Can Horses Eat Plums? What You Need to Know

Can Horses Eat Plums? What You Need to Know

Are Plums Safe For Horses To Eat?

Plums are not toxic or poisonous to horses. So in small amounts, plums are generally safe for horses to eat as an occasional treat. However, there are some important factors to consider before feeding your horse plums.

First, plums are high in sugar content. Too much sugar can cause digestive upset in horses or lead to obesity, insulin resistance, laminitis, and other health problems. So plums should only be fed in very limited quantities and not on a regular basis.

Second, the pit inside a plum contains a small amount of cyanide. Swallowing plum pits could potentially be dangerous. So you should always remove the pit before giving your horse any plums.

As long as you only feed the flesh of the plum in moderation and without the pit, plums can be safe for most horses. But they should not make up a significant part of your horse’s diet.

Nutritional Value Of Plums For Horses

In small amounts, plums can provide some nutritional value for horses:

  • Vitamin C – Plums are high in vitamin C, an antioxidant that supports immune health.
  • Potassium – Plums contain potassium, an important electrolyte for nerve and muscle function.
  • Fiber – Plums provide a small amount of dietary fiber to support digestion.
  • Beta-carotene – Plums contain beta-carotene, a precursor for vitamin A that is important for vision, skin, coat, and Hooves.

However, plums are still very high in sugar compared to their other nutrients. There are better ways to provide balanced nutrition for horses than feeding plums.

Benefits Of Feeding Plums To Horses

Here are some potential benefits of occasionally feeding small amounts of plum flesh (without the pit) to horses:

  • Treat – As a sugary, tasty fruit, plums can serve as an infrequent treat that horses enjoy.
  • Variety – Adding a few plums can add dietary variety and interest for your horse.
  • Vitamin C source – Plums may help boost your horse’s vitamin C intake.
  • Hydration – The high water content in plums can help keep your horse hydrated.

Risks Of Feeding Plums To Horses

While safe in small amounts, there are some risks to be aware of when feeding plums to horses:

  • Choking hazard – Plums can pose a choking risk if your horse eats them too quickly.
  • Excess sugar – Too many plums could lead to obesity, laminitis, insulin resistance, diarrhea, and colic.
  • Toxic pits – Accidentally swallowing the plum pit could potentially expose your horse to cyanide poisoning.
  • Allergies – Some horses may have rare allergic reactions to plums.
  • Dental issues – Hard plum flesh could become lodged in your horse’s teeth.

To avoid these risks, feed plums infrequently, in very small serving sizes, remove pits, cut into pieces, and monitor your horse while feeding plums.

What Types Of Plums Are Best For Horses?

Any variety of plum can be fed to horses in moderation. But some types of plums may be better choices than others:

  • Smaller plums – Mini or dwarf plum varieties have a lower sugar content.
  • Firm flesh plums – Very soft, juicy plums are more likely to cause choking or dental issues.
  • Organic plums – Reduce pesticide risks by choosing organic.
  • Pitted plums – Canned plums or plums with pits previously removed are safer.

Avoid giving horses very large plums or extremely soft, ripe plums that may be difficult for them to chew and swallow properly.

What Parts Of Plums Can Horses Eat?

Horses should only eat the flesh of the plum itself. The pit, seeds, stem, leaves, and any other non-flesh parts of the plum should be completely avoided and removed before feeding plums to horses.

The fleshy part of the plum provides the nutrients horses can benefit from. But other plum parts introduce risks – pits contain cyanide, leaves/stems may have pesticides, and seeds are a choke hazard.

How To Prepare Plums To Feed To Horses Safely

To safely feed plums to horses:

  1. Wash plums thoroughly to remove any dirt, chemicals, or contaminants on the skin.
  2. Cut larger plums into smaller pieces to reduce choking risk.
  3. Remove the pit and seeds completely.
  4. Slice the flesh into bite-sized pieces.
  5. Only feed 1-2 small plum pieces per treat, a few times a week maximum.
  6. Supervise your horse while feeding to make sure they chew thoroughly before swallowing.

What Is A Healthy Portion Size Of Plums For Horses?

No more than 2-3 small plum slices 2 or 3 times per week is an appropriate portion size for an average sized 1,000 lb horse. Do not exceed 1 cup of chopped plum pieces per week.

For mini horses or ponies under 500 lbs, halve that serving size to just 1-2 small slices, once or twice weekly at most. Large horse breeds over 1,500 lbs can have up to 4 slices, 2-3 times per week.

Monitor your horse’s overall diet to limit sugar intake from other sources when feeding plums. And discontinue use if loose stool or digestive upset occurs.

Can Horses Eat Dried Plums?

Dried plums, also known as prunes, are not recommended for horses. Prunes have an extremely concentrated sugar and carbohydrate content compared to fresh plums. Just a few prunes could contribute excessive calories and sugars.

Additionally, the dehydrated, sticky, leathery texture of prunes poses a major choking risk. It would be very easy for a prune to become lodged in a horse’s throat or dental cavity.

If you want to feed your horse some dried fruit as a treat, consider apples, apricots, or bananas over prunes. Or soak the prunes to rehydrate them and reduce the choking hazard before feeding just a bite or two.

Can Horses Eat Plum Leaves?

No, horses should not eat plum leaves or any other part of the plum tree. Plum leaves contain cyanogenic glycosides that release cyanide when ingested. The small amounts of cyanide in plum leaves can be toxic to horses if large quantities are eaten.

Additionally, pesticide residue on the leaves could make a horse sick. So avoid letting horses nibble on or access plum tree leaves, branches, stems, etc.

Can Horses Eat Plum Pits?

Horses should never be allowed to eat plum pits. Plum pits contain amygdalin, a naturally