Nutritious, refreshing, and sweet, strawberries never fail to rank top on the list of healthy food for humans. However, can horses eat strawberries? Can these majestic creatures benefit from the fruit as much as we do?
Can Horses Eat Strawberries without any Bad effects?
Short answer: Yes, they can, and strawberries are very beneficial to their health.
But before you rush to the market or your garden to gather a bunch of this sweet treat and feed your horses as much as they can eat, hear me out. As anything will become harmful if consumed too much, strawberry is no exception.
Strawberries can cause digestive problems and nutrient deficiencies if you don’t limit the amount your horses eat each day. I will go into details down below.
How Strawberries benefit Horses?
Strawberries are rich in vitamins, fiber, antioxidants, minerals, and water. Thus, they are great for hydrating your horses and boosting their immune system.
The fruit contains a high level of vitamin C, E, and K. It also has magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, and potassium. All are great for horses’ well-being.
Strawberries’ potential problems to horses
Now you know how beneficial the fruit is to horses, but can horses eat strawberries as much as they want?
Bloating is not limited to humans only. Your horse can feel bloated if they are fed too many strawberries. The reason here is quite straightforward. With a belly full of this fruit, your horses will no longer want to eat their daily meals.
If your horses lack proper food for a long time, they can develop nutrient deficiencies and some digestion problems. Horses’ digestive system will probably be damaged afterward.
Although strawberries are rich in vitamins and minerals, they also have a high level of sugar. Just imagine what a large amount of sugar can do to our bodies and you will know how bad that is for horses.
Moreover, if your horses have insulin resistance, you should consult a veterinarian to make sure you can feed your horses strawberries.
How to serve strawberries to horses? A proper amount
Here is what the experts say:
Six to ten strawberries a week is the ideal amount to keep your horses healthy. That many strawberries can be given once or twice.
If your horses don’t eat up the amount you give them, either keep the leftover in the fridge or throw them away if they are likely to go bad. Feeding your horses bad strawberries or the ones that have mold and you risk upsetting their stomach.
One more note. You may not be inclined to wash the fruit properly before giving them to your horses but it is highly recommended that you should.
Strawberries that you buy or pick in your garden might have residual pesticides or chemicals on them. So before throwing your horses the fruit make sure that you have washed them thoroughly. So now you know the answer to the question “can horse eat strawberries” is yes. Go ahead and give them some as many horses do have a sweet tooth. However, bear in mind that six to ten strawberries are enough for a week.
