat such fruits because they contain seeds. Make sure to check your horse’s tolerance for the seeds in grapes, watermelons, and other feed. 

Moderation and balance are important. The proper amount of grapes is between 10 and 20 per week. More than that can increase the sugar level of your horse and cause weight gain and addiction to the sweet taste.

A Horse’s Diet 

Horses can normally eat 1.5 to 2% of their body weight in hay. For a 1200-pound (roughly 550 kg) horse, this equates to 18-24 lbs (8-10.5 kg). It varies depending on the nutrients and quality of the hay.

Not all hays provide the same energy and nutrients even if they are the same plant. For example, alfalfa could be off-colored, dusty, moldy, or weed-ridden, just as any grass hay might be. On the other hand, good quality is characterized by the vividly green color and smell. 

Consult with a vet on your horse’s nutrition needs. Usually, alfalfa is recommended for horses struggling to maintain a healthy weight. It can also be helpful to horses suffering from muscle problems or horses with EMS (equine metabolic syndrome) due to the legume’s low amounts of nonstructural carbohydrates. 

In general, every horse has its own nutritional requirements so it is best to consult a specialist in order to find the best balance between grass and legume hays.

Apаrt frоm enеrgy and wаtеr, it is impоrtant to monitor minerаl intаkе. Calcium and phosphorus desеrvе саrеful attеntiоn. Fоr mаturе horsеs thаt аrе in mаintеnancе, the dаily nutrients should be 4g per 100kg of weight of calcium and 3g per 100kg of phosphorus.

Why Grapes can be Very Useful

Grapes contain potassium and vitamin C. They support the immune system while also improving nerve and muscle function.

Like most treats, grapes can be used to reward your horse. If your horse prefers grapes over other fruits and vegetables it can be used as a reward when the horse does well. 

The Negative Side of Grapes

There are some rare cases when grapes should not be fed to a horse. One of them is if the horse suffers from an insulin-resistant disease. The most common one among the equine animals is HYPP. The sugar levels in the fruit may cause health problems.

Another instance is if your horse is allergic to grapes. When you first feed them grapes,  pay close attention to any symptoms of allergy such as breaking out in hives.

Unwashed grapes can be dangerous for horses. Pesticides are present in all fruits so washing them first is recommended. Although grapes are much tastier without the stems, your horse will not mind if you give them grapes directly from the branch after washing.

Conclusion

During the summer when the temperatures are hot, feeding your horse grapes can be a delightful treat to freshen its day.

Taking care of a horse is very time consuming. From cleaning the stable to providing fresh water and enough feed on a daily basis, it can be very demanding to own a horse. Having an equine friend is awesome and the joys should definitely outweigh the burdens. But how much do horses eat?

As with any animal, it varies. For example, a young foal that is growing needs more nutrition than a mature one which is simply maintaining its weight and is not doing physical labor.

As a rule, horses can normally eat 1.5 to 2% of their body weight in hay. For a 1200-pound (roughly 550 kg) horse, this equates to 18-24 lbs (8-10.5 kg). This amount varies depending on the nutrients and quality of the hay.

Generally, every 100 kg of weight would increase the amount of food by 1.5 to 2 kg. 

The Importance of Nutrition

Cоrrect nutrition is important for both hеаlth and performance of your horse. Their nutritional needs dеpеnd on аgе, grоwth, асtivity, hеаlth, аnd еnvirоnment.

Forage for horses has two categories – legumes and grasses. Alfalfa is much more nutrient-dense than most grasses, making it an important part of a horse’s diet. It contains more digestible energy, as well as crude protein and calcium while having fewer wasted carbohydrates such as starches and sugars.

Not all hays provide the same energy and nutrients, even if they are the same plant. For example, alfalfa could be dusty, moldy, or weed-ridden, as any grass hay might be. On the other hand, good quality is characterized by the vividly green color and smell. 

Consult with a vet on your horse’s nutrition needs. Alfalfa is recommended for horses struggling to maintain a healthy weight. It can also be helpful to horses suffering from muscle problems or horses with EMS (equine metabolic syndrome) due to the legume’s low amounts of nonstructural carbohydrates. 

It is generally a good feed for horses that require more nutrition like broodmares, growing offspring, racehorses, or young foals that do not receive sufficient milk.

Are Treats Required?

Treats are also part of a horse’s daily food intake. These may include watermelon rinds and carrots. Other fruits and vegetables, like apples, berries, and spinach are recommended. Although there are no concrete rules, it is sensible to limit such snacks to 1 or 2 cups per day

Tips on Feeding a Horse Properly

Some important things to note:

• Feed twice a day. Small frеquent feeds are better than a once-daily fееd.
• Provide plenty of roughage which аids digestion and sаtisfies hunger.
• Only provide good quality fееd. Avoid musty or moldy material.
• Treat horses regularly for worms. Cоnsult with yоur veterinarian for a suitable regime.
• Provide аccеss to a salt liсk.
• Avoid feeding on the ground which can lead to incrеаsed ingestion of worm larvae.
• Keep enоugh spаce so that every horsе has ассеss to food.
• Chеck horses’ tееth regularly.

