Safe Treats to Feed Your Horse

I love my horses. Every week, there is a 5kg bag of carrots and a 2kg bag of apples in my trolley cart, along with a bag of liquorice. I have been thinking though, that perhaps my lovely steeds are getting quite sick of the same old treats and might enjoy something new. So, I researched which food items were safe to feed and then ran a small experiment using my three volunteers (a mare, a gelding and a pony) to see what they liked. The mare wanted nothing new; she would stick to the good old apples, carrots and liquorice (typical!). On the other hand, the gelding and the pony were happy to try something new and loved everything, but they did have their favourites! If you want to try some different treats, these are what we tried, ranked in order of preference:

1. Pears - the softer, the better. Watch out for the juice that seems to flow out of the mouth like a waterfall!
2. Lettuce - no, they didn’t turn onto overgrown guinea pigs, but for some reason both LOVED lettuce.
3. Watermelon - again, watch out for the red, sticky waterfall!
4. Bananas - skin and all!
5. Strawberries - they thought these were a bit strange at first but then asked for more

There are certainly more fruits and vegetables you can offer your horse, such as grapes, celery, pumpkin, raisins, snow peas and melons. However, it is best to stay away from potatoes, onions, tomatoes, cabbage and any vegetable related to the nightshade family, as they can produce intestinal gas, which is undesirable. Also, be aware that some foods may turn up a positive drug test if you compete - like chocolate!

When offering your horse treats, remember, it is a treat! Small amounts are okay, but large amounts may not be so great for their digestive system, as they may impact and affect the intestinal bacterial balance. Also, be aware that if your horses suffer from any sugar sensitivities, then fruit and vegetable treats may not be able to be offered, as they contain sugar!

We would love to hear what your horse’s favourite treat is!