Horses eating sweet chestnuts - spiky case included

[DuckToller]

I have noticed my horses eating the sweet chestnuts that have fallen into my field from a neighbour's garden - including the very spiky case.

I have eaten many of them over the years so I know they are not poisonous to humans, but I am amazed that my horses can cope with the spines.

Anyone else got horses that eat the whole thing? Any problems? They wander down every morning when I turn them out and help themselves to the morning's fallen crop, then wander off and eat the grass. Never seen them do it before, but one of them is new to the herd so maybe he has developed a taste for them and the others have followed suit.

 

[Shady]

i've never seen mine eat the whole thing but they will pick them up and work the nuts out, i am surrounded on all bounderies by chestnut trees , it's a nightmare as they get really fat and obsessed with them! i have to spend hours clearing them or fencing off the edges , iv'e had 2 cases of choke and i'm sure too much protein in one horse which made his character a bit off, neighbours horses are all breaking out to get them and i will be glad when they all shrivel up and disappear!
the only problem i can see is that your horses mouths might get sore and possibly get some prickles stuck but horses have been foraging forever and i bet they love them!

 

[criso]

Mine used in one place - most horses seem to like them. Some work the nuts out and some eat the whole thing. I didn't have problems as it was on the path from the fields so they picked a few on the way in rather than gorging on the whole crop.

They are quite starchy I believe so the same caution as any high starch feed.

 

[LCH611]

I gathered loads up for my pigs to eat and was amazed that they refused to touch them. I haven't noticed whether my horses eat them but wouldn't worry if they did as they seem to cope with the brambles and rose hips that they scoff from the hedge

 

[planete]

The New Forest ponies eat them as I found out when I went looking for some last week. They seem to discard the prickly bits though!