Last Updated on May 7, 2022
Can horses eat celery or is it bad for them? Let’s find out!
Can Horses Eat Celery?
Celery is a healthy and nutritious snack that many humans enjoy, either raw or cooked. But what many people do not realize is that horses can also eat celery, and it is very good for them!
Celery contains a huge range of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, including:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
- Riboflavin
- Folate
- Pantothenic Acid
- Thiamine
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Calcium
- Iron
- Phosphorous
- Zinc
- Copper
- Iron
- Fiber
- Water
All of these nutrients are essential for maintaining a healthy body, and celery is a healthy snack with many nutritional benefits. Another great advantage to celery is it is much lower in sugar and calories than other types of fruit and vegetables, so can be given to horses that are prone to weight gain.
The nutrients in celery also help with the formation of blood cells, and dietary fiber helps to maintain a healthy digestive system.
The only disadvantage to feeding celery to horses is that it can cause digestive upset if fed in large quantities. This is because it contains more water and less fiber than the horses’ natural food material – grasses and plants. This means that celery should be fed in smaller quantities as a treat, and not as part of the main diet.
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Can Horses Eat Celery Leaves?
So, now that we know that celery stalk is a healthy and nutritious snack for horses, can horses eat celery leaves too?
Yes, celery leaves are very healthy and perfectly safe for horses to eat!
You might find that not all horses will eat celery leaves, as they have a much stronger flavor than the stalks. But once they get used to the flavor, they will tuck into the leaves with great enjoyment.
The best way to tempt horses to eat celery stalks and leaves is to feed it to them by hand. Mix cubes of celery stalk with their favorite snacks, and they should take a nibble to see if they like the taste. Watch out for the funny faces that horses pull when they try something new for the first time!
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What Other Vegetables Can Horses Eat?
We all know that horses enjoy eating apples and carrots, but sometimes it is nice to add a bit of variety into their diet! It can be fun tempting your horse to try something new, figuring out what he likes and dislikes. You could even take a fruit and vegetable salad for you both to share on your next long trail ride!
Horses can eat juicy fruits such as apricots, plums, and peaches, as long as the large stone is removed first. They will also enjoy tucking into bananas, melon, and mango, with the skin, removed.
Other fruits to try with your horse include grapes, peeled oranges, pears, pineapple pieces, and strawberries. When it comes to vegetables and salad, horses can eat lettuce, green beans, cucumber, and snow peas.
Some other unusual snacks you can add to your horses’ diet include oatmeal, raisins, and sunflower seeds.
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Feeding Vegetables To Horses – Tips And Precautions
When feeding any type of fruit or vegetable to a horse, it is essential to either wash it or peel it first. This will remove any chemical residue such as pesticides or herbicides.
Softer fruits and vegetables do not need peeling, but anything with tough skin should be peeled. Crunchy or chewy vegetables should also be chopped into bite-size chunks to prevent the horse from choking.
Vegetables and fruits should never be fed to horses in large quantities, as they may cause digestive upsets such as colic or diarrhea. Some fruits and vegetables are also high in sugar, which can lead to obesity in horses. High-sugar snacks should never be given to horses that are overweight or suffering from conditions such as laminitis, insulin resistance, or equine metabolic syndrome.
Equine nutritionists advise that snacks should make up a very small proportion of the horse’s daily food intake – no more than 1-2%. A good rule to stick to is to never feed more than two cups of treats per day to your horse and to reduce this by half if you are feeding high-sugar snacks.
Summary – Can Horses Eat Celery
So, as we have learned, both the stalk and leaves of celery are safe for horses to eat and are nutritious and healthy snacks for horses. Celery should be washed before feeding to horses to remove residues of pesticides, and the stalks should be cut into smaller chunks. Horses enjoy many different vegetables and they can be fed as snacks, but should not make up the bulk of the horse’s diet.
We’d love to hear your thoughts about can horses eat celery! Does your horse enjoy any unusual fruits or vegetables? Or perhaps you’ve offered celery to your horse but he didn’t like it? Leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you!
FAQ’s
Can Horses Eat Vegetable Leaves?
Horses can eat some vegetable leaves, but others are potentially harmful to horses. Horses should never be fed cabbage, broccoli, or any other vegetables from the brassica family.
How Much Celery Can A Horse Eat?
A horse can eat up to two cups of chopped celery stalk and leaves per day. This is a healthy and nutritious snack for horses, and will provide many essential vitamins. Do not exceed this amount, as it may cause digestive problems such as colic or diarrhea.
Can Horses With Laminitis Eat Celery?
Celery is an excellent treat for horses with laminitis, as it is very low in sugar. Other safe snacks to feed to laminitis-prone horses include lettuce and green beans. Like all treats, these should only be fed in moderation, as an occasional snack.
Can Miniature Horses Eat Celery?
Miniature horses can eat celery, but you will need to reduce the quantity according to the size of the horse. A full-size horse can have two cups of celery per day, but a miniature horse can weigh up to a quarter of an average horse. This means you need to feed a quarter of the amount of celery, which equates to half a cup per day.
Kate Chalmers is a qualified veterinary nurse who has specialized in horse care for the vast majority of her career. She has been around horses since she was a child, starting out riding ponies and helping out at the local stables before going on to college to study Horse Care & Management. She has backed and trained many horses during her lifetime and competed in various equestrian sports at different levels.
After Kate qualified as a veterinary nurse, she provided nursing care to the patients of a large equine veterinary hospital for many years. She then went on to teach horse care and veterinary nursing at one of the top colleges in the country. This has led to an in-depth knowledge of the care needs of horses and their various medical ailments, as well as a life-long passion for educating horse owners on how to provide the best possible care for their four-legged friends.
Kate Chalmers BSc (Hons) CVN, Dip AVN (Equine) Dip HE CVN EVN VN A1 PGCE