Can Horses Eat Chocolate? (Answered!)

The answer to this is unfortunately no, horses can’t eat chocolate. Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine that horses have a sensitivity to, as well as high sugar content and caffeine which are both bad for horses too. Too much chocolate can be harmful to horses, so it is generally best avoided.

Let’s take a closer look at this question and answer some other questions you may have about this!

Is chocolate bad for horses?

Unfortunately, yes, chocolate is bad for horses.

As mentioned, chocolate or cacao products contain a chemical called theobromine.

So, why is theobromine bad for horses?

This chemical is a stimulant and can be dangerous as it increases the heart rate and causes blood vessels to dilate.

Humans can metabolize it fairly quickly, but horses metabolize it much slower – allowing room for it to build up in the blood stream and cause toxicity.

Secondly, chocolate also contains a small amount of caffeine, another stimulant, that can also be harmful if too much is ingested.

Interestingly, chocolate has now been banned among racehorses as it is thought to give horses an unfair competitive advantage due to these chemical stimulants within it.

Finally, chocolate also has a high sugar content which is generally bad for horses’ diets.

They thrive on a fiber-rich, nutritious diet of hay, grass and vegetables, and deviating too much from this can give them an upset stomach and gastrointestinal issues.

Can horses eat chocolate peanuts?

Chocolate coated peanuts were traditionally fed to horses as a treat.

This snack is historically a favorite among dressage and racing horse communities due to the high fat content from the peanuts and the energy boost from the chocolate.

However, chocolate is now completely banned from competitions as it is considered a drug due to its stimulative properties.

So, even chocolate coated peanuts are unsuitable snacks for these horses and will show up on a drug test.

Peanuts, however, are a suitable snack for horses so long as they are fed in moderation and as a treat.

Peanut shells can be an excellent source of fiber, and the nuts are high in energy and other vitamins.

However, they are very high in calories, so this should also be a consideration when feeding horses peanuts.

Can horses eat dark chocolate?

Horses cannot eat dark chocolate and it is not any more safe than other types of chocolate.

In fact, dark chocolate contains a higher quantity of theobromine as it is closer to the natural cacao form than any other chocolate types (e.g., milk or white).

Therefore, dark chocolate could be potentially more harmful than other types of chocolate for horses and could put your horse’s health at serious risk of illness, or even death.

Dark chocolate should be kept away from horses at all costs.

Can horses eat milk chocolate?

Although it is advised that horses should not digest chocolate of any kind, due to the potentially harmful chemicals (theobromine and caffeine), if your horse eats a very small amount of milk chocolate, they will most likely be alright.

However, milk chocolate usually contains a higher sugar content than dark chocolate which is bad for a horse’s diet and can make them very unwell.

Milk chocolate also contains milk, a form of dairy, which can be extremely harmful to horses as they are lactose intolerant.

Lactose can cause severe gastrointestinal discomfort for horses – so anything with lactose in it is best avoided.

As with dark chocolate, even a small amount of milk chocolate will show up on a drug test for caffeine or theobromine – so milk chocolate is also best avoided when it comes to feeding your horse.

Can horses eat white chocolate?

At this point, you might be wondering: can horses eat white chocolate?

Well, as with milk chocolate, a tiny amount of white chocolate will most likely not harm your horse as the theobromine and caffeine content is significantly diluted in this type of chocolate.

However, white chocolate is even more heavily sweetened with sugars than milk chocolate which is nutritionally bad for horses.

White chocolate also has a much higher milk content than milk chocolate (despite the name!), so it is more likely to cause discomfort from gastrointestinal issues from the lactose in the milk than it is from theobromine toxicity.

What should I do if my horse eats chocolate?

If your horse eats chocolate, you should first determine how much exactly they have eaten.

If it is a small amount, they will most likely be fine physically – but you should always keep an eye on them in case they develop any symptoms of a reaction.

You should also be aware that even a small amount will show up on an anti-doping test if they are competing.

If it is a large amount then you should be concerned and phone your vet immediately as there is a high chance of them developing colic or having a heart attack (due to the stimulants), or having a seizure.

If you are looking for a snack to feed your horse, maybe stick to carrots or apples as these are the healthiest options.

In conclusion, horses can’t and shouldn’t eat chocolate.

The chemicals in chocolate can be harmful if horses continually ingest them, and even small amounts are banned for competition horses.

Milk and white chocolate are generally less toxic to horses as they are diluted with sugar, water, and milk – however horses are lactose intolerant so dairy should be avoided too.

If your horse has consumed a small amount of chocolate, they will most likely be safe, however if a larger amount is eaten, you should consult your vet.