You might already know about plants that are poisonous for horses like ornamental yews, red maple leaves and oleander, but did you know some foods we eat every day can be just as dangerous? So while it may be tempting to feed your horse leftovers or table scraps, avoid feeding the following foods to make sure he or she stays safe and healthy:

• Corn, bread, cooked rice.¹ For horses with insulin resistance problems or older horses prone to equine Cushing’s disease, these high starch/high sugar foods should be avoided because they can raise insulin to dangerous levels and increase the risk for laminitis.
  

• Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and peppers.¹ All of these vegetables are potentially toxic to horses.
  

• Potatoes (including the peel) and tomatoes.^1,2 Potatoes contain alkaloids that are toxic to horses and both of these vegetables can cause depression, weakness and colic.
  

• Onions and garlic.¹ When consumed in large amounts, both raw onions and garlic can cause a possibly fatal disorder called Heinz body anemia.
  

• Chocolate.^1,2 You may have already heard that chocolate is toxic for dogs – it’s just as dangerous for horses. Chocolate contains the alkaloid theobromine, a chemical that horses, dogs, and cats are unable to efficiently metabolize. In sufficient amounts, theobromine can not only cause a positive drug test for horses engaged in competition, but also epileptic seizures, heart attacks, internal bleeding and eventually death.
  

• Ground beef, steak scraps or chicken skin.¹ As an herbivore (plant eater), a horse’s digestive system is not designed to metabolize meat.

As a rule, foods that are closest to a horse’s natural diet make the best treats, but for healthy, active horses, these foods are also acceptable in moderation:

• Melon rinds including watermelon, honeydew and cantaloupe, and corncobs without the corn.¹ Remember to cut rinds and cobs into bite-size pieces for easier chewing.
  

• Bananas (peel included), berries, apple pieces, grapes, pitted peaches, pitted dates, grapefruit, oranges, melons, pears, pineapple, carrot pieces, celery, lettuce and roasted peanuts (not raw).^1,2
  

• Peppermints and sugar cubes.²

Always provide plenty of fresh, clean water at all times and contact your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns about your horse’s diet.

References:

¹Getty, JM. Whole horse Q & A: Is it okay to feed your horse table scraps? Horse & Rider. 2011; April issue: 16-17.

²About.com Website. http://horses.about.com/od/basiccare/a/feedingtreats.htm

. Accessed September 1, 2011.