Horses primarily eat grain and hay. But they are not the only things horses can eat. In fact, horses can eat many kinds of fruits and vegetables. But can horses eat carrots? You can find the answer right in the article below.
Carrots are healthy and nutritious food for us and can be cooked in many ways. But how about horses? Raxin Horse will bring you useful tips on how to feed horses with carrots safely, what you should watch out for, some great alternatives in case you are running out of carrots, and others related. Keep on reading to know how to add carrots properly to your horse’s daily diet.
Is It Safe To Feed Horses With Carrots?
Can horses eat carrots? Yes, carrots are completely safe for horses to consume. Carrots are the favorite treats of many horses. They are not only delicious but bring many health benefits. Moreover, carrots are very common vegetables that can be bought nearly everywhere. They are also cheap and even can be grown in your garden.
Below is the nutritional value of carrots (per 100 grams of raw carrots):
- Calories: 41 kcal
- Water: 88%
- Carbohydrates: 9.6 grams
- Sugars: 4.7 grams
- Dietary Fiber: 2.8 grams
- Protein: 0.9 grams
- Fat: 0.2 grams
- Vitamin A: 835 micrograms
- Vitamin K: 13.2 micrograms
- Vitamin C: 5.9 milligrams
- Potassium: 320 milligrams
- Calcium: 33 milligrams
- Phosphorus: 35 milligrams
Benefits of Eating Carrots For Horses
You will want to add carrots to your horse’s menu because it offers many nutritional and health benefits. Below are some key benefits when feeding horses with carrots:
- Carrots are rich in vitamins, especially vitamins C and A. Those can support the horses’ immune system, healthy coat, and good vision as well as maintain overall health.
- Carrots also contain a high amount of dietary fiber that is great for the digestion system of horses. Fiber can help to clean the gut, boost nutrient absorption, prevent constipation, and assist bowel movement.
- These kinds of vegetables also contain calcium, vitamin K, and phosphorus which contribute to the health of bone.
- Beta-carotene and vitamin A in carrots play as anti-inflammatory which helps to fight the inflammation of horses.
- Carrots contain a high amount of water as well. Giving your horses carrots is a great way to keep them hydrated.
Tips To Add Carrots Into The Diet of A Horse
Can horses eat carrots without being sliced? Can horses eat the green leaves of carrots? To feed horses with carrots safely, you need to master some tips as well as a few precautions to ensure no risks develop.
How To Prepare Carrots Before Serving Horses
Preparing carrots properly before serving them to horses is important to ensure they are safe and easy to eat. Here’s how you can prepare carrots for your horse:
- Wash Carrots: Carrots are usually dirty because they grow in soil. Wash them carefully under tap water to get rid of all dirt or pesticides. You can use a vegetable brush to scrub carrots.
- Cut Into Small Pieces: This will prevent your horse from choking, especially with old ones or those with dental problems. You can chop them into 2 to 3-inch pieces so that horses can easily chew and digest. You also can grab the whole carrot and feed them. Keep the carrot and let your horse bite them until finish.
How Many Carrots Can A Horse Eat?
1 or 2 average-sized carrots will be enough for a day. In case you give baby carrots, 2 small handfuls of them will be right. Carrots are great to be fed to both adult and baby horses. When you feed foals, always remember to cut down the carrots, even baby ones.
Precautions When Giving Horses Carrots
It’s crucial to remember that giving carrots to your horse requires taking certain precautions. It sounds simple to feed horses with carrots, but there some certain risks that you should know:
- Choking Risks: This may be the biggest risk you must be aware of. A big chunk of carrot can cause your horse to choke and be hard for digestion. So, remember to cut carrots into manageable pieces to eliminate this hazard.
- Give Horse Carrots In Moderation: Carrots are good treats for sure, but it doesn’t mean you can serve horses with a big basket of carrots. If you let horses eat too many carrots, this can make their stomach upset.
- Introduce Carrots Gradually To Your Horses: If you give carrots to your horses for the first time, you should give them in small amounts to test their reaction and allergy.
Yummy Treats With Carrots
There are some fun and easy ways to make some carrot treats for your horse. Below are instructions for you to prepare:
- You can combine chopped or grating carrots into the bran or other vegetables to add more flavor and nutrition.
- On hot days, serve your horse with carrots that have been frozen. They are surely wonderful chilled treats with sweet and refreshing tastes that every horse will love.
- You also want to try adding grated carrots to other homemade treats. In this way, the treats will become more delicious and healthier.
Some Delicious Vegetable Alternatives of Carrots
There are several options of vegetable alternatives you can pick up for your horses. Here are some wonderful choices that your horses will love:
- Pumpkin: Those delicious pumpkins are high in fiber, Vitamin A, and antioxidants. This makes them an excellent treat for digestive health and the immune system of horses.
- Celery: Low in calories and high in water content, celery is hydrating and crunchy. Also, it’s a good source of Vitamin K, potassium, and fiber.
- Beetroots: Packed with fiber, folate, manganese, and vitamin C, beets are a superfood for horses. It also provides natural sugars in moderation.
- Cucumbers: Cucumbers are refreshing and low in calories, an invigorating snack during the hot summer days.
- Bell Peppers: Peppers are rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, and antioxidants. They are low in calories and add a colorful and crunchy alternative to carrots.
- Broccoli: Broccoli is a very good source of vitamins, mostly in the forms of vitamins C and K, while it’s a rich source of fiber, potassium, and folate. Be sure that your horse does not hate its taste as it is strong.
Besides vegetables, horses also can eat many kinds of fruits and even bread.
When You Shouldn’t Serve Carrots To Horses
Can horses eat carrots? Generally, most horses love to eat carrots. But there are certain situations when it’s best to avoid feeding them. Here are some scenarios where you shouldn’t serve carrots to horses:
Horses With Dental Issues
Carrots are delicious but quite hard to chew, especially for horses which have weak teeth and other problems. Grated or pureed carrots are the best way to serve horses.
Horses With Insulin Resistance
This disease will make horses have difficulty in managing sugar intake. Although carrots contain natural sugars, they will worsen these conditions. Therefore, you need to be careful when feeding high-sugar foods to horses with insulin resistance.
Horses At Risk of Laminitis
Carrots and other high-sugar and starch meals can aggravate or cause laminitis in horses that are already suffering from it.
FAQs
Can horses eat carrots with green tops? Indeed, carrot tops can be consumed. They are abundant in fiber, vitamins, iron, and calcium. However, you shouldn’t allow horses to consume carrot tops too much and frequently as this might lead to bloating because they have delicate digestive systems.
Sure, you can let horses have carrots daily with suggested amounts (1-2 carrots or 2 handfuls of baby ones). However, you should balance carrots with other treats you feed your horse in a day.
Yes, you can feed horses with ulcer carrots, but only in small amounts. This is because carrots don’t contain much starch like rice, so it won’t affect the horse’s stomach too much.
Final Words
Can horses eat carrots? You can rest assured that your horse companion enjoys carrots every day. But if they have some health issues, like dental problems, laminitis, or are insulin resistant, you should avoid putting carrots into their diet. Always wash the carrots and chop them into small pieces before feeding your horse, especially with foals or older ones.
