It's understandable if you're asking "can horses eat cabbage?". Because it's always good to do your research before giving a horse a new treat.
Horses love eating crunchy, fresh vegetables and that's why they find cabbage very appealing.
We all know that cabbage is super healthy. It doesn’t contain sugar and fat and it’s full of nutrients. So you’d think that it’d be safe for horses right?
But just because cabbage is nutritious it doesn’t automatically mean that it’s good for horses. So below, we'll find out if cabbage is safe for horses to eat.
Can Horses Eat Cabbage?
Technically, horses can eat cabbage. It doesn’t contain toxic ingredients so it’s not poisonous for your horse. However, it does contain lots of sugars called raffinose which will easily cause excessive gas.
In a horse, excessive gas can cause severe health problems. So you should generally try to avoid giving your horse gas-producing foods such as cabbage, broccoli and brussels sprouts.
Cabbage Nutrition - Is Cabbage Healthy for Horses?
Research shows us that nutritionally speaking, cabbage is very good for horses and other grazing animals. It contains lots of nutrients, antioxidants and dietary fiber which are all good for your horse's body and general health. And it's made up mostly of water.
On top of this, it’s rich in vitamin K, vitamin C and vitamin B6 as well as essential minerals such as magnesium and potassium. And it also contains lots of folates which are essential for blood and cell function.
Dried cabbage is a popular supplement among horse owners. This dried supplement is thought to help with gastric ulcers. Dried cabbage can also cause excessive gas production so horse should never be given more than the recommended dosage.
Is Cabbage Dangerous for Horses?
Because cabbage is so nutritious then you may be tempted to feed it to your equine friend as a treat. However, it’s important to know the risks associated with gas colic and how this can be dangerous for a horse's diet.
Just like in humans, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts can create excessive gas in horses. But unlike humans, horses can't burp so too much gas can be a problem for them.
A horses digestive system isn’t the same as a human's one. And it's not designed to deal with excessive amounts of intestinal gas so this is when gas colic occurs. This is why cabbage should be limited in a horses diet.
Cabbage Feeding Guide
The first thing that you must be clear about when it comes to feeding a horse cabbage is that it should only ever be fed in tiny amounts.
As part of a balanced diet, they should never be fed more than 4ounces per week. This is equal to two or three leaves. And ideally, this should be spread out over a couple of sittings.
Remember that grains and treats should only make up a small part of your horses diet.
Introduce it Slowly
Just like with all new foods, snacks and grains, you should introduce cabbage into your horse's diet slowly.
This gives you a chance to make sure your horse isn´t allergic. And it also lets your horses intestinal tract get used to the new food.
Horses have very sensitive digestive systems that can be easily overwhelmed.
To introduce cabbage slowly, give your horse just a small bit of a leaf at first. You should watch your horse closely for signs of excessive gas or colic.
If everything seems fine after twenty-four hours then you can give your horse a slightly larger slice of cabbage leaf. Then you can gradually build up the portion size over a week or two.
But remember not to feed horses more than the recommended 4 ounces per week.
Wash It
Make sure that you wash cabbage under water before giving it to horses or any other animals. This way you’ll remove any harmful pesticides and bacteria.
When your washing the cabbage, check it for mold and rotten parts. If you find any, throw them away, you wouldn't feed a human rotton food. And feeding your horse moldy food can make it very ill.
Cut it Up
When it comes to serving the cabbage then don't feed it in whole leaves. The leaves can ball up and become a choking hazard. Instead, cut cabbage leaves up into slices, or shred it when you’re adding it to your horse's feed.
Fresh or Cooked
Just like with all fruits and vegetables, cabbage contains more nutrients when it's raw. This means that when horses eat raw cabbage, it'll be more nutritionally beneficial for it's diet. However, if you do cook cabbage then keep the water. This water can be added to your horses' food.
What Should I Do If My Horse has Eaten a lot of Cabbage?
If your equine has eaten a lot of cabbage then you should watch it closely for signs of colic and have the number of your veterinarian on hand. Symptoms include sweating, pawing the ground and abdominal discomfort. Your horse may also want to roll around.
If your horse presents any of these symptoms then you should call an equine veterinarian immediately. Don't give your horse anything to eat but make sure that it has access to water. And keep it walking around until your veterinarian arrives.
Safer Treats for Horses to Eat
It’s natural as an owner to want to reward your horse with a variety of different snacks, aside from apples and carrots. And giving them a fresh fruit or vegetable is the healthiest option for their diet.
There are plenty of fruits and vegetables that are much safer than cabbage for horses to eat. And all of them are nutrient rich and full of fiber.
Horses love the refreshingly sweet taste of strawberries or cucumbers in the summer. Or how about crunchy favorites such as celery and pears.
Please note that you should never feed your horse onions, potatoes, tomatoes or any other plants from the Nightshade family. These are poisonous to horses and can put their life at risk.
With all snacks, it’s important not to feed your horse too many. They should only make up a small part of your horse's diet otherwise they can cause colic as well as other health problems.
So always check the recommended feeding guidelines regarding fruits and vegetables.
Conclusion
Even though cabbage has many nutritional benefits, you may want to refrain from feeding it to your equine friend.
Cabbage can cause gas colic in horses which in mild cases is very uncomfortable and in severe cases, it can be fatal.
There’s no clear answer to the question “can horses eat cabbage?”. It’s better to feed them other healthy snacks instead.
