Safe food for horses

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horselady

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Ok, so my mare has become partial to trying new fruit and veg and gets bored of foods quickly. I was just wanting the dos and don'ts of feeding human food and also, what is the wierdest thing your horse ever ate?
 
I don't, apart from the odd apple or carrot - a good mix of grasses and herbs is all the variety they need to keep well.
 
The two I've had for a while will eat pretty much anything, mini cheddars is a favourite, hoola hoops, satsumas in the skin, my mare eats bananas in the skin though my boy won't.

Almost all fresh fruit and veg.
 
Its almost easier to list what you should not feed...

Onions and Potatoes can be poisonous. As can Avocado, Rhubarb and Tomato. Pretty much anything goes. If you are feeding things like peaches or plums take the stone out. (Or at least I do!!)

Weirdest things..

From experience grapes tend to go through undigested which is both interesting and a waste of money.

Beetroot can be quite spectacular!

Feeding (By accident!) iced coffee to an already hyper ISH has disastrous results...
 
I returned from the show ring back to the box and found my daughter (then aged 7) sharing her very late breakfast of co co pops with her welsh b....... granny was getting another pony ready and had thought child was still in the living area, not sitting in the doorway to the back (i know, i know! ) sharing breakfast! ! No harm done to pony and luckily he had already finished affiliated classes that day. I was going hot and cold about potential dope testing for the rest of the day! :eek3:
 
Mine is quite fussy (he sucks the chocolate off maltesers and spits out the pips when he eats an apple!) but he loves grapes and satsumas, as long as I squash them for him first 😂
 
I'm looking to buy a couple of hunters in March-April 2017. Ready for 2017-18 season. Irish Sport hunters 17.2hh to 18hh. What is the best feeding pattern.
I've asked a couple of Hunts, but nobody has go back to me yet (3 weeks a go!). And I've asked a equine vets, although pleased. Its always a good thing to get lots of info... Ideas x
 
I'm not sure this is the best post to Hijack Stigg.

I suspect the reason no-one has replied is because your question is far too broad. How old are your hunters (which I presume you haven't bought yet) How fit? Will they rough off or have they come off another discipline? ISH (which stands for horse - not hunter) is a mixed breed - what is the foundations? Good or poor do-ers? Which type of hunting? How often out?

If you are looking to buy in March / April these are horses who have just finished a season. What feed regime will depend on what you do with them next. Will you rough them out - or follow through the summer with another discipline?

Don't Hijack this post which is unconnected with your query. Re-start another in Hunting with a few more details and see how you go.
 
Hi, is there any way to give my mare a human food as a treat sort of every couple of days. She doesn't have hard feed and gets bored with veg quickly. Though if I give it again a week later she will eat it!
 
Bread tends to be a winner with pretty much anything. Make it granary crusts and they'll usually love you forever.

I don't know why your lass doesn't have hard feed - but there are loads of mixes on line for oat / molasses treats if she can have them. Obviously they are not designed to eat meat - including dairy (although you have to convince the off one or two of that!). But anything veggie based is usually pretty much OK.

Have you tried ginger biscuits? Obviously watch the sugar content - but most horses absolutely love them. We had a yard mate who was really into raw foods and would make these totally amazing ball things with dates, flax and peppermint. They were supposed to be human food - and were really great as human food! - but the horses adored them too.
 
Hi, sorry she doesn't have hard feed as she is turned out in a three acre field and gets unlimited hay. This is because she is a very good doer and if she has hard food we are told she can get hot headed. Also, she is the kind of mare who puts on weight easily. Especially as she isn't worked as much in winter.
 
horselady said:
Hi, sorry she doesn't have hard feed as she is turned out in a three acre field and gets unlimited hay. This is because she is a very good doer and if she has hard food we are told she can get hot headed. Also, she is the kind of mare who puts on weight easily. Especially as she isn't worked as much in winter.
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Well in that case then you shouldn't be giving her lots of treats.
I just give mine an apple core or the odd carrot sometimes. Previous horse adored swedes whereas this one is thoroughly disinterested, though he'll try to steal your sandwiches if he thinks he can get away with it!
 
If you have a good doer, I'd be wary of feeding too much in the way of fruit, they have alot of natural sugars in them.

Just feed a handfull of chaff if you really want to feed or some grass nuts or something. There are so many feeds on the market especially for good doers who need very little in the way of calories/energy.
 
A slice of carrot is the most my horses ever get, and even then only in their feeds. Like most ponies they get nippy if they ever have any treats from the hand.
 
Hi, she has been fed from the hand since she was very young according to her previous owner, she only ever takes food with her lips even so.
 
horselady said:
Hi, she has been fed from the hand since she was very young according to her previous owner, she only ever takes food with her lips even so.
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Yes, it's a myth that handfeeding makes equines nippy, IMO. It is owners who do that.I have hand fed every horse I've ever owned and none of them has been allowed to be nippy.
 
My old highland cant pass a burger van without trying to nick the burgers off the hot plate that either demonstrates she has carniverous tendency or far more likely the quality of the burgers is suspect. I used to work in catering and would bring scraps back for the dogs we had a pony that would rifle through looking for meat pies and chips.
Good doers should never be fed fruit it is far too high in sugar. you would be better buying some grass nuts and feed a handful of those or better still a box of equibites and feed the odd on of those they have vitamins and minerals in that you horse may well be missing
 
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