Everyone knows that horses love to eat some types of fruits like pears and strawberries but can horses eat blueberries? Horses can’t burp or vomit, meaning there’s no going back if they eat the wrong food.
Blueberries fall under the so-called “superfood” list for humans because of their extremely rich nutrients profile. However, many horse owners are confused about whether their horses can eat blueberries, considering how good they are for humans.
Can Horses Eat Blueberries?
Yes, horses can eat blueberries. Blueberries are safe for horses to consume, as long as you do not go overboard, they are highly nutritious for humans, and horses are not excluded from this provision.
Furthermore, blueberries can provide many advantages to keep your horse in shape. With loads of vitamins and minerals, they can serve as an ideal reward for your horse
You don’t need to worry, because nothing can go wrong if you include it into their diet as an occasional treat if you follow the protocols.
Variety is key to a horse s health, and horse owners should always look for different kinds of foods to offer.
Nutritional Value Of Blueberries
So, blueberries are safe to feed to horses, but why are they good for them? Well, to begin with, they are a fantastic source of vitamins.
According to this study, Blueberries are rich in vitamins A, B, B1, B2, and C.
Besides vitamins, They are rich in minerals as well, as they contain calcium, iron, manganese, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus.
That is a wide range of different things that your horse can get from this food,
Another thing that worth mentioning is the presence of an anti-oxidants called flavonoids which contribute a great deal to your horse’s health.
They are perfect for your horse’s immune system as well as fighting off infections and pathogens.
Blueberries are also thought to be good for horses’ eyes and may even be able to treat some eye conditions. They are so good if your horse is suffering from any infections. Because they are known anti-inflammatory,
Benefits Of Blueberries For Horses
Because of their incredible nutritional value, blueberries provide many vital health benefits to horses when fed in small quantities. They serve as delicious treats while helping in enhancing the overall health and wellbeing of a horse. Here is a look at some of the most important health benefits that blueberries deliver:
Enhanced Immune System
One of the main benefits blueberries provide is an enhanced immune system. They contain a lot of helpful nutrition that boosts the immune system of horses, and the credit goes to the presence of flavonoids. These natural antioxidants make horses healthier and stronger by protecting them against different all kinds of infections. It also has a positive effect on a horse’s connective tissues, strengthening its ability to fight pathogens.
Blueberries also contain pterostilbene, a compound that naturally improves the immune system by increasing the energy of cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide “CAMP,” a gene directly involved in humans and animals’ immune function.
Healthy Digestive System
Eating blueberries help in enhancing the horse’s overall health, especially their digestive system. It’s recommended to add them to your horse’s diet. If he has issues with diarrhea or indigestion. This natural remedy should be added to the horses’ diet to help them digest food and bring their intestinal flora in balance again.
Has Anti-Inflammatory Functions
The flavonoids in blueberries are renowned for having anti-inflammatory functions that make them stand out from other types of fruits. This fruit’s nutritional content makes it less likely for your horse to catch harmful disease-causing bacteria. It can also help your horse treat and prevents certain bowel diseases and other inflammatory issues from arising.
Improved Vision
Blueberries play a significant role in enhancing the vision and eyesight of a horse.
The antioxidants in blueberries protect the equine’s retina and improve vision.
These fruits also do a great job of enhancing blood flow around the equine’s eyes. In addition to improving a horse’s eyesight, blueberries also come in handy in treating eye problems and conditions.
Prevents Bad Dietary Habits
Blueberries are high in fibers while also low-calorie, which means that your horse can consume them without putting on extra weight. And since they can be used as an alternative to high-fat treats, they’re also important for maintaining your horse’s health.
Blueberries, in addition, are low in sugar, which means you can utilize them to control your horse’s blood sugar levels.
Other food horses can eat:
Horses can eat asparagus, pumpkin, bananas, grapes, raisins…
Risks of Horses Eating Blueberries?
So, are there any risks for your horse when it comes to blueberries? Could they be poisonous for them?
The answer is no, blueberries are not poisonous, and they are safe for horses unless you overfeed it, replace it with their original diet, or are rotten.
A lot of us suspect the sweet tang of juicy goodness, but that is just how it tastes.
It would take a huge quantity of blueberries to make your horse sick. But, it varies between horses. Therefore, you should limit the quantity in all cases.
