Fruits and Vegetables

katie · 06-11-08, 09:36 PM

I see people feeding their horse an apple or a carrot. I was just wondering, should a horse be fed one or the other every day?

FluffNStuff · 06-12-08, 12:28 AM

Horses don't need them-they are grazing animals and in summer can just graze. There are complete foods for them too.

You need to be careful what you feed them too. Apples can cause colic if fed too many too often, and carrots have a lot of sugar in them. Avacados can poison a horse.

Root veggies though, and watermelon are great.

highstepper · 06-12-08, 07:34 AM

As with anything, fruits and vegetables should be given in moderation. I wouldn't give them every day, but a couple of times a week is fine. I'd give carrots over apples because they are healthier, and cheaper to give. Turnips are also a good treat.

FluffNStuff · 06-12-08, 09:42 PM

As are rutabaga-they have always been hugely popular with our horses. The big thing to remember though is that they are a treat, not the staple diet.

Sheraton · 06-13-08, 06:27 AM

I'm new to learning about the dietary needs of a horse, and I'm glad I read this thread. In the past, I always thought that fruits and vegetables were a normal food for a horse to eat. I guess that's because they are always showing people feeding their horses a carrot or apple in the movies that I watch. I'm glad to hear that this isn't necessary in the average diet. That sure would put a hole in your pocket!

eeyore · 06-13-08, 02:32 PM

They show people feeding treats because a bucket of grain is less pleasing to the eye, even over hay or grass.

You don't want to overload your horse with treats, and if you're training and need to feed more treats any other feed (after pasture grass) can be cut back a bit accordingly to maintain weight.

katie · 06-13-08, 09:26 PM

Thanks for all the feedback! I am so glad to have found this site, the people here are so friendly and a whole lot more imformative than I am!

maro · 06-13-08, 11:46 PM

Most people that I know use them as treats or in goodie baskets. I had a friend that used to make them up with all types of things even cabbage which for some odd reason when I see a horse eating it I'm always tempted to wonder if they really like it or not more compared to say an apple.

06-11-08, 09:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
katie Member Join Date: 06-10-08 Posts: 50	Fruits and Vegetables I see people feeding their horse an apple or a carrot. I was just wondering, should a horse be fed one or the other every day?

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06-12-08, 12:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
FluffNStuff Member Join Date: 06-12-08 Posts: 25	Horses don't need them-they are grazing animals and in summer can just graze. There are complete foods for them too. You need to be careful what you feed them too. Apples can cause colic if fed too many too often, and carrots have a lot of sugar in them. Avacados can poison a horse. Root veggies though, and watermelon are great.

06-12-08, 07:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
highstepper Member Join Date: 06-02-08 Posts: 26	As with anything, fruits and vegetables should be given in moderation. I wouldn't give them every day, but a couple of times a week is fine. I'd give carrots over apples because they are healthier, and cheaper to give. Turnips are also a good treat.

06-12-08, 09:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
FluffNStuff Member Join Date: 06-12-08 Posts: 25	As are rutabaga-they have always been hugely popular with our horses. The big thing to remember though is that they are a treat, not the staple diet.

06-13-08, 06:27 AM	#5 (permalink)
Sheraton Member Join Date: 06-12-08 Posts: 25	I'm new to learning about the dietary needs of a horse, and I'm glad I read this thread. In the past, I always thought that fruits and vegetables were a normal food for a horse to eat. I guess that's because they are always showing people feeding their horses a carrot or apple in the movies that I watch. I'm glad to hear that this isn't necessary in the average diet. That sure would put a hole in your pocket!

06-13-08, 02:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
eeyore Member Join Date: 06-02-08 Posts: 25	They show people feeding treats because a bucket of grain is less pleasing to the eye, even over hay or grass. You don't want to overload your horse with treats, and if you're training and need to feed more treats any other feed (after pasture grass) can be cut back a bit accordingly to maintain weight.

06-13-08, 09:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
katie Member Join Date: 06-10-08 Posts: 50	Thanks for all the feedback! I am so glad to have found this site, the people here are so friendly and a whole lot more imformative than I am!

06-13-08, 11:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
maro Member Join Date: 06-11-08 Posts: 25	Most people that I know use them as treats or in goodie baskets. I had a friend that used to make them up with all types of things even cabbage which for some odd reason when I see a horse eating it I'm always tempted to wonder if they really like it or not more compared to say an apple.