Can Horses Eat Strawberries?

My horses love all types of exotic snacks and their tastes and palettes have, I think, become a lot more refined over the years.

I’m always looking for new, exciting snacks to give them on top of their regular diet, and recently a friend pointed out to me that they’d been giving their horses strawberries and they had gone down a treat.

I’d never heard of horses eating strawberries before, so before I went ahead with it, I wanted to know it was safe.

So, I did some research.

So, can horses eat strawberries?

Yes, strawberries are totally safe for horses. Strawberries are very beneficial to horse’s health if fed in the correct way and in moderation. Overfeeding them can quickly become a problem, so you should always see strawberries as an extra treat on top of their regular diet.

Strawberries are one of the most popular fruits out there, so it’s not surprising to know that people have been sharing their strawberries with horses for years.

They’re a great treat, but that does come with a few caveats which I’ll get into.

Moderation is always key.

But what might the benefits of strawberries be for horses?

Let’s take a look.

What are the benefits of strawberries for horses?

Strawberries are loaded with all sorts of healthy nutrients that are great for your horse when fed in proper moderation.

First off, like most fruits, strawberries are very high in fiber.

Fiber is the cornerstone of a horse’s diet, and is great for digestion and a healthy gut.

Most of the fiber in their diet will still come from hay and grass, but boosting it with fruit is always a great choice.

Strawberries are also very high in potassium.

Potassium plays a huge role in controlling muscle contractions and helps redistribute electrolytes during exercise.

So, strawberries could be a great snack for after you’ve taken your horse out.

Again, high potassium levels can lead to other issues, so still, be careful of moderation.

Strawberries also contain high amounts of vitamin C, which protects cells and helps keep them healthy, from the skin to the blood vessels, bones and cartilage.

Finally, strawberries contain a large amount of folate.

Folates also protect the blood cells and help in the production of healthy, red blood cells.

So, strawberries are full of benefits for your horse.

However, overfeeding them would be very easy, so let’s look at what can happen on the other end of the spectrum.

What are the potential problems from strawberries for horses?

Strawberries are not without their issues, though most of these will only occur if you feed your horse too many.

Bloating is not an uncommon side effect of a horse eating too many strawberries.

If your horse’s belly is full of strawberries, it can be very uncomfortable for them.

Abdominal problems like this can be even worse for horses than us because a horse’s belly hangs down to the ground.

Furthermore, if they lack proper food for a long time—i.e., overeating treats like strawberries instead of hay and grass—they can develop nutrient deficiencies and serious digestive problems.

Your horse’s digestive system could even be damaged afterward if they eat too many strawberries.

Strawberries are so delicious for one reason especially: sugar content.

They’re very high in sugar.

That’s part of what provides a great boost of energy from strawberries for your horse.

But too much can quickly become a problem, both for their teeth and their digestive system and blood sugar.

Don’t forget to check for mold.

Strawberries can go bad quite quickly in the wrong environment, and they will certainly cause your horse a lot of problems if they eat moldy strawberries.

Insulin resistance is a problem for many horses, and if your horse has had these issues in the past, you should consult your veterinarian before you feed your horse strawberries.

So, how many strawberries is safe for your horse?

Let’s break it down.

How many strawberries can a horse eat?

One thing to remember is that horses can actually be very picky, and can have very individualized tastes.

If your horse doesn’t want to eat strawberries, don’t try and force it.

Just look for a different snack that it likes more.

As a general rule of thumb for an average-sized horse, six to ten strawberries in a week is a good amount.

This might not sound like a lot for such a big animal, but remember, most of what they eat is simple grass and hay.

Their digestive systems aren’t equipped to deal with lots of strawberries.

You should also make sure that those strawberries are not rotten at all, and you should always wash them when you get them home from the store.

With all that in mind, feeding your horse a few strawberries a week is a great way to get some healthy snacks that they’ll love into their diet.

So, strawberries are just as packed with healthy nutrients as they are delicious.

Your horse will certainly love them, but as ever with a treat like this, moderation is really important.

Eating too many has the potential to cause a few different problems, so your horse should only ever eat small quantities at a time.

With that in mind, they make a great treat that you can feed to your horses by hand!