Horses are herbivores whose diet consists mainly of grass and other feeds. However, can horses eat other kinds of food, such as: Can horses eat bananas, are they healthy for horses?
Horses can eat bananas as a snack, but eating too much can cause stomach problems or high blood sugar. It is recommended not to feed more than four bananas per week. While they're high in potassium and other nutrients, they're also high in sugar – so if you're having trouble with your horse's blood sugar levels, check with your veterinarian first.
In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of bananas for horses, how much they can eat, and more.
Are bananas bad for horses?
Bananas are harmless to horses, but that doesn't mean they can eat as much as they want! Horses eating too many bananas can raise their blood sugar or cause stomach problems, a bit like a child eating too much ice cream.
Instead, you should reward yourself with bananas. When your horse does its job brilliantly, or as a delicious surprise of the week.
Advantages and disadvantages of horses eating bananas
Bananas are healthy for most horses. The advantages of bananas include:
- Potassium: Potassium provides energy to horses, which is why racehorses are often fed bananas before races. It also helps promote heart, muscle, and nerve health.
- Fiber: Horses need a lot of fiber in their diet, most of which is obtained by eating grass, but bananas are also rich in fiber. It can help keep your horse's digestive system active and healthy.
- Vitamin B6: Bananas are a source of vitamin B6, which helps promote brain, heart, and eye health. It also reduces the risk of cancer and can give the horse energy.
- Vitamin C: Unlike humans and some other animals, horses can produce vitamin C on their own. However, it is also found in bananas. Vitamin C helps the body grow, heal, and maintain a healthy immune system.
Bananas are also low-fat foods, so bananas are a great food if you want to manage your weight.
However, bananas also have drawbacks. The disadvantages of feeding bananas to horses include:
- Sugar: Bananas are high in sugar, so they are not suitable for horses with diabetes. It can also cause problems with blood sugar in healthy horses if fed in large quantities.
- Stomach problems: Feeding too many bananas at one time can cause stomach upset in horses. Slowly add bananas to their diet in small amounts.
How many bananas can a horse eat?
Bananas are a healthy food for most horses. As with all treats, they should only be taken as a small part of a horse's diet. Depending on the horse's size, health, and whether it eats other fruits or sugary foods, the horse can be allowed to eat two to four bananas per week.
If your horse eats a banana for the first time, feed it only a small piece and watch for signs of stomach upset or allergic reactions, if your horse eats a bunch of bananas, it may feel stomach upset, horses with diabetes or sugar sensitivity cannot eat bananas because bananas can raise the horse's blood sugar.
If you're not sure what your horse has eaten, especially if they have health issues that require dietary restrictions, it's important to consult your veterinarian.
Can you feed banana peels to horses?
Yes, horses can eat banana peels! Some horses like the taste, while others find it too bitter and will only eat the pulp. If a horse eats banana peels, be sure to wash them before feeding, as banana peels often contain pesticides.
What fruits can't horses eat?
Horses can eat most fruits, but some fruits are dangerous or poisonous to them.
Here are some parts of fruit and fruit that should never be fed to horses.
- The fruits, stems, and leaves of avocados are toxic to horses.
- Tomato fruits and branches are toxic to horses.
- Fruit pits, such as cherry or peach pits, pose a choking hazard and contain toxins.
Be sure to slowly incorporate new foods into your horse's diet, and if your horse gets sick after eating a new food, even if it's normally safe for horses, call a veterinarian for help.