Dos and Don’ts of Fruit and Vegetable Treats for Your Horse: Part 2
While apples, carrots, cucumbers and celery are all great treats to feed to your horse, there are certainly some fruits and vegetables that should be avoided. Here is a look at a few of the vegetables to avoid along with more that are safe to feed to your horse.
Cabbage and Other Vegetables in the Cabbage Family
Cabbage is never safe to feed to your horse. The same is true of other vegetables in this same family, such as broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower and kale. Just as with humans, all of these vegetables can create intestinal gas in your horse. Gas pains can escalate into life-threatening situations for your horse, including gas-related colic. Even if the condition is not fatal, it can cause intense discomfort for your horse.
Lettuce
With cabbage being on the list of items to not feed to your horse, you may assume that lettuce is also a no-no due to its similarity in appearance. In reality, lettuce is safe for your horse to eat. Some horse owners even choose to occasionally add some lettuce to their horse’s normal feed. Thanks to its high water content, lettuce is an excellent addition to your horse’s diet. In fact, most can eat up to two pounds of lettuce per day without it even affecting their appetite!