Which treats come to mind when you want to spoil your horse? Carrots and apples probably top the list. But if you have overripe fruit or extra produce in the fridge, you might be wondering, can horses eat those, too? Whether you want to add variety to your horse’s treats or you’re simply curious about equine nutrition, read on to learn what you need to know about feeding horses fruits and vegetables.
Yes, You Can Feed These
If you’re looking to get creative, you can find a variety of natural and safe treat options for your horse. Madeline Boast, MSc, an independent equine nutritionist based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, says you can feed the following types of produce to your horse in small quantities:
- Carrots
- Apples
- Grapes
- Pumpkin
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
- Oranges
- Yellow squash
- Blueberries
- Green beans
- Sweet potatoes
- Blackberries
- Bananas
Apples, carrots, and bananas, in particular, are popular commercial treat flavors and equine favorites. “However, when feeding novel fruits and vegetables, I encourage you to simply use trial and error to see what your horse likes,” she says.
Boast notes that all four horses in her small herd have different treat preferences. “I will occasionally give banana, watermelon, or pumpkin as novel treats and two of the horses love it, while the other two prefer to stick with apple or carrot,” she explains.
Don’t Feed These
Some fruits and vegetables—particularly those that cause the body to produce excess gas—are best saved for human diets over equine. This includes cruciferous vegetables such as bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower.
“Additionally, do not feed anything in the nightshade family,” says Boast. “The nightshade family includes tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and eggplant. However, even though potatoes are not safe, sweet potatoes are, as they are not part of this family.”
Also be cautious when feeding pitted fruits from the Prunus family and remember to remove the pit first.
“This family includes peaches, cherries, plums, nectarines, and apricots,” says Boast. “Although the fleshy parts of these fruits are regarded as safe, the pits and other parts of the plant can cause poisoning in horses. Any plants high in oxalates should also be avoided—a couple of examples of these are rhubarb leaves and spinach.”
Special Considerations
Remember when feeding any type of treat that it will add to your horse’s calorie intake and can potentially disrupt the microbial environment if given in excess.
“Think about how we always ensure that horses’ feed changes are made slowly—this is to not disrupt or shock that balance in the gastrointestinal tract,” says Boast. “Therefore, if we suddenly feed a significant amount of a novel fruit or vegetable, we are increasing the risk of gastrointestinal upset.”
Further, certain horses, such as those with insulin dysregulation, obesity, a history of laminitis, or prone to digestive upset, might be better off without treats—no matter how sad they look when they beg.
“A small treat here and there is likely fine, but I would not recommend handfuls of any treats for these horses, and this includes the novel fruits and vegetables discussed,” she says.
Take-Home Message
While fruits and vegetables are healthy additions to human diets, don’t assume they’re equally beneficial for horses. As herbivores, horses’ digestive systems evolved to consume a steady stream of fiber and forage, not nutrient-rich produce.
“It can be fun to incorporate a variety of treats into your horse’s life, but please remember that sticking to small quantities is important for safety,” says Boast.
So let your horse enjoy a sampling of carrot, apple, banana, or watermelon slices, and skip the gas-producing veggies and other potentially harmful plants.
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