Horses have digestive tracts very different from humans. They require a diet high in fiber and consumed in little amounts over long periods. But just like humans, horses also enjoy variety in their meals. Of course, Oreos and Pringles won't do for these precious herbivores.
Thankfully, horses generally avoid potatoes due to an off-putting taste. But with so many delicious forms of potato, that isn't always the case. French fries, chips, gnocchi, and other potato-based foods are all dangerous to horses.
Potato Chips
They're salty, flavorful, and have that nice crunch horses seem to love. Just beware if you give your horse one potato chip out of your bag, they may expect many more as you finish your snack. You may want to bring two bags of chips to the barn.
Apples and carrots are traditional favorites. You can safely offer your horse raisins, grapes, bananas, strawberries, cantaloupe or other melons, celery, pumpkin, and snow peas. Most horses will chew these treats before swallowing, but horses that gulp large pieces of a fruit or vegetable have a risk of choking.
Potato poisoning in horses only occurs when a horse is fed a large amount of potatoes, which are sometimes viewed by farmers as cheap and filling feed. Such feedings, however, are dangerous because horses are vulnerable to alkaloids, chemical compounds found within the potato and other members of the nightshade family.
Onions and Garlic
Vegetables like garlic and onions are members of the family of plants called the “allium” family. (The allium family of plants also includes chives, shallots and leeks.) These plants should generally be avoided by horses because they can damage red blood cells and lead to sickness.
Grass – horses love grass. It's their natural food and great for their digestive system (although beware of your horse eating too much lush grass in spring as this can cause laminitis).
Overall, a calming diet is high in fiber that the horse's digestive system will slowly ferment in the hindgut. Think pasture, hay, and chaff. On the other hand, food that's digested in the small intestine and elevates blood sugar levels should be minimized. Things like oats, corn, and molasses fall under this category.
So in general, dairy products of any kind are not safe for them as they don't have the proper digestive enzymes to absorb lactose. Consuming any food with lactose may lead to severe digestive upset and diarrhoea. This is why dairy products such as milk, cheese and ice cream should be avoided.
Yes, we've all heard the funny stories of peculiar horses who like to eat a cheeseburger or chicken nuggets now and then, but it's not something you should try with your horse.
When it comes to cheese, unfortunately, you cannot give horses this pleasure. It is really important to understand that horses are lactose intolerant, so cheese, ice cream, yogurt, milk, and other similar products should be avoided.
Assuming the bread is made of wheat flower, yeast, salt and water, there is nothing in the bread that is toxic to horses and can add calories to the ration. Although there is no harm in feeding small amounts of bread intermittently, it is not very nutritious and provides few nutrients.
Some horses might steal a bit of your hot dog and that probably won't do them any harm. However, horses shouldn't really be encouraged to eat meat as it could cause them harm. As with most things in life it is better to be safe than sorry.
Horses can eat cereals, but the preservatives, colorants, and additives that some cereals like Cheerios contain could be toxic to a horse, especially if fed in large amounts or over a long period of time.
Animal crackers are affordable treats for horses. Alternatively, some owners feed bits of cereal as treats. Just make sure to feed these sugary substances in small quantities.
Feed ingredients such as oats, corn, barley, alfalfa and molasses have been identified by horse owners as causing “hyper”, “fizzy” or “hot” horses. Grains contain starch and sugar that may result in large fluctuations in blood sugar and result in mood or behavior changes.
Feed 'cool' feeds
Fibrous feeds that are fermented in the hindgut to release energy are the most natural and also the 'coolest' sources of energy for horses. Using forages like pasture, hay, and chaff to provide the majority of the energy in your horse's diet will help to keep your horse calm and responsive.
Fruity candies, like Smarties, Skittles and Jolly Ranchers, do not contain theobromine and are a safe in small doses, just like peppermints. One other fall-themed edible that can be a big hit with your horse is pumpkin and other types of squash.
Horses eat grass and other vegetation; they also consume hay, oats, and other grains, as well as occasional treats like carrots or apples. Horses have small stomachs that process food quickly. So, to meet their dietary needs, they are constantly grazing.
Viola Farci, of the University of Glasgow, found horses preferred common as well as novel concentrate feed flavorings in the following order: fenugreek, banana, cherry, mint, apple, carrot, garlic, and cinnamon. Horses rejected citrus and vanilla.
Fruit seeds and pits:
Some fruits – such as apples and apricots – have pits or seeds which contain cyanide compounds, which are toxic in extremely large quantities. Large pits can cause choke, so it's best to remove them before offering your horse fruit such as peaches or nectarines.
While a lot of time is spent focussed on horses that can't eat grain in their diet, cereal grains such as oats, barley, triticale, corn, rice, rye, sorghum and wheat form a valuable component of many horse's rations.