Apples aren’t the only safe fruit for horses. You might be surprised to know that horses can eat lots of other fruits too. But when it comes to giving your horse new treats, it’s sensible to research their safety first. One fruit you might consider giving your horse is plums. So below, we'll explore the question “can horses eat plums?”.
Can Horses Eat Plums?
Plums are a very healthy treat for horses so long as you feed them in moderation. The flesh and skin of plum are completely safe and non-toxic for your horse. However, you should never feed a horse plum pits.
Are Plums Healthy for Horses?
Plums make a very healthy addition to your horse's diet. And just like most fruits and vegetables, plums are full of essential vitamins and minerals. And we'll take a look at these below.
First of all, plums are full of antioxidants which are great for horses, especially active ones. Toxins can build up in your horse's body after exercise, and if too many accumulate, they can affect your horse's health. Antioxidants will help to rid your horse's body of toxins. So feeding your horse treats that are high in antioxidants is very good for it’s health.
As well as this, plums contain a huge range of vitamins and minerals. They’re a fantastic source of vitamin C which is great for your horse's immune system. On top of this, they're high in vitamin K which is good for your horse's muscles and bones.
And as far as minerals go, plums contain several essential minerals. They provide a good source of potassium, copper and magnesium. All of these minerals support your horse's nervous system and help with muscle function and recovery.
In addition to all of this, plums are a great source of fiber. And your horse needs lots of fiber in its diet for its digestive system to run smoothly.
Can Horses Eat Plum Pits?
You should never feed a horse plum pits or the large pits of any fruit. This is because the round shape and size of plum pits make them perfect for getting lodged in your horse's windpipe. So this means that you should always remove the pits from plums before feeding them to your horse.
Another concern about plum pits is that they contain cyanide which is extremely poisonous to horses. The leaves of plum trees also contain cyanide. So you should never let your horse feast among ripe plum trees.
Are Cooked or Raw Plums Better for Horses?
Just like most fruit and vegetables, raw plums generally contain more nutrients than cooked plums. So this means that raw plums are more healthy for your horse than cooked ones.
Cooked plums are safe for horses to eat. However, if you’re feeding cooked plums from a can, make sure they don’t contain flavorings, additives or syrup. This is because these things are all bad for your horse's health.
Are Prunes Safe for Horses?
When plums are dried they become prunes. So this means that prunes are also safe for horses to eat. Prunes contain almost exactly the same nutrients as fresh plums. The only exception is that they contain a lot more fiber.
Warnings About Feeding Plums to Horses
When you’re giving your horse plums for the first time, then you must introduce them slowly. And this is an essential tip when it comes to introducing any kind of new food into your horse's diet. When you introduce plums slowly, this gives you a chance to make sure that your horse isn’t allergic to them. And it also gives your horses digestive system a chance to get used to plums. If you don’t introduce new foods, including plums, slowly then potentially your horse can suffer from colic.
So to find out if your horse is ok with plums then just feed it a small piece of plum at first. If your horse seems fine after 24 hours with no sign of digestive discomfort then you can gradually increase the portion size. But if your horse reacts in a bad way to plums, you should consider giving them a different type of treat instead.
And you mustn't feed your horse too many plums all at once because this can be bad for its health. You should never feed your horse more than two plums at any one time. And you should only give them plums once or twice a week.
If you feed your horse too many plums then it may also stop your horse from eating its normal food. And if your horse eats a whole load of plums all at once then this can cause colic.
And finally, you should never feed plums to horses with metabolic issues such as laminitis or insulin resistance. This is because plums contain a lot of sugar so they will aggravate these conditions. Plums also contain lots of potassium. So you should never feed them to horses with HYPP.
How to Prepare Plums for Horses
The first thing you must do before feeding plums to your horse is wash them and check them over for moldy spots. You should also remove any rotten or moldy parts. This is because the bacteria on rotten food can make your horse very ill. It’s also important to wash the plums to remove any pesticides because these aren’t good for your horse to eat.
Plums are very soft and fleshy, so once the pit is removed, they don’t pose much of a choking hazard. But it’s still a good idea to chop them into quarters before feeding them to your horse. Just in case your horse eats quickly and doesn’t chew properly.
Conclusion
The main thing to remember about feeding your horse plums is to always remove the pit before feeding them. And you should always feed your horse plums in moderation to avoid colic. With this information, now you know the answer to your question "can horses eat plums?". And as well as this, you now know how to feed plums to your horse safely.
