[MsPatricia]

What is good for horses? What does your horse like?

[2spotslast]

My oldster is a fruitaholic. Strawberries are his favorite, followed by cherries, peaches, apricots, plums, apples, and watermelon. Not crazy about bananas. Be sure to remove pits and seeds from the fruit as some are extremely toxic to horses. Particularly cherries and peaches.

NEVER feed rhubarb to a horse.

[County]

Pretty much anything that we grow here in Mn. our horses love to eat. For years I lived next to a large vegtable farm. They would bring over hay rack loads of excess or older veg. squash and pumpkins the horses really loved also watermelons.

[Gypsy Rose]

I believe it was Pantha11 put this up in health not too long ago- I saved this on my computer:



Here is some info for you that may help.

Oddities often consumed by horses on pasture.

No problem, assuming fairly limited quantities and otherwise balanced ration:

• Dandelion
• Thistle (NOT Russian Knapweed or yellow star thistle–Centaurea spp)
• Sunflower seeds and plant
• Peanut plants
• Raspberry/blackberry bushes
• Wood/bark of most trees (NOT Prunus spp or black walnut or locust)

Potential problem if eaten in large quantities:

• Buttercup
• Morning glory
• Pokeweed
• St. Johnswort
• Gum-weed
• Astragulus and Oxytropis spp/(vetches and locoweed)
• Avocado leaves
• Bracken fern
• Most bulb type flowers (tulip, iris, etc.)
• Wilted red maple leaves
• Acorns/new oak leaves

Avoid at all costs (Lethal or severe toxicity potential)

• Lily of the Valley
• Larkspur
• Tomato or potato plants
• Rhubarb leaves and roots
• Poison hemlock
• Foxglove
• Leafy spurge
• Mustards
• Jimsonweed
• Alsike clover
• Blue flax
• Sorghum (Johnsongrass and Sudan grass)
• Oleander
• Privet
• Japanese Yew (all Taxus spp)
• Azalea
• Rhododendron
• Mountain Laurel
• Pits of peaches, cherries, or avocados
• Horsechestnut
• Russian Knapweed or yellow star thistle–Centaurea spp

Potential Treats
Perfectly acceptable treats (fed in limited quantities (<1-2 lbs/feeding)

• Carrots, apples, grapes
• Bananas
• Peas
• Green beans
• Lettuce
• Celery
• Dried beans, such as pinto, red, fava (however should be cooked or heat treated)
• Watermelon rinds
• Squash
• Mangoes (not the seeds)
• Raisins
• Bread/bagels/cake (NOT if they contain chocolate or poppy seeds)
• Pasta, macaroni
• Potato chips and potato products…(do not give raw potatoes to pregnant mare it is toxic……gives them blood poisoning).
• Rice products (not raw rice)
• Barley products
• Corn products
• Dairy products
• Eggs
• Fruit juices
• Hot dogs, hamburgers, tuna fish, ham or even roast beef sandwiches!
• Most dog and cat foods
• Zucchini
• Watermelon
• Parsnips
• Pumpkin

Beware large quantities, but probably acceptable in very small amounts (<2 to 4 ounces/day)

• Cabbage, broccoli, kale, chard, collard greens, brussel sprouts
• Spinach
• Rhubarb stems (NOT the leaves or roots)
• Garlic and onions (large amounts may cause anaemia) When lower doses are consumed on a regular basis, or Large amounts are consumed this may cause anaemia...(the same goes for onions.... to much can cause anaemia).
• Turnips
• Radishes
• Avocado (NOT skins or seeds)
• Lathyrus spp. beans (India)
• Sunflower seeds
• Sugar candies such as jelly beans, gummy bears, peppermints, etc.

Safe in very limited quantities BUT WILL CAUSE POSITIVE DRUG TESTS

• Morning glory plants
• Sassafras
• Willow leaves and bark
• Yucca
• Tobacco (consumed, not inhaled)
• Valerian root
• Carrots in very large quantities only (over 5 lbs day)!
• Persimmons (seeds also may cause impaction)
• Chocolate in any form
• Liquorice?
• Cinnamon products
• Nutmeg
• Hot pepper/chilli flavoured products (Nacho chips, etc)
• Non-decaffeinated coffee or tea in any form
• Caffeinated sodas
• Alcoholic beverages?
• Some dog/cat foods (Beware “bakery waste” as an ingredient-may contain chocolate)

Summary:
There are obviously a wide range of things that our horses may enjoy consuming, not all of which are good for their health. Many horses would refuse to even sniff many of the items listed above. Knowing which potential treats are safe, at least in limited quantities, is important for horse owners. You never know what might be offered to your horse!

[MsPatricia]

Gypsy Rose -

Thanks for the list! I had no idea. As a child it was apples, sugar cubes and carrots. That was it.

My purpose was to find treats that would be just a special treat but those that Autumn would love as the "extra special" you did a great job treat - more of the exotic/veggies on the list.

I had no idea, though. Thank you so very much!

[Dancers Mom]

Apricots, watermelon rinds, water out of my water bottle, she gets very excited when I drink out of my water bottle. She pretty much likes anything.

[southern_horse]

eww I would never feed my horse or any horse meat!

but that is a good/helpful list...tho i am still not so sure about some of the items in the treat section.

[phoenixfyre71]

Hot dogs, hamburgers, tuna fish, ham or even roast beef sandwiches!


I thought horses didnt have the digestive system to consume meats? I thought it was bad for them. I absentmindedly gave my horse some pepperoni pizza when i was 15 and started crying when I realized what I did because I thought it was going to kill him

[southern_horse]

Originally Posted by phoenixfyre71

Hot dogs, hamburgers, tuna fish, ham or even roast beef sandwiches!


I thought horses didnt have the digestive system to consume meats? I thought it was bad for them.

That's what I thought too. Plus it just seems down right wrong. They're herbivores.

[HorseBliss]

My horses will eat just about anythin. They love apples and carrots, dur. And Harley even enjoys red grapefruit. And yesterday after our mock hunt, I didn't have anythin to give to my mount.. so I pulled a nice pear off the tree and gave it to her.