Can you feed sugar to horses?

[jayvee]

I don't mean a few sugar cubes, I mean say 1/2 a mug of sugar in a feed. What would it do? What are the effects? Is it ok to feed like this? Will it put on weight?? (thats what i really want to know).
Am I mad to ask this question?

 

[Christmas_Kate]

WHY would you want to?????

 

[merlinsquest]

You can..... it will save you hundreds with the dentist...... all their teeth will fall out!!!!!!!

But seriously.... why!!!???

 

[jayvee]

Thats why I am asking. I don't know if I want to? I want to know if it is done and if it is ok or not. Sugar makes us fat, would it to a horse?

 

[Ereiam_jh]

I think you'd run a risk of laminitis

 

[dozzie]

V Bad for their teeth!! No different to us really.

 

[merlinsquest]

Cant imagine people doing it really..... no actual value in sugar, just lots of calories and a vets bill looming!!!

 

[jayvee]

Yeh you're right, I never gave a thought to their teeth!

 

[Bex7]

It is the calories that make us fat not the sugar........

If you are looking to put weight on a horse you need to find ways iin balance with a horse

You can get feed to do this or try adding oils to feed etc.

 

[Sooty]

Horses digest starch differently frm humans. Giving refined sugar in that quantity would be a very bad idea.

 

[jayvee]

Ok thanks, I am not doing it BTW, was just one of those random thoughts.

 

[Puppy]

I seem to remember our equine science lecturer at college saying that feeding sugar to horses is actually quite dangerous, as they can get a sugar rush which can make them highly excitable and hyper, and therefore suddenly become incredibly difficult to handle. I certainly wouldn't do it.

 

[Cahill]

am i right in remembering,ages ago ,a racehorse failed a dope test cos some one had fed it a mars bar?

 

[Sooty]

That was because Mars bars (well, chocolate) contains theobromine, a substance similar to caffeine.