Last Updated on March 31, 2022
Who doesn’t love to snack on a bowl of strawberries – beautiful, sweet, juicy fruit, packed full of healthy vitamins? They really are a taste of summer! But can horses have strawberries? And are they good for them to eat?
We all enjoy giving treats to our horses, and some horses will enjoy delicious strawberry fruits as a snack. Feeding strawberries may have some nutritional benefits to horses However, strawberries are not part of their natural diet and should not be fed in large quantities.
Let’s take a look at strawberries and find out how to feed strawberries to horses.
Can Horses Eat Strawberries?
If you are a horse owner or spend time at your local yard, you will be familiar with the huge amounts of hay horses will eat each day! This is because the natural diet for horses is one that contains a high amount of roughage. Roughage means foods which are high in fiber, such as grass or hay.
To add some variety into the horse’s diet, many people like to also feed treats including fruit and vegetables. Pretty much every child will tell you that horses like to gobble up apples and carrots! However, many people do not realize that horses can also eat other types of fruit such as strawberries.
Strawberries are packed full of vitamins C, E, and K. They also contain potassium, phosphorous, calcium, and magnesium. All of these are very beneficial to horses.
These juicy fruits also contain a high proportion of water and some sugar. This makes them a healthy energy source which also helps to keep your horse hydrated.
Like any addition to the diet, strawberries should be fed as a treat and should not make up the main proportion of the daily food intake. So, feeding a large number of strawberries or any other type of fruit or vegetable to your horse is not a good idea.
If a horse eats a large amount of fruit or vegetables, he may develop colic or diarrhea. Both of these digestive problems can be very uncomfortable and potentially life-threatening.
The sugar content of strawberries can also harm your horse if they are eaten in large quantities. Sugar can cause long-term medical conditions such as laminitis. For this reason, strawberries should not be fed to overweight horses, or those suffering from insulin resistance.
Learn more about What Can Horses Eat? A List Of Favorite Horse Treats!
How To Feed Strawberries To Your Horse
Because of their small size, strawberries can be fed whole to your horse. However, they may be more tempted to eat them if you cut them in half. This will release the smell and juice of the strawberry and make it more tempting to your horse.
All fruit and vegetables, including strawberries, should be washed before feeding, to get rid of any toxic chemicals such as pesticides. Stick to feeding a set amount of strawberries or other fruits and vegetables, no more than two cups per day, to avoid overfeeding and digestive upsets.
Do Horses Eat Strawberries?
There is only one way to find out if your horse will eat strawberries, and that is to try them! Select a large, juicy strawberry, wash it, and cut it in half. Mix with pieces of other favorite snacks such as carrots. Feed the chunks by hand and see what your four-legged friend thinks about this new snack!
One of the best things about horses eating strawberries is that you now have a nice cold snack to give them on a hot day. Store your strawberries in the refrigerator before feeding to keep them chilled. You can even pop a few into the freezer for a short while to make some healthy iced treats for your horse!
What Are Horses Favorite Treats?
Horses definitely have a sweet tooth – they will enjoy anything sugary! Anyone who has ever fed sugar lumps to a horse will be able to tell you this. But what are horses’ favorite treats?
Well, each individual horse is different and will enjoy different treats. As a rule, most horses enjoy sweet things with a nutty or herby flavor. Take a sniff of a bag of horse treats – it will smell very much like the pot of dried herbs in your pantry!
Mrs. Pastures Horse Cookies & Treats – Premium All Natural Treats (5 Pound Bag)
One fun thing to try on a rainy day is baking your own horse treats. There are plenty of recipes available online and you can adapt the recipe to include all the things your horse loves. How delicious do carrots, oats, and honey treat balls sound?!
What Are The Best Treats For Horses?
If your horse is healthy and not suffering from any medical disorders, then almost any fruits and vegetables are safe for them to eat. Popular fruit treats include watermelon, grapes, raisins, bananas, and strawberries. They may also enjoy vegetables such as celery, peas, pumpkin, and squash.