The Role of Minerals

It is impоrtant to keep trаck of minerаl intаkе and cаlсium аnd phosphоrus. Fоr mаturе horsеs, dаily nutrients should be 4g per 100kg of weight of calcium and 3g per 100kg of phosphorus. 

Lactating mares require 11g of calcium per 100 kg and 7g of phosphorus per 100 kg. For аll horsеs, thе calcium to phоsphorous ratios should be >1:1.

Legumеs such as аlfаlfа and clovеr, arе riсh in cаlcium аnd grаss hays, such аs timоthy аnd orchаrd grаss and аlso cоntain cаlcium, but at a lowеr lеvеl thаn lеgumе hаys. The phosphorus in hay is more readily available to the horse than that fоund in cеrеаl grаins.

Horses Love Salt

Even in the wild, horses hunger for salt. They consume it to meet their daily needs, so you do not need to supplement their diet with it.  There is no solid data to show the exact requirements, but it is generally accepted that horses need about 1.8g of salt per kg of feed.

Salt licks in the form of blocks can be given to horses in moderation. 

Don’t Feed Before or After Exercise

Don’t feed a horse immediately before or after exercise. Wаit аn hоur аftеr a hоrse has finished a meal before riding them. For more strenuous exercise, wait up to three hours. A full stomach gives the lungs less room to work and makes exercise much harder on them.

In addition, blооd flоw is diverted from the digestive organs during pеriods of exеrtiоn, sо gut mоvemеnt slоws and cоlic is a possibility. Whеn feeding а hоrsе аftеr work, let thеm cооl dоwn cоmplеtеly—thеir brеаthing rаte should be bаck to normаl, аnd thеіr skin shоuld nоt fееl hоt or sweaty.

Conclusion

The most important thing to remember when feeding a horse is that it should consume 1.5% to 2% of its body weight every day. Forage composed of legumes and grass (or both) should be carefully picked by a dietary specialist. 

Adding water makes it easier to consume and helps to keep the hydration levels normal. You can either add in the treats with the main feed or give them separately throughout the day. 

Feed your horse multiple times a day. The hay should be given two or three times a day.

Horses are a demanding animal to care for. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and developing muscles to increase their power is very important. Whether the horse is racing, used for labor, or for weekend leisure, caring for it properly takes a lot of time.

From water supply to maintaining a stable and providing high-quality feed, a horse is not easy to raise. Nutrition is essential for its well-being. Can cheese be part of a horse’s diet?

Why Cheese Should Never be Given to Horses

The answer is no. Horses are lactose intolerant – they cannot consume cheese, milk, yogurt, and eggs.

Lactose intolerance is a condition in which an animal’s digestive system is unable to break down lactose, a type of sugar found in milk and other dairy products. These animals lack an enzyme called lactase which is the key to breaking down lactose. This condition is also common in humans, which may drink milk with 0% lactose instead. 

Horses have evolved as non-ruminant grazing animals and spend several hours eating forage. Feeding on grasses relatively lower in nutrient and energy content, they have adjusted their evolutionary behavior by consuming enough to meet their dietary demands. Most horses would do well when fed good quality hay, fresh water, and a quality mineral block.

While cheese may seem like an easy snack to share with your equine pal, it is definitely not recommended and will cause a high veterinary bill and working overtime cleaning up after your horse.

Consuming any dairy products will cause stomach upset among other health complications.

Horses are not able to digest dairy products.

Other common symptoms are diarrhea, bloating, and even colic.

But Foals Drink Milk After Birth?

You may wonder why all horses are lactose intolerant yet as mammals require their mother’s milk when growing. The answer is that horses develop this condition while growing.

An interesting fact about horses is that they do not vomit when they have an upset stomach and repel whatever is making them feel sick. Thus, they remain sick for longer periods of time.

The Danger of Colic and How To Spot It

While the side effects may not be dire, intentionally feeding your horse large amounts of cheese should always be avoided to avoid diarrhea and colic.

You may have recently given your horse some cheese or it may have been accidentally eaten and wonder whether your beloved animal suffers from colic. Horse colic is a very common side effect when it ingests cheese of any kind. It is basically a spasm in their stomach that is reacting to the food it is unable to process.

Mild cases are characterized by the horse being tired, withdrawn, or generally uncomfortable. In more serious cases, the animal may thrash violently due to the pain and will require attention from a specialist.

Good Treats for Horses

Avoid giving even small slices of cheese to your horse. There are plenty of other treats that you can give them, like carrots or alfalfa hay (see our article on how much alfalfa your horse should eat). 

Foals also enjoy apples (without the core), berries, grapes, and watermelon. They can be both dried or raw, but it is important to be cut up into small pieces to avoid any choking hazards. Their favorite vegetables, along with carrots, include lettuce, green beans, and celery.

Other treats that you can give your horse are sugar cubes (be careful to keep them small), pretzels, sunflower seeds, and oatmeal. Always consult a vet. Having a balanced nutrition-rich diet is crucial for a horse’s health.

Cheese and other dairy products contain high levels of calcium which is known to support healthy bones and teeth among other benefits. Horses also require this nutrient and it can be given through either a supplement or by adding alfalfa hay to their diet.

