Can Horses Eat Honey?

This morning, I was making myself a cup of tea.

The tea was steeped and ready to go; normally, I would drink it plain, but today, I had a craving for something sweet.

I opened the cabinet, intending to add some white sugar to my drink, but the glass jar of honey caught my eye instead.

As I poured the viscous, amber sweetener into my tea, I realized that I did not know whether or not my horses could safely snack on this sweet treat.

So, of course, I had to do some research.

And the answer is in, folks: yes, horses can eat honey. In fact, honey may even offer some health benefits for your horse. However, just like in humans, too much of any kind of sugar can be hazardous to your horse’s health and is only appropriate in small doses.

Let’s dive a little deeper and learn some specifics about honey and your horse.

What is honey?

From honeyed tea to crunchy graham crackers, honey-and-banana sandwiches to hydrating hair masks, you’re more than likely familiar with Pooh Bear’s favorite snack.

Honeybees use various flower nectars to make honey.

Nectar is made of sucrose, glucose, and fructose, which are all different forms of sugar.

Honeybees store nectar in their extra stomach, where it gets mixed with certain enzymes.

They “process” the nectar by regorging it and then digesting it again.

Once the honey is how they want it, the bees deposit it into honeycombs where the extra water evaporates.

The resulting honey is thick and sweet, the perfect source of energy for busy bees.

Depending on the amounts of different sugars (glucose and fructose) in the honey and how it is filtered, heat-treated, or mixed, as well as what type(s) of nectar the bees consumed, honey can be different colors, thicknesses, and flavors.

 

Are there health benefits of honey for horses?

Yes, the same as humans, horses can glean some health benefits from honey.

Honey is a natural anti-inflammatory.

Honey is naturally antibacterial.

Honey is a source of antioxidants.

Honey can help horses with their digestion, particularly when mixed with garlic oil.

Honey contains several important vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B6, niacin, riboflavin, certain amino acids, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, sodium, and more.

 

Can you use honey topically on horses?

You can use honey topically on horses as an antibacterial agent for minor wounds.

It causes a change in the PH that helps prevent infection.

However, slathering honey on your horse can cause a few problems, such as attracting flies and other bugs, as well as being a lovely sticky surface for any dirt, leaves, twigs, etc. that want to hang on.

Also, the quality of the honey is a big concern.

The best honey to use is Manuka honey, which is made from the nectar of the New Zealand scrub plant.

Not only is Manuka honey antibacterial, but it is also bacteria resistant.

You can find special antibacterial creams and ointments with Manuka honey for a less sticky alternative to the pure liquid gold.

Just search for “antibacterial cream with Manuka honey.”

 

Is raw honey better for horses?

Generally speaking, less processed foods tend to be healthier and more nutrient-dense.

You want to avoid giving your horse honey with added sugars.

 

How much honey can horses have?

It is not ideal to give your horse more than a few tablespoons of honey a day.

While grass and hay (generally a large part of a horse’s diet) contain much natural sugar, they are lower on the glycemic index than more concentrated sources of sugar like honey.

This means that they don’t cause blood sugar to quickly spike in the way that higher GI foods do, and it is thus safe for horses to eat large amounts of grass and hay.

Some horses get a condition known as laminitis, which the Royal Veterinary College at the University of London describes as a condition that “affects the tissues (laminae) bonding the hoof wall to pedal bone in the hoof.

This can result in the pedal bone sinking or rotating within the hoof under the weight of the horse.”

Laminitis is thought to be linked to insulin and tends to affect horses with conditions like Equine Cushing’s disease and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS).

If your horse has any of these conditions, please do not feed them honey or any other type of concentrated sugar.

 

Can foals have honey?

You might have heard that human babies under a year shouldn’t have honey.

This is because of the risk of infant botulism.

Clostridium bacteria causes infant botulism and can be found in honey.

Baby horses have the same increased risk of botulism, and so, you should wait until your foal is at least one year old before giving them honey as a snack or mixing it in with their feed.

 

Can horses eat maple syrup?

The jury seems to be out on this one.

While red maple leaves are toxic to your horse, the leaves of other maple species don’t bother horses, and while it doesn’t seem that maple syrup will immediately kill your horse, it is generally better to be safe than sorry.

Also, as all syrups tend to have a high concentration of added sugars, I would not recommend giving your horse maple syrup.

 

Can horses have golden syrup?

Technically, they can eat golden syrup, but it is full of added sugars that are not good for your horse.

 

Can horses eat molasses?

Molasses is often mixed in with dry horse feed to add a little sweetness to help entice picky eaters and is generally considered to be safe in small amounts.

The issue really comes down to the total amount of sugar in your horse’s diet.

You should try to limit the amount of added sugar, but a little drizzle of molasses here and there shouldn’t hurt.

 

 

We’ve talked a lot about honey, other sweeteners, and your horse today.

Hopefully, you now have a better idea of whether or not you should give your horse a spoonful of honey as a treat.

Consider your individual horse and their health issues/current diet and remember that moderation is key!