Remember that all of these should be cut into smaller pieces before feeding. Why not chop up a little fruit salad to share with your horse on a sunny trail ride? Definitely a healthier alternative to sugary biscuits, peppermints, and candies!
What Treats Are Poisonous To Horses?
Some fruits and vegetables are not suitable for feeding horses. Alliums, such as onions, shallots, and garlic, can cause a form of hemolytic anemia if fed in large amounts. Therefore, care should be taken when feeding garlic supplements, and the recommended dose should never be exceeded.
Members of the nightshade family – potatoes and tomatoes – may also be toxic to horses. Brassica vegetables, such as cabbage, kale, and Brussels sprouts, may cause an excess of intestinal gas.
Other human foods which are poisonous to horses include chocolate, avocado, and persimmon fruits. Horses also cannot digest dairy products, so steer clear of feeding your horse treats that include yogurt or other milk-based ingredients.
Summary
As you’ve seen, you absolutely can feed strawberries to your horse as a refreshing snack or treat! Not all will like the taste, but many horses do enjoy these sweet juicy fruits. Strawberries should not be fed in large amounts, as they are not a natural part of the horse’s diet.
Do you have any questions about horses eating strawberries or other fruits? Add a comment below this post and we’ll get back to you! We’d also love to hear your suggestions on other great treat ideas for your horse!
Learn more about Do Horses Eat Corn?
How many strawberries can a horse have?
Your horse should not eat more than six to ten strawberries per week, and no more than one or two per day to avoid potential digestive upset. However, there are many benefits to eating strawberries, including their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. They’re a good source of water and are a great way to keep your horse hydrated. Strawberries contain vitamins C and K, as well as potassium and fiber. They are also a good source of folate, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, thiamine and riboflavin. It is very important to wash the strawberries prior to feeding them to your horse to remove potentially harmful residual chemicals or pesticides on them.
Can horses eat raspberries?
Yes, horses can eat raspberries, but only in moderation. Raspberries are a very good source of vitamin C. They also contain manganese, which is an essential trace mineral. This means they will help keep your horse’s coat and hooves healthy. In addition, raspberries are rich in potassium. Potassium is an electrolyte that helps regulate fluids in the body, including blood pressure.
But keep in mind that, as with any fruit, overfeeding is not advised, as it may cause colic. You need to make sure your horse’s diet consists mainly of roughage, such as hay and fresh pasture, while fruits should be fed only as a treat.
Can horses eat pineapple?
Pineapple is a healthy fruit to give to your horse occasionally and in small quantities but you need to be careful to completely remove the skin beforehand. After peeling the skin, simply cut the fruit into small, edible pieces and feed it to your horse. Pinapple is rich in nutrients, especially vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium. It is also rich in vitamin B6, which helps in the formation of red blood cells and assists with the release of energy from food. It also contains bromelain, which aids in digestion and helps fight against inflammation. However, pineapple also contains a lot of fiber and sugar and too much of it can cause stomach issues in your horse.
Can horses eat lemons?
Can horses really eat lemons? Yes, they can. The leftover material from producing citrus juice, called dried citrus pulp, is a common ingredient in livestock feed and can be added to horse feed in small quantities. However, also a fresh lemon is good for a horse because it contains a lot of vitamin C and essential oils that help clear up minor respiratory problems. Horses also won’t have problems with a small amount of seeds commonly found in citrus fruits.
Can horses eat apples whole?
Treats such as apples are good for feeding horses and they can eat any part of it. Apples are rich in vitamin C and help build immunity. They contain natural enzymes that help with digestion and nutrient absorption. They are also a good source of dietary fiber. But feed it in moderation as too much of something is never good. If your horse eats too many apples, it is likely to have colic, which can be fatal in serious cases. You should avoid giving your horse more than two pieces of apple 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