Did you know that carrots are not only healthy for humans, but they are also extremely healthy for your horse?! Most of the horses adore eating carrots as treats, and, thankfully, they are inexpensive and very nutritious!
Can horses eat carrots? Yes, horses can eat carrots, and they typically look forward to getting them, even if they find them as a nose for a snowman. Carrots are a classic treat for horses. However, eating too many treats is unhealthy for your horse.
Carrots contain a bushel of vitamins that are essential for a horse’s well-being. However, always feed any treats with caution and understand that they are only meant to be fed in moderation. Horses evolved to forage and have eaten mostly dried grass during their evolutionary history. Accordingly, your horse should eat mostly high-fiber foods such as hay. When you do, feed your horse with carrots, be sure to do so in small pieces, in limited quantities, and only as part of a consistent training regimen.
If you love your horse, you probably like to feed him treats from time to time. Your horse is happy to gobble up whatever you offer him and always wants more. However, everyone at your stable has a different idea on what sort of treats are best, which ones should be avoided, and how and when to feed treats. What’s the best answer?
Horses are programmed to eat small amounts of food continuously, so your horse will always want another treat, but for his well-being, learn to say no.
What to offer as treats? Almost any fruits and many vegetables are safe treats for healthy horses. Apples and carrots are traditional favorites. You can safely provide your horse raisins, grapes, bananas, strawberries, cantaloupe, other melons, celery, pumpkin, and snow peas. Most horses will chew these treats before swallowing, but horses that gulp large pieces of a fruit or vegetable have a risk of choking. Remember to cut treats into smaller pieces before feeding.