Can Horses Eat Peaches?

Last Updated on March 8, 2023 by Woody Pet

Poison or Nutrition? – The Truth to Whether Can Horses Eat Peaches

It is a well-known fact that horses are one of the most sensitive herbivores out there, especially when it comes to what sort of food goes into their mouth. Speaking of which, a debate among horse owners is whether can horses eat peaches? Or is a toxic fruit that must be avoided.

Horses are creatures who love to graze in green pastures on their own. Hence, it’s not unlikely that they would stumble upon something they shouldn’t eat but ingests anyway. That instance poses a lot of risk to their health, so knowing what they can and can’t eat is a deciding knowledge.

Inquiry on what benefits or impositions peaches bring to horses demands the truth. The short answer is yes, but also no for some cases. Here are three reasons why peaches are equine edibles, and three reasons why they can also be a threat to their lives.

Can Horses Eat Peaches? – 3 Healthful Benefits of the Fruit for Horses

1. Great Source of Vitamins and Antioxidants – Yes, Peaches are Definitely Healthy

Just like any other fruit, peaches have nutritional values that are good for your horses. They are mostly rich in vitamin C and vitamin A. We all know how vitamin C has a vital role in strengthening immunity, so that’s more reason to feed peaches to your horses. In addition to the question about the case can horses eat peaches, another fruit you might have thought of is mangoes.

Can horses eat mango? In reality, mangoes (also called “peach of the tropics”), are somehow related to peaches after all. Both are rich in minerals, but a fun fact to retain is that mangoes are slightly more nutritious than peaches. Going back to the fruit for debate, peaches are still good for our dear equines despite being less superior than mangoes.

2. Packed with Dietary Fibers – Helpful to Horse Digestion

Fruits that are high in fiber can help in preventing cardiovascular problems and diabetes. As heroic helpers in farm duties or even as powerful sprinters, horses need the right amount of fiber to keep their hearts healthy and strong. That’s where peaches can come into play as they are also packed with dietary fibers.

3. Lower Sugar Content than Other Fruits – Regulate your Horse’s Sugar

Peaches, for humans, are gifts from the heavens with their juicy and sweet fruit. It makes a good ingredient for many desserts. But there’s a surprise – peaches are not even that sugary in comparison with other fruits.

You might have considered other fruits when contemplating the right snack for your adored horses. Whether can horses watermelon, strawberries, or other common options available in your garden that you’ve thought of, here’s an honest verdict – peaches can surpass those fruits with their more favorable sugar content.

Can Horses Eat Peaches? – 3 Harmful Toxicities of the Fruit for Horses

1. Dangerous Amount of Cyanide – Beware of Peach Leaves

Now that you’ve found out the answer to whether can horses eat peaches and if they are good for horses, it’s time for you to know the real danger that you should avoid which is cyanide poisoning. Peach trees belong to the Prunus family, giving characteristics to its leaves of producing cyanide from amygdalin.

“How bad can it be for horses?” you might ask. Possible symptoms of cyanide poisoning among equines include difficulty in breathing, shock, and dilated pupils. For the sake of their wellness, be cautious when feeding them peaches and make sure that no peach leaves are intact. 

2. Choking Hazard and Overfeeding – Can Horses Eat Peach Pits?

Another thing to keep safe from are the fruit’s pits. Under no circumstance can horses eat peach pits because of the high risk of choking. Backtracking to the relevant question of whether can horses eat mango, you should bear in mind that the rule on removing the pits is applicable to this one as well. In general, any fruit that has its seed as the core must be taken out before you feed them to horses.

Aside from the choking hazard, one of the most common digestive problems among equines is colic. It can be acquired from overfeeding fruits like peaches. Hence, regulate your equine’s meal properly, especially when such foodstuffs are involved.

3. Peach Seeds Poisoning – You Really Have to Remove Those Peach Pits

Although the amount of cyanide is significantly lower in the pits of the peach fruit in comparison with the leaves, there is still an imposing risk. Moreover, you should also consider the sites where your horses graze, because they might also get poisoned by fallen peach trees in the pasture.

This sort of harm from peaches will always be present, unlike when you decided on whether can horses eat watermelon since it has tiny seeds. Or if it follows that can horses eat mango because it’s botanically close to peaches? Cyanide poisoning from the pits or leaves of peaches is specific to these fruits and might have you thinking if you should even consider it as a snack for the equines you care for.

Wrapping It All Up

Now that you know how peaches might affect the health of your adored herbivores, it’s up to you if you choose to feed it them or not. Peaches, without a second thought, are healthy fruits and are great for the equines’ diet. But remain cautious for there are natural risks along with it.

An honest thought is that risks are inherently present anyway, especially when it comes to the foodstuffs of horses. As a precaution, regulating their meal and overseeing where they graze must be done. So, can horses eat peaches? Yes, they can, just don’t forget to remove those pits and be careful of nasty peach tree leaves.

If you’re really unsure if you’re going to add peaches to your horse’s treats or not, it’s best to consult a veterinarian about the right diet. The next time your equines graze, keep them safe from the presence of any peach trees.

 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related Articles