In general, a horse only needs hay or grass and water.  Any extra snacks or treats are not a must but could be added to their diet if safe for consumption. 

However, treats are an important part of interaction with your horse. They may be used for rewarding certain behavior or completing a task. It is the owner’s choice whether to give these treats and what they will be.

What Other Foods Are Dangerous for a Horse?

Besides dairy, some other foods such as avocado, meat, lawn clippings, and chocolate should be avoided.

Nightshades, like potatoes, are very dangerous for horses. This family also includes tomato, eggplant, and pepper. Horses are not attracted by the smell or taste of these vegetables, however, they may be tempted to eat the stems and leaves while they are growing if they have access to them in a pasture. They are toxic and affect the nervous system, sometimes resulting in death.

Conclusion

Horses are not supposed to have cheese in their diet. Avoid giving them dairy products at all costs.

The Importance of Water

Horses need water every day. But how much is enough?  It varies, depending on a horse’s lifecycle and its environment. 

Hydration is essential for the health of any animal. Sufficient water ensures that the digestive process is normal and protects from colic, dehydration, and other fatal ailments. Surprisingly, it is more complicated than just providing the animal with water.

Many horses refuse to drink water. The famous idiom, “you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink” is more accurate than one would think.

A horse deprived of food but supplied with drinking water can survive 20 to 25 days. A horse without water may only live 3 or 6 days. After not drinking water for two days. a horse may refuse to eat and exhibit signs of colic and other life-threatening ailments.

How much water and other requirements for a horse’s needs

The average horse needs between 5 to 10 gallons of water a day, depending on its age, weight, and climate

Horses prefer slightly warm water, around 20°C or 68°F, especially in colder weather.

An average adult horse that is not in labor, lactating, or is not carrying extra weight will generally drink 5 liters per 100 kg of body weight. Where temperatures are high or in high levels of humidity, their water intake increases by about 80%.

An animal’s health also affects water intake. If a horse suffers from diarrhea, it can easily become dehydrated even if it drinks normal amounts of water.

Dehydration – how to spot and avoid 

It is easy to check if your horse is dehydrated:  its heart rate increases above the average of 28 to 40 beats per minute. Its gum color changes due to dehydration. The normal color of a horse’s gums is bubblegum pink. 

A healthy horse will have moist gums, while a dehydrated one will have dry gums. Skin elasticity is affected by low water intake too. This is detectable via a skin pinch test which is made along the neck. When pinched, the skin should retract within two seconds.

Colic is still the number one killer of horses and drinking more water is one of the recommended ways to reduce this risk. A horse that is not drinking enough water can begin to experience dehydration and impaction colic in as few as 48 hours.

A horse’s food intake also affects hydration levels. Hay quality is a factor that impacts the risk of colic. It is worth investing in better quality feed for your horse which includes alfalfa and/or grass hay.

Suggestions on How To Improve Water Supply

During the winter, an automatic waterer is the simplest way to keep your horse hydrated. Top of the line waterers feature rugged, insulated polyethylene or stainless-steel units with designs that seal cold air away from the high-capacity valves. 

Options like thermostatically controlled heat, self-regulated heaters, immersion heaters, and digital water meters are available. Water temperature is key, especially in colder conditions. Horses will not drink cold water.

Horses have a natural tendency to drink less water in colder temperatures so you need to be diligent and provide them with fresh, clean water at the right temperature. Turning up the heat and keeping the place warm during colder times is important to prevent your horse from drinking less water.

How to Improve Your Horse’s Water

If horses drink near-ice water, their water consumption drops below the required levels. It should be a top priority to ensure there is a constant supply at an appropriate temperature.

Another task for owners is to make sure the water provided is clean. Small bits of hay, feed, or even manure in a bucket or trough is unhealthy for any horse. Troughs are notorious for algae growth and leaf/debris decomposition, making the water taste bad. Automatic waterers reduce this chore significantly, but they will still need regular cleaning.

Adding electrolytes and offering loose salt to a horse’s feed will encourage more water consumption. A note of caution about electrolytes. Without adequate water consumption, further dehydration can occur. Adult horses need 1 to 2 ounces of salt daily. Loose salt is preferred over frozen salt blocks during the winter. 

Some other tips if you believe your horse needs more water are soaking their hay in water for about an hour prior to feeding, making a soupy mash or grain meal, or soaking alfalfa or hay pellets. One flake of hay can absorb 4 to 8 liters of water.

Soaking hay for up to an hour in water reduces carbohydrates, potassium, and dust. Therefore, it would be useful to add in some water.

If you’re going to be on the road for a while, consider hanging a hay net filled with soaked hay to provide extra moisture and keep your horse hydrated.

Conclusion

Hydration is key to a healthy lifestyle. Generally, 20 to 40 liters is enough for one foal, depending on its age, life stage, living conditions, and health. Checking water temperature and keeping it clean is important.

Horses have a lot of dietary restrictions, not because they are picky eaters but because their gastrointestinal system is set up in a way that predisposes them to colic.

The average grain and hay can get boring, and your horse is probably looking forward to a nice treat.  If you are looking to expand your horse’s palette, you might wonder: can horses eat sweet potatoes?

The short answer is yes; horses can eat sweet potatoes – in moderation.  They are full of delicious nutrition that will benefit your horse.

