Food is one of the most searched topics about horses. Can horses eat grapes? Can horses eat peanut butter? Can horses have marshmallows? All of these questions come down to one bigger question: Can horses eat human food? And if so, what kinds are safe to feed your horse?
As a horse owner, it’s a priority to keep your horse healthy. But equally as important, is keeping them happy. One of the most popular blog posts on our Saddlebox blog was a post we did with a list of foods horses can and can’t eat. If you need a refresher, we encourage you to reread that post and focus specifically on the foods horses can’t eat. While there are a lot of foods that are perfectly safe for your horse, there are definitely foods you want to avoid.
What Should Be In a Horse’s Diet?
In general, there are some basic principles horse owners should follow when it comes to feeding a horse. Part of keeping your horse in it’s best physical shape is ensuring it gets a proper diet. Every horse needs to have a diet that is rich in six essential nutrients:
– Carbohydrate
– Protein
– Fat
– Vitamins
– Mineral
– Water
Most feed companies will offer a balance of the important nutrients, with the exception of water. A typical horse can consume up to 15 or more gallons of water a day, so it’s important to always have fresh water available.
What Else Can Horses Eat?
Keeping in mind the nutrients above, there are a variety of options for human food that horses can also enjoy. While the list below is not comprehensive, it can give you a better idea of what is safe for your horse as well as healthy. Human food can be used as a supplement to traditional horse feed or it can be used as a treat for your horse after a job well done.
– Fruits – Apples, grapes, bananas, watermelon, strawberries, pineapple, cherries, and coconut
– Vegetables – Carrots, pumpkin, lettuce, squash, beets, peas, green beans, celery, and sweet potatoes
– Other foods – Peppermints, peanuts (roasted), raisins, potato chips, hot dogs, and pasta
It’s important to remember that horses like to eat small amounts of food on a continuous basis, so giving your horse one treat will lead to them wanting more. Try your best to create a routine for your horse so they come to expect foods at certain times of the day.
