What is the safest way to feed carrots?

[happihorse]

My horse isn't getting much turnout at the moment so I am giving him plenty of carrrots. However, I am getting conflicting advice on how to feed them.

So, which is the safest way; sticks, dics, whole or diced?

 

[Crazy Friesian]

Sliced, longways!

Its easier for them to go down and if they do get stuck (heaven forbid) it is easier to persuade them to go down! Ask any vet. They will tell you the same thing.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Is the "dics" option round slices?

Defo julienne, ie sliced into thin strips like you'd have at a posh party for sticking into dips. As CF says, whole can cause choke. I would have thought that sliced into thin "rounds" or completely diced would have been ok but some horses seem to have a death wish so julienne is best. If you have a load of time on your hands, you can safely offer them grated too.

 

[s4sugar]

If you have an oldie the julienne blade on a food processor is invaluable but mine now get all the suitable pulp from my juicer.
Carrots, apples, pears give a pulp that even makes wormers tasty.

 

[Shay]

According to my daughter - whole and dipped in molasses. She calls them carrot ice creams. Ned loves it too!

Seriously - not cut into discs or round slices. They're too easy to swallow whole and cause a choke. If you want to slice them at all it needs to be lengthwise. Personally I prefer to leave them whole. (You can tuck them into his haynet for extra amusement). Unless you have an oldie neds usually manage just fine with food they have to bite in half.

 

[HazellB]

We cut lengthwise and stuff them in Decahedrons. A 12.5kg bag fills about tenish decahedrons, so you use less carrots but they last the horse far, far longer and entertain him better.

 

[Vicki1986]

I always had it drilled into me since a child whole or lengthways never discs.

however i do wonder what the difference is between a disc of carrot and a grape, my horse eats grapes fine, loves them infact, or even some of the tiny horse treats you can buy - or even a polo.