Parsnips are just like carrots right? And we all know that horses love carrots. So it’s only natural that you might wonder “can horses eat parsnips?” But it’s always a good idea to check the safety of new treats before you feed them to your horse.
So in this guide, we’re going to take a look at parsnips. And we’ll find out if they’re safe for your horse to eat.
Can Horses Eat Parsnips?
When it comes to feeding fruit and vegetables to horses then it’s good to know that parsnips are safe for them to eat. But just like all fruits and vegetables, you should feed them to your horse in moderation.
Are Parsnips Healthy for Horses?
Nutritionally speaking, parsnips are very similar to carrots, however, they contain a little less sugar. This means that parsnips are very healthy for horses.
Parsnips are high in vitamin C which is great for boosting your horse's immune system. They also contain lots of vitamin K which is good for the blood and healing wounds, and B6 which is an energy booster.
Parsnips also contain lots of minerals including zinc and magnesium. These are both great for muscle function and recovery. They also contain phosphorous, thiamine, folates and potassium too.
And just like most fruit and vegetables, parsnips contain lots of fiber and antioxidants. This fiber will support your horse's digestive system. And the antioxidants will stop harmful toxins from building up in your horse's body.
And although parsnips do contain sugar, it’s a fairly small amount which makes them a little bit more healthy than carrots.
Can Horses Eat Parsnip Leaves?
You shouldn’t feed horses parsnip leaves. Unlike carrot leaves, the tops of parsnips are toxic to both horses and people. Wild parsnip is particularly harmful to horses. So if you see this growing in your paddock you should remove it immediately.
Warnings About Eating Parsnips
There are a few points of caution when it comes to feeding your horse parsnips. And the first thing to consider is that they’re very hard and crunchy. This means that they can potentially become a choking hazard. So make sure that you chop parsnips up first before feeding them to your horse.
Because they’re so hard, this also means that older horses, or horses with dental problems shouldn’t be given chunks of parsnip as a treat. Instead, you should shred parsnip for these types of horses.
Another thing to take care of is that you don’t overfeed your horse parsnips. If you do this then two things can happen, Firstly, if your horse eats too many concentrated foods at one time then this can cause colic. Secondly, if you feed your horse too many parsnips then it may be too full to it its normal food. And ultimately, this can lead to nutritional deficiencies.
Even though parsnips are pretty low in sugar, you should still be cautious about feeding them to horses with metabolic issues. Always check with your vet first before feeding parsnips to your horse if it’s insulin resistant or has laminitis or Cushings disease.
And lastly, horses with HYPP are sensitive to potassium. If they eat too much of it then it can make their condition worse. So because parsnips are high in potassium you shouldn’t feed them as a treat to horses with HYPP.
Tips on Feeding Parsnips
Before you feed parsnips to your horse, you should wash them first. Because they’re root vegetables then they might be covered in earth. You should also check for rotten parts and remove these because moldy food can make your horse ill.
Next, you must cut the parsnip up so that it doesn’t become a choking hazard. The best way to chop parsnips for horses is into sticks around an inch wide.
And don’t overfeed your horse parsnips. You should only give them one or two at a time. And you should only feed your horse parsnips once or twice a week.
Conclusion
Overall, parsnips make a very healthy treat to feed to your horse. Just make sure that you chop them up first and that you don’t overfeed them. And always check with your vet before feeding new treats such as parsnip to horses with metabolic conditions.
So, can horses eat parsnips? They certainly can and parsnips make a great alternative to carrots.
