The latest in our blog series about what horses can eat, asks, ‘Can horses eat bananas?’
The short answer is yes, they can!
There’s some misleading information out there about horses and bananas, so we thought we’d set the record straight. We’ll look at some of the nutritional benefits of feeding your horse bananas, the precautions you can take, and we’ll debunk some of those myths too.
THE NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS OF BANANAS FOR HORSES
Bananas are a great source of energy for horses as they are a good source of natural sugar, but they also contain some key ingredients, including:
- Potassium – This is important for muscle function and hydration, particularly so when you consider how big horses are, and how strenuous their physical activity can be.
- Vitamin C – Vitamin C helps support the immune system, connective tissue health and overall wellbeing.
- Vitamin B6 – This is essential for supporting the metabolism, helping muscle growth and repair and regulating hormones.
- Dietary Fibre – This supports gut health, which could help prevent digestive issues. It also helps with temperature regulation and meets the physical need to chew – chewing stimulates saliva production which also helps maintain a healthy gut.
PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE WHEN FEEDING HORSES BANANAS
As bananas are treats, they should only form part of a horse’s balanced diet and be given in moderation. Introduce them gradually and build up to a couple of bananas once or twice a week, as any change in a horse’s diet could cause digestive issues such as colic or diarrhoea. It’s a good idea to chop them up into bite-sized pieces to reduce the risk of choking and always monitor their reactions – look out for any skin reactions such as hives, breathing problems, lethargy etc.
The high sugar content in bananas could also cause problems for horses who are at risk of laminitis, are insulin resistant, or who have other conditions that require a low-sugar diet.
CAN HORSES EAT BANANA PEEL?
Yes, although the peel can be bitter so your horse might not be interested. Banana peel contains potassium and Vitamin B and is a good source of antioxidants; antioxidants help maintain general health by protecting the body against free radicals in the body – these are molecules that can damage cells and cause illness if there are too many for the body to neutralise.
It’s worth noting that banana skins may have traces of pesticides on them, but you can reduce the risk by either washing them or buying organic bananas instead.
COMMON MYTHS
“Bananas are toxic to horses.”
No, bananas aren’t toxic to horses, in fact many horses love them because of the sweet taste.
“Bananas give horses colic”.
Any change in diet can cause digestive issues if it’s not introduced gradually and it’s always important to monitor your horse when introducing a new food, but bananas don’t directly cause colic.
“Bananas make horses hyper.”
Bananas have a high sugar content, but if you introduce them gradually, and give them in moderation, they shouldn’t have an effect on energy levels. Horses can get the zoomies, but it’s more likely to happen if they’ve been confined for a while, than if they’ve just eaten a bit of banana.
HOW TO INTRODUCE BANANAS INTO A HORSE’S DIET
Start with a small amount at first, cut it up into small pieces to reduce the choking risk, and remove the skin to make it easier for your horse to eat. Keep an eye out for any negative reactions.
Horses evolved to eat hay and grass, so while sweet treats will always be appreciated, they should only be given as part of a balanced, nutritious diet and moderation is key. We want our horses to enjoy treats without compromising their health and general wellbeing so it’s always a good idea to be aware of the foods horses can and can’t eat.
The average cost of owning a horse can be pretty high, and while we want the best for our equine friends, we can’t predict the future; all we can do is make sure that we have the right protection in place should the worst happen. This is where horse insurance comes in. Our policies come with Death, Theft or Straying as a standard benefit, but you get to choose the optional benefits that suit you, your horse, and your budget the best so you don’t end up paying for cover you’re never going to need.
Take a look at our website, or give us a call today for a free, no-strings quote.
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