Most of the time, horses aren’t allowed to eat a lot of apples because they can cause upset stomachs and diarrhea. Apples have a lot of sugar, which is quickly broken down by the body.
Apples have a lot of sugar but not a lot of protein, which is not good for horses.
When this happens, the stomach gets a message that food has been eaten, but since there is no more food coming in, the stomach may release acid or enzymes too soon. If the horse eats an apple, it may also feel full, heavy, tired, and weak.
If horses can eat apples, they should do so in small amounts.
A typical horse, which weighs about 1,300 pounds, needs about 2 quarts of hay every day. They would need about 6 ounces of grain concentrate and 1/2 ounce of salt every day.
Depending on where it lives, how big it is, and how much it moves around, the average horse needs between 16 and 20 quarts of water every day. In general, a horse will drink 1 gallon of water for every 100 pounds it weighs every day.
If you want your horse to eat apples, you should cut the apples into slices and give them to the horses as treats.
What Type Of Apples Can Horses Eat?
There are many kinds of apples that horses can eat. Granny Smith and Red Delicious apples are the ones that are fed to horses the most often.
You can find these in most grocery stores and markets all year long.
Here are a few more kinds of apples you can feed to your horse:
- Cortland
- Fuji
- Gala
- Golden Delicious
- Granny Smith
- Honeycrisp
- McIntosh
- Pink Lady
- Red Delicious
- Suncrisp
Can horses eat the whole apple?
You shouldn’t ever try to give your horse a whole apple. Instead, you should cut the apple into smaller pieces that are easier for your horse to swallow.
If a horse tries to eat an apple all by itself, it could choke. You need to make sure that the food you give your horse is easy for it to digest and swallow.
Apples have never been hard to get horses to eat, so just make sure you give them the right amount each day.
How Many Apples Can Horses Eat in a Day?
It is never a good idea to give your horse a lot of apples or other fruit in one day. As a treat, it’s better to give a small amount of an apple. If you feed your horse too much, it might get sick and you might have to take it to the vet.
But you can feed your horse one apple a day without harm. It’s best to cut the apple into small pieces and give some of them early in the day while saving the rest for later. This helps them avoid any stomach problems they might have if they ate it all at once.
Some people with bigger horses might want to feed their horse one to two apples a day, which is fine as long as they are not all given at once. You could even bake some apple treats and give them out at different times during the day if you wanted to.
Just watch the amount and don’t give your horse too many apples or other high-sugar fruits.
Can horses eat the seeds of apples?
Most of the time, it’s safe for your horse to eat apple seeds, but it should only do so in small amounts. When it comes to your horse eating apple seeds, the old saying “too much of a good thing can be bad” is also true.
Most experts agree that the small amount of amygdalin in apple seeds, which turns into hydrogen cyanide when chewed or crushed, is not something to worry about. It would take a lot of work to make them dangerous.
So, it’s important to only feed your horse small amounts and pay attention to any strange things it does after eating an apple with seeds.
Can horses eat the core of an apple?
Yes, the core of an apple can be part of a horse’s regular diet. There is no danger to their health if they eat the core.
But we do suggest cutting it up so that when they try to swallow it, it doesn’t get stuck in their throat.
Can Horses Eat Applesauce?
Yes! Applesauce is a tasty treat that a lot of horses love to eat. This is also a great way to feed horses that tend to choke or are older. If you don’t make your own applesauce, make sure to only buy sugar-free options.
If you decide to buy applesauce, you might want to get single-serving packages since an open jar could attract bugs and make the applesauce go bad faster.
Can Apples Kill Horses?
If your horse ate a whole bucket of apples, it could be fatal. In fact, eating more than a few apples at once could cause serious problems or even death.
Make sure that your horse can’t get to an apple tree or any apples that have been picked or are lying around. A horse can only eat one to two apples per day, and most of the time, they should only eat one.
If your horse is very big, you might be able to feed it two apples a day, but you should never do both of these things at the same time. For example, you might want to eat one for breakfast and the other later as a treat.
If your horse eats a lot of apples, it can cause colic, which can cause the horse to die. To avoid any of these problems, make sure you only give your horse one apple a day.
It’s also important to make sure you’re not giving your horse a whole apple. Instead, you should cut it into several pieces and feed it that way. This is done so that no one will choke.
Why Do Horses like Apples?
Apples are naturally sweet, so horses like them. They’re also a great treat to give them because they can help them act more like they would in the wild.
Because of these natural instincts, horses like to eat apples because of how they feel, smell, and taste, just like people do.
