vegetables - for horses!

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hannah87

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hi guys, my gelding is going to be stabled a lot this winter due to lack of turnout at uni. im trying to be inventive and think up things to keep him amused. I was going to chuck in a big turnip for him 2 chew on, but looking in tesco 2 day got me thinking of other veggies - is there any that horses shouldnt eat?obv they will be introduced slowly and little at a time. or any that ppl have given that horses have particulary liked?and dont say carrots lol
 
my friends horse likes brocolli, (excuse the spelling) not sure if thats good for them though!

i have started hanging turnips and sweedes from blod's ceiling, it keeps her ocupied for ages as it swings!!


xx
 
My horse likes beetroot , though by the time she chews its and slobbers her mouth is covered in purple, (she has beetroot straight from the garden not pickled!)
 
Mine all like cauliflower, broccoli, corn on the cob, parsnips and of course the usuals such as swede, turnips, carrots etc. When feeding any vegetables you have to make sure they are not mouldy or starting to go off otherwise you can risk health issues.
 
Tia just a quick question is the corn on the cob fed raw or cooked? Just wondering as it sounds interesting to try and obviously want to make sure I am giving it to the horses in the correct form.
I know maize is widely used as a livestock feed and I would imagine it is given raw to livestock but unsure if it's the same for horses as I have never fed it to mine before.
thanks
Caz
 
swede, parsnips and broccoli
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No I don't use maize as it is too difficult for them to digest (although many coarse mixes have maize in them) and I believe the risk of colic would be high. I feed human corn on the cob, uncooked and still in their husks. My lot love them BUT particularly with corn, you need to check inside the husks (although I don't think you get them like this in the UK?) to make sure the corn is in perfect condition, as I remember reading something which suggests that it could cause a health risk if corn has started to decompose. I always check the quality of veggies that I feed my horses.
 
Thanks for the info I will def give corn on the cob a go as I like trying new feedstuffs as treat for the lads. Just wanted to make sure I was correct in assuming feeding raw as I didn't want to risk causing any digestive problems or colic.
I did think corn on the cob was maize though to be honest, although after reading up on maize I now understand there are quite a few varieties in which sweetcorn is one such variety.

On the subject of feeding vegetables though one of mine likes swede (Dougal) Mcfly is not too keen on it though ( may be the other way around though lol as I have forgotten). Both obviously love carrots. They have also tried parsnip and small turnips and like those too.
I have not really experimented much with other vegetables and fruits apart from the norm to be honest.
Never tried the brassicas for instance as I have been too scared of causing too much flatulence to be honest and maybe leading to colic. Although I would expect in order for that to happen the horse would have to eat one hell of a lot of it.
So far as fruits are concerned they both like apples and pears. Blackberries in small quantities when ripe as I used to give them freshly picked when visiting them in the field. I have also tried tomato and cucumber again in small quantities. They also quite like satsumas as well but in moderation.
I did find some information online though regarding feeding different fruits to horses. I have not yet searched under vegetables but I am sure there is information available.

I can only add to what others have said though and make sure any fruit and veg you feed is either fresh or else not diseased or starting to rot. Also anything you do try, try in small amounts first and see how the horse is after eating and digesting. I know I may be being a bit too cautious but I would much rather be safe than sorry.
Caz
 
sweeeeeeeeeeedes! and is cabbage dangerous as a girl at my yard feeds it every so often? (just several of the big outer layers not the whole thing!)
 
My horse eats swede, carrots and turnips.
I also feed him bananas (with the skin off) and pears and I even sliced up a nectarine once.
 
lol would never feed him potatoes as i hate the bloody things uurggh they r gross!!thanks everyone, hes going to get a suprise next week!!
 
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No I don't use maize as it is too difficult for them to digest (although many coarse mixes have maize in them) and I believe the risk of colic would be high. I feed human corn on the cob, uncooked and still in their husks.

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Not to mention difficult for them to pick up with those funny little forks
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Sorry feeling bit silly tonite!
 
Are there any dangers associated with the hard core of corn-on-the-cob? I've heard that this is indigestible and that dogs, chewing on old corn cobs, can get a major (i.e. potentially fatal) blockage if they swallow a chunk; would this be a possibility with a horse?

My mare likes blackberries, but can't be bothered to take them off the bushes. I didn't find out until I fought my way out of the big bramble bush in her field with a last handful of berries to find the box of berries CLEANED OUT and Mogs standing there licking her lips.
 
No I've never read that or heard of that. The research I did on feeding corn on the cob, was that it was highly digestible, particularly if fed on the cob. Corn is an energy-giver and is relatively low in protein however high in fat. If you were feeding corn as part of the staple then you would have to half the amount fed otherwise you would end up with some tubby horses. Everything I read (mostly vet and university papers) said that it was a good thing to feed horses PROVIDING the corn was clean, not rotting and free from mould, but then no decent horse-owner would feed their horses rotten feed.

Maize is a whole different thing though and I wouldn't feed it to my horses, although I know people who do.
 
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