This article will discuss everything you need to know about feeding your horse sweet potatoes, the best way to prepare them for your horse, and if the whole sweet potato plant is safe for your horse to ingest.

Nutritional Information of Sweet Potato

Nutritional facts are based on 1 cup of cubed sweet potatoes:

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	114
Sodium	73 mg
Potassium	448 mg
Carbohydrates	27 g
Fiber	4 g
Sugar	6 g
Protein	2.1 g
Vitamin A	337 %
Calcium	4 %
Vitamin C	5 %
Iron	4 %
Water	77 %
Fat	3 g
Vitamin B6	15 %
Vitamin K	5.1 mcg
Magnesium	8 %

Benefits of Sweet Potato in Your Horse’s Diet

On top of protein and dietary fiber sweet potatoes also have a perfect selection of vitamins and minerals:

Vitamin A:

As well as boosting your horse’s immune system and strengthening his bones, Vitamin A can also help to reduce the risk of cataracts.

Vitamin C:

Like Vitamin A, Vitamin C can help to improve your horse’s immune system, but it can also help to heal wounds and keep your horse’s teeth, bones, and cartilage healthy.

Vitamin B5:

Part of the B complex vitamin group, Vitamin B5 can help keep your horse’s coat in good condition. It also works to aid digestion, especially in the digestive tract.

Vitamin B6:

Another B complex vitamin is known to reduce the symptoms of some forms of arthritis and keep the eyes healthy. If your horse suffers from depression, then Vitamin B6 can also help with this.

Vitamin E:

Known for its ability to fight infection, it also works to maintain healthy skin, eyes, and even a healthy coat.

Potassium:

You might not realize it, but potassium is one of the essential minerals in the body; it works to keep a horse’s muscles working correctly and will also help to reduce tiredness after exercise.

Magnesium: 

Not only does manganese help to keep your horse’s bones strong and healthy, but it can also reduce inflammation. The most significant role that manganese plays is in regulating blood sugar, which means that it may be suitable for horses that suffer from conditions such as Equine Cushing’s Disease. 

Fiber:

Fiber keeps the gut full and the horse hydrated by acting as a water reserve. Therefore, it is excellent when it comes to digestive health.

Carbohydrates:

Sweet potatoes contain a significant amount of carbohydrates. Since this is a valuable nutritional ingredient that horses need, sweet potatoes come in handy. Carbohydrates provide the energy that horses require to stay energetic.

Protein:

Sweet potatoes supply horses with these essential nutrients that play a significant role in the body. 

Gastric Ulcers:

Sweet potato is not just another healthy snack for horses,  it has another perk. These veggies are a natural treatment for gastric ulcers in horses. 

Gastric ulcers are more common in racehorses due to their lack of foraging. Most of these horses are in a stable for a significant duration of their time. Because the natural ability to eat lots of nutrient-rich leafy greens in the field is taken away, it negatively impacts the stomach’s acidity.

Even though racehorses are the most susceptible, they are also quite common in domesticated horses. If you find that your horse is suffering from a gastric ulcer, you can use sweet potatoes to soothe their tummy in combination with advice from your veterinarian.

Risks of Feeding Sweet Potatoes to Horses

One of the drawbacks of feeding sweet potatoes to your horse lies in its sugar content (about 6g of sugar per serving).

Besides sugar, sweet potatoes are also high in starches and carbohydrates. A single cup of sweet potatoes packs 27 grams of carbohydrates.

Laminitis:

Laminitis is a painful condition of the sensitive laminae structures in the horse’s hoof.  Laminitis is caused by a disruption of blood flow to the laminae. The laminae consist of soft connective tissue that can quickly become swollen and irritated.

Obesity, sudden ingestion of large amounts of sugars and starches, and high insulin levels are linked to laminitis cases.

Since sweet potatoes are sugary, starchy foods, they should be fed to horses in careful moderation to help avoid laminitis.

Feeding your horse a few sweet potatoes will not hurt, but providing them regularly or in excess can cause obesity and insulin resistance, or aggravate existing insulin resistance.

The potassium content of sweet potatoes can also be problematic in horses with pre-existing conditions such as Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis disease.

There is also a choking risk if the serving size is too big for your horse to swallow or chew.

Therefore, the risks of feeding sweet potatoes to your horse include:

• Choking – provide only small pieces that can be chewed comfortably by your horse.
• The risk of obesity is because of the extra sugar and carbs added to your horse’s diet (if fed in excess).
• Worsening of pre-existing conditions such as insulin resistance or Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis disease.
• Risk of colic or gastrointestinal upset if too much of it is consumed.

Therefore, do not feed sweet potatoes or other vegetables high in sugar (e.g., carrots) or potassium (e.g., watermelon) to horses with pre-existing conditions.

Should Horses Eat Raw or Cooked Sweet Potatoes?

If you’re wondering whether to feed your horse raw or cooked potatoes, you’ll be happy to know that both raw and cooked sweet potatoes are safe for your horse.

The only differences between them are their nutritional value and ease of consumption. Raw sweet potatoes have a higher nutritional value, whereas cooked sweet potatoes lose some of their nutritional value during the cooking process.