Apples also have a lot of vitamin C, which is great for fighting infections. If your horse has any cuts or scratches, giving him an apple will help him heal faster.
Before giving your horse anything new, though, you should talk to your vet first.
FAQs:
Can I give my horse applesauce?
Applesauce. If you’re looking to give your horse a special treat for dinner, applesauce can be a great way to add something special to your horse’s meal. Applesauce is also an ideal treat for horses prone to choke. Be sure to buy sugar-free applesauce. Feb 4, 2016
Can horses have unsweetened applesauce?
Listed below are foods that your horse can safely eat in moderation: Apples (without the core) and Applesauce. Oct 7, 2021
What does an apple do to a horse?
Most people like to feed their horses with treats such as apples. However, too much of something is poisonous, and this is true for fruits. When your horse has a belly filled with apples, it is likely to cause colic, which may further lead to the founder. You should not give your horse more than two pieces of fruit. Dec 1, 2016
Can horses eat apple cores?
Can Horses Eat Apple Cores? A horse can eat the entire apple including the peel, core, and seeds.
Can horses eat rotten apples?
Rotten apples are great for horses. An apple can’t get too rotten to be good for an ailing equine. Most horses love apples. An apple cut into pieces makes a wonderful treat.
Do horses like apples or carrots better?
Sliced apples without the core and carrots are always a good go-to, but do you ever wonder what other healthy snacks your horse might enjoy? Be sure to cut any large fruit or vegetable into manageable pieces, and do not give your horse any pits or cores, which could cause a choke. Nov 23, 2016
How many apples should a horse eat a day?
While apples are generally safe for horses, there are potential issues to keep in mind. Firstly, avoid giving your horse too many apples, as this can cause colic and other painful stomach issues for your horse. One or two apples a day at most is ideal, although one every other day is best. Jan 12, 2022
Can horses choke on apples?
Greedy horses eating their carrots and apples too quickly can choke as well as horses that have accidentally swallowed some sort of foreign body like a potato. The main complication associated with a choke is aspiration pneumonia.
Can horses eat unripe apples?
Yes, horses can eat unripe apples. With any food, too much of a new thing at one time will cause a horse’s digestive upset, which can be fatal.
How do you cut apples for horses?
Cut large produce into smaller pieces. Most horses will chew up their treats, but some like to just swallow them whole. To prevent choking, cut produce into chunks roughly the size of a grape. For instance, you can cut an apple into eighths.
Can horses eat cooking apples?
Horses can eat cooking apples. … All apples are actually safe for horses. Unlike regular apples which are often sweeter and softer, cooking apples tend to be harder and not that sweet. But horses will still find them palatable. Apr 23, 2021
Do apples get horses drunk?
Fermenting Apples May Cause Ethanol Poisoning in Pets, Horses & Cattle. Moose, the elk, bears… a quick Google uncovers many stories of wild animals accidentally ‘drunk’ on fermented apples. … However, there are dangers that fermenting apples pose for horses, livestock, and dogs, even in small doses. Sep 19, 2011
How does apple cider vinegar help horses?
Apple Cider Vinegar works to acidify the horse’s stomach for better digestion, cleansing the digestive tract. It can also aid in the absorption of minerals and helps balance the acid/alkaline ratio which is essential for good health. Dec 15, 2019
Can apples cause colic in horses?
When your horse has a belly filled with apples, it is likely to cause colic, which may further lead to the founder. You should not give your horse more than two pieces of fruit. Dec 1, 2016
Can horses eat apples with worms?
You should never feed a large amount of any treatment in a single day, as this could lead to digestive issues in your horse. As with any new food, start small and only feed them a few pieces of an apple at first and monitor them for a day. If they are fine, then they should have no problem eating apples.
Can horses eat dried apples?
Many of us like to feed our horses apples for treats. But sometimes fruits can become too much of a good thing. A belly full of apples or any other fruit can easily cause colic and may lead to laminitis. 1 You probably should not feed your horse more than one or two pieces of fruit. Jan 13, 2022
Conclusion
Apples are safe for horses to eat, but they shouldn’t get too many of them. They shouldn’t be able to get to apple trees or apples that are lying around, because if left alone, horses will eat more apples than is good for them.
Horse owners need to make sure that their horses don’t eat the seeds of an apple because this could cause colic or founder.
But horses love applesauce, and it is a great treat for them. If you want your horse’s food dish to stay fresh and bug-free, you might want to buy single-serving packages instead of leaving out open jars all the time.
