It is fun to give your horse a delicious treat every once in a while. However, these treats should be given in moderation, and some foods should never be given at all. Here are a few of the foods that should not be given to horses.
Meat
Horses are herbivores. They should never be given meat, though they will eat meat if it is offered to them. Many studies have shown that horses begin to behave violently when they eat meat. It is important to stick with the diet that horses have evolved for and keep them on a plant-based diet.
Caffeine
Caffeine isn’t going to improve your horse’s performance. There is no reason to give them caffeine and doing so can cause irregular heart rhythms.
Garlic and Onions
Many treats contain garlic flavorings, which is fine in extremely limited quantities. Garlic and onions can destroy red blood cells, eventually resulting in anemia.
Rhubarb
Rhubarb leaves are poisonous to humans and horses alike. Consumption of rhubarb leaves can cause kidney failure, as well as damage the digestive and urinary systems.
Fruit Pits
The pits of fruits can cause the horse to choke. Furthermore, these pits contain small amounts of cyanide, which can be harmful when they are compounded. Generally, a horse should never be given more than two pieces of fruit at a time and all pits should be removed beforehand.
Chocolate
We all know chocolate is poisonous to dogs, but it is poisonous to horses too. Chocolate can cause many problems for a horse, including colic, seizures, and internal bleeding.
It is important to make sure that your horse’s treats will keep it healthy, in addition to making it happy. If you’re unsure about what will make a suitable treat for your horse, you should consult with your veterinarian before you give it to your horse.
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