Cooked sweet potatoes are better for older horses or horses with dental problems that may not be able to chew raw sweet potatoes properly.

Can Horses Eat Sweet Potato Peel?

Yes, horses can eat sweet potato peelings. Sweet potato peelings have almost twice as many antioxidants as their flesh and contain considerable amounts of fiber!

Horses also love eating the peel. Roughly chop a sweet potato for your horse and let them enjoy their healthy treat. 

Can Horses Eat Sweet Potato Leaves and Vines?

The sweet potato itself may be a safe treat for your horse, but there isn’t much research on whether the leaves and vines of the sweet potato plant are safe for horses to consume.

There’s no research suggesting leaves and vines are toxic to horses. Still, as regular potatoes and their leaves and vines can be problematic, there is always the possibility that sweet potato leaves and vines could be problematic too.

Since there is no definitive answer, avoid feeding your horse the sweet potato leaves and vines. It isn’t worth the potential risk.

Conclusion

Sweet potatoes are an excellent choice for horse owners to add to a balanced diet. They contain healthy vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Like other treat foods, you should feed sweet potatoes in careful moderation. Sweet potatoes are full of starch, carbohydrates, and sugar, which are acceptable for horses in small amounts but can cause many problems in excess.

Raw and cooked sweet potatoes are both good for horses to enjoy. 

We recommend avoiding leaves and stems since we don’t know much about them.

Horses in the wild thrive on a diet of grass and other plants.  From this vegetation, they extract the nutrients needed to grow strong and healthy.  But, do domestic horses eat grass?

The short answer is yes, domestic horses eat grass. Horses need a diet high in fiber and low in starch or sugar to maintain their health. Grass provides this. 

This article examines the importance of grass in horses’ diets and the common types of grass they eat.

Types of Grass for Horses

Grass is essential to horses’ digestion and provides the nutrients they need to grow strong and healthy. There are two categories of grasses: warm-season and cool-season. Bermudagrass is a quality warm-season grass, and timothy, orchardgrass, and bluegrass are good cool-season grasses.

Cool-season grass for horses:

Timothy grass

Easy to grow, thrives in cool, wet regions but doesn’t tolerate close grazing well. It produces leafy stems late in the growing season.

Orchardgrass

Orchardgrass is not a tasty grass, nor one that appeals to picky horses, but it can grow in less than desirable soil conditions.

Tall fescue

Commonly used in Europe, tall fescue grass has deep roots, does well in low pH soils, and retains its quality during the cool growing season. In addition, because of its deep roots, it can withstand both heat and low moisture.

Kentucky bluegrass

Kentucky bluegrass can withstand drought and grows well in light, sandy soil. Since it’s palatable to horses of all ages, many horse owners like it – even though it needs fertilizing more often than usual for optimal growth throughout the year.

Perennial ryegrass

Perennial ryegrass is an ideal forage because it can quickly establish high-yielding growth and rapid regrowth after overgrazing. The downside is that it can cause laminitis in some horses because of the water-soluble carbohydrates (including fructan) it produces.

Warm-season grass for horses:

Bermudagrass

Bermudagrass is a kind of grass that is grown in the south. It can grow in different places and does well on fertile soil. It produces high crops when managed well and has about as much nutrition as orchardgrass or tall fescue.

Bahiagrass

Bahiagrass is grown in many areas of the south. People like it because it’s easy to grow. However, it’s tough, wears down a horse’s teeth, and provides little nutritional value. Therefore, it’s better suited for cows and sheep.

Crabgrass

Crabgrass grows quickly and fills bare spaces. In some places, horse owners use crabgrass for forage, but it grows unevenly and is not desirable as a food source for horses in other areas.

Can Horses Eat Grass Clippings?

Horses can not eat fresh-cut grass because they gobble it down without adequately chewing it, leading to severe health issues. Clumps of cut grass also attract mold and bacteria, resulting in severe and sometimes fatal stomach problems for horses when ingested.

If your horse eats fresh-cut grass, the following are some examples of the potential health conditions:

Colic

There’s a genuine concern of mold accumulating on clumps of grass clippings that are still wet. If your horse eats moldy grass, it may develop a common but painful gut condition known as colic.

Colic is broadly defined as abdominal pain and has many forms, but one common cause is overeating. Large amounts of grass clippings, especially those that haven’t yet dried, stay undigested in the stomach and begin to ferment. This undigested grass can build up gas which exerts pressure on the gut and causes pain.

Diagnosing and managing colic as soon as possible is essential, and is a job best done with a vet’s advice.

Laminitis

Grass is rich in carbs, and excessive eating of freshly cut grass can cause an overload of sugar. A sugar overload causes a chain reaction in the gut and results in chronic foot inflammation.

The condition is known as laminitis. It can permanently cripple the horse or prove fatal in severe cases. If you have any suspicion that your horse is at the risk of foundering, contact the vet immediately.

Choking

Choking happens when the food gets stuck in the horse’s esophagus. It can result in dehydration or infection if the food or any liquid comes in contact with the lungs.

One of the significant causes of choking is ingesting food that hasn’t been chewed properly. For example, if your horse begins choking after eating cut grass, you may notice slight changes in its behavior.