Equines need to get most of their dietary requirements from grass or hay, and if you feed your horse too many fruits, it will fill up and will not eat as much grass as it needs.
This will cause many nutritional problems because while blueberries may contain some valuable nutrients, they are not tailored to a horse’s system the way grass is.
The grass is perfectly balanced to meet a horse’s needs, and you need to make sure that your horse is getting the majority of its food from grazing (or eating hay) rather than from treats.
This goes for any treats, and you need to remember that what matters is the number of treats that the horse eats overall.
It doesn’t matter if you only feed your horse a minimal amount of each thing; you can still feed it too many treats.
Treats should make up a tiny percentage of the horse’s diet, so measure treats out carefully.
Do Horses Like Blueberries?
Each horse has its own unique taste; However, most horses enjoy blueberries and will consume them by the handful. It is up to you to moderate how many blueberries you give your horse and to keep an eye on the rest of your horse’s diet and treats.
Your horse will crave for more blueberries even when it has just had some, and it’s important not to cave and give it too many; they love berries a lot and will keep eating them almost indefinitely.
Try freezing blueberries for a tasty chilled and refreshing snack on a hot day; however, you must keep in mind that the blueberries defrost quickly since they’re small. The horse will still love the cold treat.
Alternatively, you can just give the horse fresh blueberries and then see how it reacts. Chances are they will love them.
What Is the Recommended Quantity of Blueberries to Feed a Horse?
Now that you know the nutritional value of blueberries and why your horse needs them, chances are you are wondering how many blueberries your horse can have a day.
This is a tricky question because it depends on the horse and what else it consumes.
Generally speaking, you shouldn’t give your horse more than two pieces of fruit in a single day; however, since blueberries are much smaller than regular types of fruits, you can feed your horse way more blueberries than just two, but you might want to limit your horse to about ten to twelve blueberries per day. More than this could lead to digestion problems.
However, it’s still recommended that whenever you introduce a new food to start with a smaller quantity and than see how your horse responds first. Then, you can increase the quantity gradually.
It’s also a good idea to spread the feed across the day and vary the fruits that you offer them and not feed your horse blueberries every single day.
Instead, opt for other fruits, like bananas, oranges, and apples. Also, vegetables are a good choice and are usually lower in sugar.
How Many Blueberries Can Horses Eat In One Session?
Again, no sources suggest how many blueberries you can give to your horse in one go. However, you may want to stick with four or five; this should be fine for the horse and also allows you to treat the horse several times day.
But it’s still recommended to start with one or two berries the first time and then see how the horse reacts; if it seems fine, you can gradually increase it.
If you give your horse other fruits or berries, make sure that you reduce the number accordingly so that your horse isn’t consuming too much sugar and too many calories. It needs to get its nutrients predominantly from hay or grass and not fruit.
How to feed blueberries to Horses
The way you serve the blueberries to your horse can make a world of difference for it.
Here are some of the ways on how to feed blueberries to your horse:
- Thoroughly wash them to remove any traces of mold, chemicals or pesticides that might be on the skins of the blueberries.
- Try giving them small pieces of blueberries cut into half.
- Try mixing the blueberries with oats or seeds, like chia seeds
- Consider feeding your horse some blueberry biscuits. They can be found in most local pet stores
- Feed your horse blueberries mixed with bananas, apples, or other fruits that they enjoy After cutting them in bite sizes.
- Another great option is Including some frozen blueberries Horses and many other animals love frozen treats.
Also, remember that it’s better to alternate between blueberries and other healthy fruits to ensure that your horse is excited for every meal.
Recap: Can Horses eat Blueberries?
Yes, horses can safely eat and enjoy blueberries, but of course it should be given in moderate amounts so it doesn’t gave any negative effects.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are Blueberries Good For Horses?
Yes, blueberries are good for horses to consume. They are a great source of vitamins and minerals and will help with many different aspects of your horse’s health.
If your horse enjoys them, don’t hesitate to put a few of them in your pocket before spending an entire day training together!
Should You Feed Your Horses Blueberries?
In short, yes, there’s nothing wrong with feeding your horse some blueberries as a treat as it’s a healthy, delicious, and low-calorie that your horse will probably enjoy.
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