Some majestic features in horses make them a special creature that people love. They are strong, awe-inspiring, and amazingly communicative. That’s why they can do so well with humans and are able to show a massive range of emotions. A special creature like this needs special treatment from us. As horse owners, we show our love by giving them treats from time to time. Now the question is, can we offer them pears as a treat?
So, can horses eat pears? Yes, you can treat your horse with pears. But keep in mind that pears are fed to horses only as a treat and not as regular food. Too many pears at a time can upset their stomach.
Friendship of horses and humans are centuries old. This family-oriented species can respond to emotional appeals very quickly and beautifully. You can give your horse a cooling, juicy refreshment, especially in summer and they are going to love it for sure.
Don’t just rely on apples and carrots; you can add pears into the regular diet list of your pet. However, there are some must-follow cautions that you need to follow religiously before treating your lovely creature and any pet for that matter. Continue with us.
Horses can’t ingest a wide variety of foods since they are herbivores. Their whole digestive system is evolved to digest only grains, hay, grass, apple, carrot, in short, eating plant-based items.
In such a case, you can alter the diet a bit and add pears in it as a treat. You don’t want to give anything to your horse that is not healthy for it.
We should take care of certain aspects when we are own a pet that cannot speak and tell us if anything is uneasy. Here is a detailed comprehensive on why, how, when, and how much should we feed pears to our horse.
Go through carefully.
Pears are ideal treats for horses
Pears are ideally balanced food in terms of nutrition. It’s not only a juicy and delicious fruit but a powerhouse of beneficial nutrients. A variety of pears are grown worldwide, among them, Bosc, D’Anjou, and Bartlett pears are famous.
Pears contain important nutrients and minerals such as calories, carbohydrate, protein, fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, copper. Moreover, the fruit is a good source of niacin, provitamin A and antioxidant.
Your horse is going to thank you for offering it these nutrients charged food. An unpeeled pear contains a considerable amount of fiber that promotes guts, may reduce constipation, and will develop a wholesome, healthy digestive system. Not only that, but peels are also full of antioxidants that ensure good heart health of your horse.
This watery fruit is high in fiber and low in unhealthy carbohydrates; protein can be a good option for keeping your horse full and still not gaining unhealthy fat.
Pectin (a soluble fiber) is another magical ingredient in this well-balanced fruit. It helps to keep your horse’s stomach happy by absorbing nutrients better and slowing down the digestive process. A slow digestive process puts a stop to acid and sore formation in the stomach.
Now that you are aware of the health benefit of pears let us dive deeper into particular parts of the fruit that you should keep away from your horse.
Are pear seeds equally beneficial, like the fruit itself?
Pears seeds are not at all beneficial for the horse; rather, it may cause a serious problem in the long run if you provide seeds with the fruit. Be extra cautious and take out the seeds whenever you are serving your horse with pears.
Keep your horse away from the pasture where there is a pear producing orchard.
Carefully remove the seeds and stalks beforehand because pear seeds hold a little amount of cyanide. If a horse intakes the seeds for a longer period of time, it may increase a substantial cyanide quantity in your horse’s body, causing great damage to its health.
That’s why keeping your horse away from the pears orchard is important to avoid unlikely consumption of pear seeds.
How to feed your horse pears?
Horses have a very sensitive digestive system that calls for an additional cautiousness even while offering the most beneficial fruit. Overeating can never result in good health, a hands-down truth for all animals. Here are some tips to prepare the treat for your horse to ensure a better diet for it.
Even if your horse loves snacking pears, then also you should not give more than 1-2 pounds each day. Don’t overfeed your horse. Pears are unlikely to digest fast for its substantial quantity of fiber in it. Too much consumption will keep your horse full for a long time, and it won’t eat anything else. An insufficient diet will cause malnutrition and eventually, bad health.
I reiterate, don’t peel the skin. Never peel the fruit, so that plant compounds remain intact in it. Fun fact, horses actually love the crunchy flesh, which is also full of fiber.
Wash the fruit thoroughly under the running water to clean any dirt or harmful bacteria that may upset the horse’s stomach and colic acid. For that, never allow your horse to roam on a pasture having a pears tree on it.
Cut the fruit in small portions. Avoid giving full pears or very large portions that may get stuck in the horse’s esophagus. Chopping the fruit into pieces is also important because the horse can’t throw up or vomit if there is any trouble in the stomach. So for the sake of good digestion, finely chopped fruit that too in a certain quantity is required.
Remove the seeds before serving the fruit. As I mentioned earlier, that will invite severe problems after a certain period of rapid consumption.
Know your horse well
The key to better assistance is having a better knowledge of the matter. Know about your horse; observe your horse as much as you can. Don’t start including pears to the diet plan straight away just because it is a tasty, nutritious fruit. Introduce the fruit slowly and steadily in small portions.
If your horse is new to this tasty treat, make sure you have taken enough time to make your horse a habit of it.
Observe if your horse is accepting and relishing this juicy substance. Look for any uneasiness, if there is any, caused by the fruit.
Pears are full of carbohydrates. Check for the insulin-resistant of your horse before giving it anything sugary. Take the advice of a veterinarian in case you are not aware of your horse’s insulin resistance.
What other fruits can horses eat?
Horses love it if you treat them from time to time, specifically after completing a task or training. They take it as a reward to them. Remember, treats are supposed to be offered in small quantities; that’s why they are called TREATS.
Almost all fruits are deemed as treats for horses, apples, and carrots being the most favored among them.
Other fruits such as raisins, bananas, melons, strawberry, cantaloupe, and grapes are safe treats for your horse to offer. Other than these fruits, some vegetables like celery, snow peas, and pumpkins are also their favorite.
Try to avoid vegetables like onions, tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes, Brussels sprouts, etc. These vegetables are notorious for producing intestinal gas.
You can offer chocolates to your horse, but that too in a small amount. Strictly avoid chocolates if your horse takes part in events because substances present in chocolate may cause a positive test.
Conclusion
To wrap it up shortly, we would show a big YES to pears. Horses can eat this sugary, refreshing, and nutritious fruit only when it is served with a lot more care.
With a moderated treat, your horse will be better off because you have changed his treat into a healthy diet. No unconscious feeding, small amount chopped in small pieces, not too frequently, follow cautions religiously, and your horse will be better and healthier with time.