The horse may become uninterested in its feed. Instead, it will try to get the stuck food out by either coughing or shaking its neck downwards. Excessive drooling, the release of light mucus from the nostrils, and an abnormal increase in heart rate are also some of the things you should watch out for.

Can Horses Eat Dry Grass Clippings?

Horses can eat dry grass clippings that have been spread out or given in small amounts. 

Typically, grass that has been cut and widely spread out in the sun should dry out within a day. In contrast, grass cut in humid weather and left in clumps can take up to several days before it is safe for the horses to eat.

Drying time for cut grass depends on many things, including the length of time the grass is exposed to the sun, temperature, humidity, and even the type of grass.

Conclusion

We recommend knowing how many grass clippings you leave for your horses to graze. If you’ve recently mowed your pasture grass, it’s best to keep your horses away until it dries out.

Horses can eat cut grass that is dry, but eating wet grass quickly can cause dangerous health concerns. However, your horse can typically fully recover with early diagnosis and proper treatment.

What is Alfalfa?

Alfalfa is a perennial flowering plant and part of a legume family. It is also known as lucerne, but the name alfalfa is used in North America. It is cultivated in multiple countries around the globe and is used for hay, grazing, and silage. It provides horses with many important nutrients, however, it is not beneficial for all types of horses.

As a rule of thumb, horses can normally eat 1.5 to 2% of their body weight in hay. For a 1200 pound (roughly 550 kg) horse, this equates to 18-24 lbs (8-10.5 kg). This amount varies depending on the nutrients and quality of the hay.

For example, good alfalfa contains about 20% protein and is very high in calcium, compared to almost half the amounts in average grass hay. Therefore, limiting alfalfa to ½ of a horse’s roughage is most sensible. If a horse’s diet contains only alfalfa, the extra energy consumed will be transformed into fat, leading to overweight.

What is involved in a horse’s main feed?

Forage for horses is usually divided into two categories – legumes and grasses. Alfalfa is much more nutrient-dense than most grasses, making it an important part of a horse’s diet. It is known to contain more digestible energy, as well as crude protein and calcium while having less unneeded carbohydrates such as starches and sugars.

Alfalfa hay has been both praised and criticized as a feed for horses. Tradition holds that timothy hay and oats are the best feeds for horses, and that alfalfa and corn spell disaster. 

Not all hays provide the same energy and nutrients even if they are the same plant. For example, alfalfa could be off-coloured, dusty, moldy, or weed-ridden, just as any grass hay might be. On the other hand, good quality is characterized by the vividly green color and smell. 

Alfalfa hay may not be the best feed for all horses in all situations, but it contains nutrients needed for many classes of horses. Grass hay falls short of fulfilling the nutrient requirements of high production life stages but is an excellent filler for horses that require bulk in the diet. A horse’s needs largely depend on its life stage.

How Much Alfalfa is Needed and Benefits

Determining the exact amount of alfalfa that your horse will be fed depends on its needs. Calculating digestible energy, calcium, and protein that the animal requires is a must when you make its diet.

According to nutritionists, alfalfa is ideal for horses struggling to maintain a healthy weight. It can also be helpful to horses suffering from muscle problems or horses with EMS (equine metabolic syndrome) due to the legume’s low amounts of nonstructural carbohydrates.

It is generally a good feed for horses that require more nutrition like broodmares, growing offspring, racehorses or young foals that do not receive sufficient milk. 

Different Types of Horses and Their Needs

Horses with insulin resistance are sensitive to carbohydrates and sugars and will find it hard to eat only grass hays as they are too high in sugar for them. Instead, a legume diet that includes alfalfa is an ideal solution as it lowers sugar intake but keeps the necessary amount of nutrition to keep the horse healthy and strong.

In other instances, where the animal is overweight, alfalfa should be limited or even stopped due to its high amounts of calories. High amounts of alfalfa can also upset the stomach and cause diarrhea.

The mature horse in maintenance condition is neither growing, lactating, pregnant, or working. Therefore its nutrient requirements are low, even though its need for bulk in the diet is still considerable. High-quality alfalfa hay will meet the nutrient needs long before the gut fill requirement is met. 

For these horses grass hay alone or in combination with alfalfa hay, can still meet nutrient requirements, but in a higher volume of feed.

Horses that have recently given birth and are lactating have much higher nutritional needs. Oat hay or alfalfa hay alone is not enough for them to maintain a healthy life. Instead, it is best to combine both and the total amount of food should be between 1.5 and 2.5% of the animal’s weight. Still, they may require supplementation of phosphorus or calcium.

Young offspring also have different requirements to supplement their growth. Alfalfa hay will not meet all of the young horse’s nutrient needs. A concentrate specifically formulated for weanlings should be fed alongside the alfalfa hay.

Possible Concerns for Alfalfa Consumption

If the concentrate and alfalfa combination provides too much energy, a balancer pellet or vitamin and mineral supplement will supply essential nutrients.

Foals involved in labor or races will not receive enough energy off of grass forage alone. They will definitely need the protein and energy that alfalfa hay provides in abundance. Some owners of racehorses try to avoid the legume plant in their diet due to the risk of high protein intake but no evidence supports their concerns. 

