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There are many fruits you can give your horse as a snack or a quick pick-me-up before a hard riding session: and bananas are one of the best options for doing just this.
Bananas are an excellent source of potassium and easy on their digestive systems, making them a great choice to use as a bit of treat at any time.
Although bananas are perfectly safe for most horses, that may not be the case for all of them. Introduce the food slowly into their diet and monitor how they react is very important.
If you suspect any medical concerns following your horse eating bananas, contact your vet right away. Introducing any new foods slowly is very important when working with horses.
How Many Bananas Can A Horse Eat?
To keep your horse interested in their normal daily foods and a wide variety of healthier options, they may prefer less to that of a tasty sweet banana; you should only give a few bananas a week to your riding companion.
Although bananas are packed full of potassium, vitamin D, vitamin C, and magnesium to much of them can become dangerous.
A good option for feeding your horse bananas is using them as a reward or a treat after specific activities. This way, your horse has something yummy to look forward to without expecting it often.
Can too Many Bananas Make Your Horse Sick?
It is possible that you can cause medical problems for your horse if you give them too many bananas at one time. That is why the experts tell you a few bananas a week should be the limit—three to four maximum, to be exact.
If your horse finds and eats multiples of this fruit in one sitting, they will most likely experience digestive issues and possibly sugar spikes.
A sugar spike can cause your horse’s insulin to become dangerously high, especially in horses with pre-existing insulin issues. It can also cause hyperactivity because of the excess sugar making your horse more excited and active than normal. This could lead to them harming you or themselves.
Can Horses Eat Bananas Peels?
Absolutely! Horses can eat banana peels; the question is going to be whether or not they want to. Banana peels have a bitter taste to them that may be appealing to all horses, so they may spit it out or refuse to take it.
As far as nutrients go, the peels are just as healthy for your horse as the banana itself, also containing potassium and vitamin B.
Can Horses Eat Banana Leaves?
Like the peels, most healthy horses will likely not suffer any ill effects from eating the leaves off of the banana; however, they may not be interested in eating the leaves at all.
If you can get your horse to eat a banana leaf, it may have some benefits. The leaf of the banana contains antioxidants that can help fight diseases and illnesses.
Can Horses Eat Banana Chips?
Yes, your horse can eat banana chips, but most horse owners try to steer clear of this for many reasons. First, banana chips are small and round; this makes for a significant choking hazard in an animal that will be very difficult to help.
Second, when banana chips are dehydrated, their sugar content is sure to increase, while the nutritional values decrease. Ultimately you are feeding your horse animal candy, and we all know, “too much of a good thing isn’t good at all.”
Can Horses Eat Banana Bread?
If you have noticed that your horse loves to munch on pieces of banana while you are grooming him or will steal yours from your lunch and chow down peel and all, they will enjoy a small amount of banana bread.
This is absolutely safe to feed to horses once in a great while, but we suggest not too often as bread is not the best food for a horse’s digestive tract. Giving them a bit of yours isn’t going to hurt but keep it small.
If you decide to share some of your banana bread with your horse, give it to them completely nut-free. Nuts are toxic to horses and may be seriously harmful to their digestive process or poisonous to their entire body.
What Other Fruits And Vegetables Are Okay For Horses?
Horses enjoy eating many different types of fruits and vegetables, and luckily for you, there is a wide range of them that are perfectly safe to feed them. Almost all fruits and vegetables are safe for horses to eat.
While most fresh fruits and vegetables are good for horses, be sure to steer clear of anything that may have pesticides or other dangerous chemicals on it.
You also want to keep your horse from eating things like cherries and apricots unless you plan on removing the pit.
What Foods Are Dangerous For Horses?
We have given you many reasons to offer up fresh fruits and vegetables to your horse; now it’s time to look at what foods you should avoid at all costs. These foods are associated with severe health side effects and even death.
- Avocados– The skin, leaves, and pit are poisonous for your horse to ingest.
- Bread– Bread contains no nutritional value and can cause a digestive blockage.
- Chocolate- Although tiny amounts can be okay, just a pinch too much can become dangerous.
- Potatoes– Potatoes contain a chemical that affects the horse’s nervous system and can cause them to convulse or even lead to death.
- Dairy- Dairy can cause digestive issues, including an upset stomach and diarrhea, because of their dairy sensitivity.
Conclusion
Can horses eat bananas? Yes, bananas are an excellent source of potassium and easy on their digestive systems, making them a great choice to use as a horse treat at any time. Introduce bananas to your horses diet slowly and monitor how they react.
Although we all tend to do what we can to make our animals happy, including given them tasty snacks here and there. It is much more important to keep them healthy and safe.
So, if you want to give your horse a banana once in a while, go for it. But keep it to a minimum to reduce any kind of unpleasant side effects.
