If you own a horse or know anything about horses, you know how much they enjoy eating their greens. These herbivores are suckers for fresh veggies and love munching on grass and vegetables. Their main source of energy is from these greens. Their digestive systems are made in such a way that horses cannot process any other types of foods.
So, can horses eat broccoli? Yes, horses can eat broccoli, in fact, most of them enjoy this vegetable a lot. Broccoli provides a great assortment of nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, fiber, and carbohydrates. These wide-ranging nutritious components can boost your horses’ immunity and enrich their body.
How does broccoli benefit horses?
Broccoli is great for humans, but it is also very healthy for horses! You might leave it out on your plates but not horses. They will eat broccoli every chance they get, and you need to make sure they are getting just the right amount of it.
Too much or too little broccoli can harm horses. So, knowing exactly what you are doing is your safest bet. Here are a few nutrition facts that can testify the benefits of broccoli for horses too.
Continue reading to find out what it is about broccoli that energizes your horse!
Vitamins
Vitamins are required by the body in moderation, but they are necessary. Humans and animals do not usually need a ton of them, but a small amount goes a long way. So, if you want to make sure your horse is getting enough vitamins, you should try feeding it broccoli.
Broccoli is highly rich in Vitamin C and A. Vitamin C is responsible for warding off flu symptoms and other common diseases. It enhances the body’s general immunity and makes it stronger. So, feeding your horses broccoli is a great way of building up their immunity.
Broccoli is also rich in Vitamin A. It enhances the overall appearance of the skin and the coat of your horse and makes them stronger.
Minerals
Green vegetables like broccoli contain a large number of minerals too. This includes selenium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, phosphorus, and magnesium. All these minerals are present in an adequate amount.
Just like vitamins, your horse does not require a large number of minerals either. With a wholesome diet, you are sure to fulfill all mineral requirements for your horse easily!
Dietary fiber
Vegetables like broccoli contain dietary fiber important for the gut. Broccoli contains a total of 10g of dietary fiber, which is great for your horse. A high fiber diet allows horses to maintain a healthy digestive system.
If your beloved horse suffers from constipation, give him fibrous foods like broccoli. The insoluble fiber in this food will ensure that your horse’s bowel movements are right back on track soon!
Carbohydrates
Broccoli contains a lot of carbs. These healthy carbohydrates are very important for your horse because they provide him with energy. A carb-rich diet will keep your horse energetic throughout the day and keep him healthy. Broccoli, along with the regular feed, can be very beneficial to your horse.
How to feed broccoli to a horse?
There are a few things that you need to know about before you feed your horses any broccoli. If you want to make sure your horses are healthy and like the food they get, then make sure you are feeding them correctly.
When it comes to looking after horses, a proper diet is everything. So, continue reading to find out everything there is to know about horses and adding broccoli to their diet.
You should keep these tips in mind so that you do not hurt your horse accidentally while trying to feed it. If you are new at this, it is okay to make mistakes. However, try to get as much information on feeding your horses as you can.
So, here are safe ways in which you can incorporate broccoli in your horse’s diet.
Check to see if they are allergic
Firstly, you will need to check if your horse is allergic to broccoli. It is not common, but it is a possibility that your horse’s body cannot digest broccoli properly. To avoid any problems, you must conduct a test before you start giving them this vegetable.
Start by giving your horse very little broccoli. You can chop it finely and mix it in the feed. This minimal exposure to broccoli will help you understand if your horse is allergic to the vegetable without adversely affecting its health.
Wash the broccoli
Once you know your horse can handle this vegetable, you can successfully increase its quantity in their diet. However, make sure you wash the vegetable properly before you do so. You can rinse the broccoli with water a couple of times and even wash it with salt water if you are unsure.
Many farmers use pesticides and insecticides on their vegetables. This results in them becoming unfit for direct consumption. These harmful chemicals are very toxic to your health and even to horses. So, you must wash all vegetables before feeding them to your horse.
It is advised that you cut smaller pieces of broccoli. This will make it easier for your horse to eat. Moreover, his food will not be a choking hazard if he chooses to gulp it down at once!
What are the risks involved in feeding broccoli?
As healthy as it may sound, there are downsides to everything. You might think of broccoli as the best and the healthiest vegetable out there. However, it is not always the case when it comes to horses.
There are certain ways in which broccoli can do more harm to your horse than it does good. So, it is wise if you make sure you know what precautions you need to take when you are administering this change in their diet.
Here is all you need to know about the risks involved in feeding your horse broccoli.
Horses can be allergic
The first time you give your horse broccoli, make sure you do it moderation. This way even if your horse is allergic, the consequences will not be too severe. You can prevent giving your horse this food once you are sure he cannot digest it.
Even though horses are herbivores, they cannot eat all types of fruits and vegetables. Some common fruits and veggies can turn out to be harmful to them and even be fatal.
Too much broccoli can cause problems
Broccoli is one of the healthiest vegetables out there. It is also extremely beneficial for horses. However, you must be very careful with how much you feed them. This vegetable is rich in fiber, and it is also very nutritious.
You should give broccoli to your horses as a snack or mix it with their feed. This way, you will always be able to monitor the number of vegetables you give them. Too much broccoli can cause bowel problems and degrade your horse’s health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I cook the broccoli before feeding it to my horse? No, you do not need to cook the broccoli before feeding your horse. You must feed horses fresh broccoli that has been cleaned before. However, it does not need to be cooked. Just rinse it properly with water, cut it in smaller pieces, and you are good to go.
Can I give my horse broccoli with other vegetables? Yes, you can mix broccoli with other vegetables, and even in the feed, you give your horse. However, you need to be very careful when mixing a lot of vegetables. For instance, your horse cannot eat tomatoes as they are very harmful to their bodies. So, make sure you know what you are giving your horse and if it is in moderation.
Summing up
You might have seen horses munching on carrots. Well, those are not the only veggies horses go crazy for. These herbivores are suckers for all things green! They love all kinds of vegetables, including broccoli.
Humans can be fussy eaters when it comes to eating their greens but not horses. If you give them broccoli along with their feed, you will see how they munch down on it happily! This nutrition source is appreciated by your four-legged friend.
As long as you give it to them properly, i.e., clean and chopped, you are in the clear. So, what are you waiting for? Bring out the broccoli and see if your horse enjoys it as much as you do!