High levels of magnesium increase the risk of developing intestinal stones. The large amounts of calcium could cause an imbalance in the phosphorus: calcium ratio which may lead to orthopedic diseases.

Feeding more protein than your horse requires can result in gastric indigestion as well as fermentation and putrefaction in the hindgut. This can contribute to a leaky gut and will create too much ammonia which is toxic to the liver and kidneys if accumulated in excess amounts.

Conclusion

In general, every individual horse has specific nutrient requirements and it is best to consult a specialist in order to find the best balance between grass and legume hays.

Owners should be aware of a dangerous insect that feeds on alfalfa. The blister beetles are flying, three-striped insects that are attracted by the legume plant and contain the dangerous toxin cantharidin. It can be fatal for a horse if consumed in larger amounts.

Anyone taking care of horses knows it’s a lot of work. Horses require spacious ground, regular exercise, and cleaning.  However, the most essential and demanding part of taking care of horses is determining a proper diet.

In this article, we will explore the nutrient value of hay and answer the question: how much hay does a horse eat?

How Much Hay to Feed Your Horse

Feeding your horses too much or too little will jeopardize their health. Instead, each horse needs the right amount of food. You should calculate the right amount of food, especially hay. 

According to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, a full-grown horse should eat about 12 to 15 pounds (5.4 to 6.8 kg) of hay a day. That is 1.5% to 3% of its body weight if it weighs about 1,000 pounds (450 kg). 

It is a very rough average, and horses may require more or less depending on their metabolism, workload, what else they may be eating, and the time of year. Ponies will require considerably less, while large draft breeds can eat 30 pounds (13.6 kg) a day or more.

Alternatively, you can use a tape measure to calculate a horse’s approximate body weight.  Calculations formulas are as follows:

Girth x girth x body length / 300 = adult horse weight in pounds

Girth x girth x body length / 299 = pony weight in pounds

Girth x girth x body length / 301 = yearling weight in pounds

Girth x girth x body length / 280 = weanling weight in pounds

The horse’s diet also requires adjustments if the horse is still growing or if the female horse is pregnant or nursing a foal.

Acceptable Nutrient Ranges Of Hay

Nutrient	Grass Hay	Mixed Hay	Legume Hay
Dry Matter (%)	90 – 95	90 – 95	90 – 95
Crude Protein (%)	8 – 14	12 – 16	>16
ADF (%)	<40	<40	<34
NDF (%)	>55	>40	>35
Calcium (%)	0.25 – 0.65	0.6 – 1.2	1.2 – 1.8
Phosphorus (%)	0.15 – 0.35	0.2 – 0.4	0.15 – 0.35
Copper (ppm)	6 – 15	6 – 15	6 – 15
Zinc (ppm)	15 – 40	15 – 40	15 – 40

Always remember, along with the chemical quality, hay should also be of good physical quality.

Nutritional Value of Hay While in Storage

Hay begins to lose its nutritional value once cut and continues to lose nutrients both while drying in the field, and while in storage.

Conversely, the protein and mineral content of hay is quite stable.

The nutrients most affected by harvesting and storing are vitamins.  Hay may lose approximately 50% of the vitamin A content during the first 24 hours of the curing process. 

Vitamin loss is greater if the hay is subjected to rain or other weather damage. Vitamin depletion continues during storage, with the rate of destruction determined by temperature, exposure to air and sunlight, and length of storage.

Hay Bales and Hay Flakes

To track how much hay a horse eats more accurately, it is recommended that you divide the hay into smaller portions.  You can separate the hay bales into flakes and divide the sections.

The number of flakes in a bale is not always the same, but you could probably get a dozen of them from each square bale. Knowing an average bale of hay weighs about 60 pounds (23 kg), you can quickly calculate the weight of each flake.

The math is not complicated at all. Count the number of flakes in a bale and divide the bale’s weight by the number of flakes. Since you know that a bale of 60 pounds (27 kg) has 12 flakes, each weighs 5 pounds (2.3 kg).

When to Feed Your Horse Hay

You should keep your horse on a consistent feeding schedule, with meals arriving at the same time each day. An abrupt change in schedule doesn’t harm most horses, but for horses prone to colic, a sudden change in routine can be more than an annoyance and might be enough to trigger a colic episode.

Ideally, you should wait an hour after your horse has finished a meal before riding them. However, if you’re going to do something strenuous, it should be three hours. 

A full digestive system gives the horse’s lungs less room to work and makes exercise much harder on them. In addition, blood flow is diverted away from the digestive organs during periods of exertion, so gut movement slows, and colic may be a real danger. 

When feeding a horse after work, let them cool down completely. Their breathing rate should be normal, and their skin should not feel hot or sweaty.

Feeding Horses Hay in Winter

During winter, pasture grass is limited, so you should adjust your horse’s food rations when it comes to this time of the year.  

Horses get most calories and nutrients from hay. In other words, you should provide more hay in winter than in summer.

Another reason why sufficient hay supply is crucial for horses when it is cold is because it keeps them warm. Digesting hay produces energy, raising the horse’s body temperature. So, the colder it gets outside, the more hay your horse needs to eat to get the desired warming effect.

