Your horse will always say yes to Hygain Smoochies or some Beet-E-Bites , but sometimes it’s fun to share a bite of your lunch with your favorite four-legged friend.
Here’s your guide to what common human foods your horse can enjoy with you!
- Carrots - they can eat the orange and the green parts!
- Apples - safest without the seeds, but in small quantities it’s okay.
- Watermelon - the whole fruit is safe for your horse, but make sure you cut it into small bites if you’re feeding the rind, especially.
- Berries - these little fruits can actually have a big benefit! Even horses with metabolic conditions can eat berries, and studies suggest that they may even help with glucose management.
- Banana - the peel, too!
- Zucchini - & friends (squash, pumpkin, etc.)
- Oranges - the peel and everything!
- Celery - smaller chunks make for a safer, less stringy snack.
- Pineapple - cored and skinned, please!
- Leafy greens - lettuce, kale, spinach, yum…
Note: always monitor treat proportions and give bite-sized pieces that your horse won't choke on.
It’s a great feeling to reduce food waste by sharing with your horse, but it’s important to be discerning when sharing treats that aren’t a normal part of their diet. Every special snack should be fed in moderation and in safe, easily chewable portions. In addition to taking care with the foods that are safe to share with your horse, there are also several food groups that can be toxic to your horse.
Here's some foods that you should never share with your horse:
- Nightshade vegetables - this includes tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, and any kind of pepper (so no salsa for your pony!)
- Allium vegetables - onions, garlic, and leeks, oh my!
- Stone fruit - anything with a pit. Some stone fruits are safe to feed your horse when cut away from the pit, but it’s very dangerous to offer your horse a whole fruit that has a pit in the middle. Plums, peaches, nectarines, avocados, cherries…
- Chocolate - yup, just like your other four-legged friend, chocolate is a no-go for horses.
At the end of the day, if you’re ever unsure of whether or not you should be feeding something to your horse, air on the side of caution by either skipping the snack or consulting your veterinarian.
