You can share many seasonal treats with your horse. | iStock
Q: During the fall season, I want to give my horses fun seasonal treats, such as pumpkin or cranberries, but be certain what I’m giving them is safe. What fall foods can I share with my horses?
A: Before you hand out treats, make sure what you’re offering won’t jeopardize your horses’ health. This becomes especially important if they have metabolic conditions and require careful diet oversight. Remember that a food safe for humans or other animals might still harm horses.
Fresh Treats for Horses
Carrots and apples top the list of go-to horse treats, and most horses like them. Ideally, cut them into bite-sized pieces or hold onto them so the horse doesn’t try to swallow a whole large carrot or apple at once—some horses struggle to chew large pieces and might choke. Introduce any new treat gradually; sudden diet changes can unsettle the digestive tract and, in some cases, raise the risk of colic (abdominal pain). Horses with metabolic problems should have only small amounts of apples and carrots because of their higher sugar content. Consult your veterinarian to find out how much is safe for your horse based on his individual needs. Peanuts in the shell make a better alternative for these animals because offer more fiber and less sugar.
If you make apple and pumpkin pies from scratch (using whole apples and pumpkins), you can feed the apple peels and pumpkin rinds as a treat for your horse. Make sure the pumpkin is a baking or carving variety and cut it into bite-sized pieces. If you want to repurpose your jack-o’-lantern, make sure the rind isn’t moldy and wasn’t treated with any preservative. Apple peels and pumpkin also deliver more fiber and less sugar, generally making them safe for metabolic horses to eat.
Other winter squash varieties such as butternut, acorn, delicata, and kabocha are also safe to share with your horse. If the skins on these squashes are tough, baking or steaming might help soften them (only feed once cooled). Cranberries are also safe for horses to eat, but like other treats, moderation and mold-free are key.
Baked Horse Treats
If you want to bake your horse treats this season, you can find recipes online. Be sure to check that the recipe only uses ingredients safe for horses. Most common baking ingredients such as oats, cinnamon, and baking soda are safe for your horse. Some ingredients include, apples, carrots, and pumpkin, as well as molasses, peppermint candies, and oats. If your horse has metabolic issues, look recipes with low-sugar ingredients; i.e., avoid the peppermints.
Some horses might not eat a new treat the first time you offer it. So, be prepared to give a treat multiple times before your horses consume it willingly. I personally made the mistake one time of offering my horse a cinnamon candy cane that I thought was peppermint. He didn’t trust candy canes for a couple of weeks!
Take-Home Message
No matter the treat, feed in moderation. Giving too much of a new food can cause digestive upset and, potentially, colic. A small handful of bite-sized treats is an appropriate limit for most horses.
Janice L. Holland, PhD, is an Associate Professor and Director of Equine Studies at Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. A graduate of both Penn State and Virginia Tech, her equine interests include nutrition and behavior, as well as amateur photography. When not involved in horse activities she enjoys spending time outdoors enjoying nature.
What Holiday Foods Can I Share With My Horse?
Q: During the fall season, I want to give my horses fun seasonal treats, such as pumpkin or cranberries, but be certain what I’m giving them is safe. What fall foods can I share with my horses?
A: Before you hand out treats, make sure what you’re offering won’t jeopardize your horses’ health. This becomes especially important if they have metabolic conditions and require careful diet oversight. Remember that a food safe for humans or other animals might still harm horses.
Fresh Treats for Horses
Carrots and apples top the list of go-to horse treats, and most horses like them. Ideally, cut them into bite-sized pieces or hold onto them so the horse doesn’t try to swallow a whole large carrot or apple at once—some horses struggle to chew large pieces and might choke. Introduce any new treat gradually; sudden diet changes can unsettle the digestive tract and, in some cases, raise the risk of colic (abdominal pain). Horses with metabolic problems should have only small amounts of apples and carrots because of their higher sugar content. Consult your veterinarian to find out how much is safe for your horse based on his individual needs. Peanuts in the shell make a better alternative for these animals because offer more fiber and less sugar.
If you make apple and pumpkin pies from scratch (using whole apples and pumpkins), you can feed the apple peels and pumpkin rinds as a treat for your horse. Make sure the pumpkin is a baking or carving variety and cut it into bite-sized pieces. If you want to repurpose your jack-o’-lantern, make sure the rind isn’t moldy and wasn’t treated with any preservative. Apple peels and pumpkin also deliver more fiber and less sugar, generally making them safe for metabolic horses to eat.
Other winter squash varieties such as butternut, acorn, delicata, and kabocha are also safe to share with your horse. If the skins on these squashes are tough, baking or steaming might help soften them (only feed once cooled). Cranberries are also safe for horses to eat, but like other treats, moderation and mold-free are key.
Baked Horse Treats
If you want to bake your horse treats this season, you can find recipes online. Be sure to check that the recipe only uses ingredients safe for horses. Most common baking ingredients such as oats, cinnamon, and baking soda are safe for your horse. Some ingredients include, apples, carrots, and pumpkin, as well as molasses, peppermint candies, and oats. If your horse has metabolic issues, look recipes with low-sugar ingredients; i.e., avoid the peppermints.
Some horses might not eat a new treat the first time you offer it. So, be prepared to give a treat multiple times before your horses consume it willingly. I personally made the mistake one time of offering my horse a cinnamon candy cane that I thought was peppermint. He didn’t trust candy canes for a couple of weeks!
Take-Home Message
No matter the treat, feed in moderation. Giving too much of a new food can cause digestive upset and, potentially, colic. A small handful of bite-sized treats is an appropriate limit for most horses.
Written by:
Janice L. Holland, PhD
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