Summary

Feeding your horse too little or too much can jeopardize its health.  Providing your horse with the right amount of hay is therefore crucial.  You should always consider your horse’s size, breed, and the amount of work it does when determining its diet.

As winter ends, the humid weather slowly ushers in lush spring pastures.  These abundant fields provide the perfect breeding ground for clovers.

Clover often grows with the hay on the grass of the pasture fields.  Horses grazing on these pastures eat clover along with the grass and hay.

If you are interested to find out if horses can eat clover, its nutritional value, and its possible risks, please read on.

Can Horses Eat Clover?

Yes, horses can eat clover. Clover is a valuable forage or feed source that offers adequate protein, energy, and fiber to help meet a horse’s daily requirements.

It is often given in hay mixes. Three different clover varieties grow on horse’s pasture: Red Clover, White Clover, and Alsike Clover.

Nutritional Value of Clover

Nutritional information per 1 cup (85 grams) of clover sprouts:

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	25
Carbohydrates	3 g
Protein	3 g
Fats	0.5 g
Vitamin C	10% of the daily value (DV)
Iron	4% of DV
Fiber	8% of DV

Benefits of Clover for Horses

Clover flowers can be used on horses in many ways. It makes an excellent blood cleanser, and it is a wonderful remedy for skin disorders such as sweet itch. 

Remember that most horses go through a healing crisis when they start eating red clover. This is because their body is expelling toxins. If the skin condition worsens, this is a cause for celebration. 

If your horse has been ill and depressed for a while with no definite diagnosis by a vet, red clover makes an excellent tonic.

Horses with bronchial conditions such as flu have also responded positively to red clover. 

You can make a cough syrup by mixing 1l water, 45g dried red clover, and 100g xylitol and boiling until it reaches a syrup consistency. Allow to cool, and give one tablespoon three times a day. 

You can also make tea: add 40g of dried herbs to 300ml water, boil, then add the herbal tea to your horse’s feed. Do this twice a day.

If your horse has mange, crush fresh red clover flowers and rub them into the affected area. If you do not have enough flowers, boil what you have in 5l of water until the water changes color (usually after 10 minutes). 

Wash the affected skin and allow it to dry. Remember to discuss all illnesses and remedies with a vet first.

Is Clover Toxic to Horses?

Not if the clover is healthy and fresh. Clover will cause problems relating to your horse’s health if contaminated with mold or fungus.

The clover plant itself is not toxic and can be eaten by the horses under strict supervision.

However, the affected clover with mold and fungus can cause Clover Poisoning. Moldy clover often contaminates the hay as well.

Health Problems Caused by Moldy Clover:

Slobbers

When a horse drools after eating clover, it can be the first symptom that the horse is feeding mold or fungal infected clover. A horse suffering from slobbers can fill up to a 5-gallon pail with saliva in one day.

Plants infected with the fungus Rhizoctonia leguminicola produce slaframine, a mycotoxin that promotes drooling.

If the horse is diagnosed with slobber, give it enough water daily to avoid dehydration and take the horse off pasture till the fungus problem is resolved.

Photosensitivity

Black botch disease in Red, White, and Alsike Clover is a lesser-known problem. Horses consuming clover affected with Black Botch disease may develop bad sunburn and photosensitivity.

Photosensitization occurs when the non-pigmented areas of the horse’s skin become reddened or thickened.

It will look like a sunburn at first, but the skin soon becomes crusty, dead, and may begin to peel. Luckily, this sunburn is treatable.

Liver Damage

The fatal effect of long-term exposure to affected clover is liver damage, also known as big liver syndrome, where progressive liver destruction happens.

Due to different toxins in the clover, the liver quickly becomes damaged. The cell within the liver continues to die, causing liver scarring or cirrhosis.

Some of the symptoms of liver damage from moldy clover include loss of appetite, weight loss, depression, lethargy, jaundice, colic, and death. If you observe any of these signs, consult the vet immediately.

Bleeding

A result of eating moldy white and yellow sweet clover is bleeding.

Horses tend to bleed when they have been eating a large proportion of this clover for several days.

The mold changes a cumarol in sweet clover to dicumarol, a blood-thinning drug. You can treat it by fencing out the horse from the pasture.

The horse is injected with Vitamin K injection or blood transfer in some cases. Vitamin K injections restore normal blood clotting.

How To Prevent Health Problems From Moldy Clover:

• Fence your horses out of clover-rich pastures in very wet years or periods of high humidity.
• Mow, thin clover stands, or improve water drainage to create airflow and lower the chances of mold.
• Allow clover more time to dry when using it for hay. Clover, especially red clover, takes longer to dry than other forage species.
• Use an herbicide to remove clover from your pasture or hayfield. 
•  When using an herbicide, carefully follow all grazing and harvesting restrictions and additional information stated on the herbicide label.

To Conclude:

Clover can be a good feed source for most horses because it provides useful energy and adequate protein and fiber. You can use clover in hay or pastures.

Clovers can sometimes mold, which causes slobbers, photosensitivity (reactivity to light), and bleeding. These conditions can occur after horses eat either fresh or hay-affected clover.

We recommend that you seek medical advice for illnesses and remedies from your vet before deciding on a treatment.