Enriching Your Horses Diet – Natural Forage & Herbs

As horse carers, we’re always looking for ways to enhance our equine companions’ health and well-being. One effective method is by offering free choice herbs. This practice provides a natural, holistic approach to nutrition and empowers horses to select what they need based on their individual preferences and health requirements.

Horses are known for their grazing habits, but they’re also natural foragers. Given the chance, they love to nibble on a variety of plants, which adds diversity to their diet. Incorporating safe plants, herbs, and vegetables into their feeding routine not only boosts their nutrient intake but also enriches their overall experience.

Whether you’re looking to supplement your horse’s diet or simply offer a fun treat, there are plenty of safe and healthy options beyond just grass.

Why Offering Additional Forage can be beneficial

Horses are designed to eat a variety of plants. In the wild, they would naturally forage for different types of leaves, herbs, and even trees. This not only helps keep them engaged but also introduces a range of nutrients that grass alone might not provide.

Incorporating a wider selection of forage can have a variety of benefits:

  • Nutritional enrichment: Different plants offer different vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.
  • Mental stimulation: Foraging can keep your horse mentally engaged, reducing boredom.
  • Digestive health: Certain herbs and plants can support digestion, while variety can enhance gut health.

Important Notes

  • Always introduce new foods gradually to avoid digestive upset.
  • Ensure that all fruits and vegetables are washed and cut into manageable pieces to prevent choking.
  • Moderation is key; while these treats are safe, they should only be fed in small amounts as treats in conjunction with a balanced diet.

Safe Plants and Trees for Horses

If you’re lucky, your pasture may already have a diverse range of safe grass species, herbs, trees and shrubs but that isn’t the case for many horses. If not, consider planting some of the following to provide limited access:

  • Bamboo: High in fibre and can contain protein. It’s best to restrict access to avoid overindulgence.
  • Hawthorn: Known to support heart health and provide antioxidants.
  • Hazel: Nutritious and safe, a great occasional nibble.
  • Tree Lucerne (Tagasaste): High in protein, so limit access, but a great natural forage option.
  • Willow: A natural anti-inflammatory that horses love to chew on.
  • Mulberry: Both the leaves and fruit are enjoyed by many horses, adding variety to their diet.

You can allow these plants to grow near your horse’s fence line, or simply offer small branches or leaves for them to forage on their own.

Herbs: A Healthy Addition

Herbs are a fantastic way to offer variety and natural health benefits. You can grow these near your horse’s paddock or offer them fresh as occasional treats.

  • Peppermint: A popular favourite among horses, peppermint helps with digestion.
  • Basil: Packed with vitamins and can be offered fresh or dried.
  • Parsley: Rich in vitamins A, C, and K; it’s great in moderation.
  • Dandelion: The whole plant is edible and supports digestion and liver health.
  • Thyme: Known for its antimicrobial properties.
  • Chamomile: Calming and soothing, with beautiful flowers that horses find appealing.

Feeding Vegetables and Fruits for Horses

Offering vegetables and fruit is another way to add enrichment to your horse’s diet. These should always be fed in small amounts and not every day. Avoid fruit and starchy vegetables for metabolic horses.

Vegetables:

  • Carrots: A classic treat, rich in vitamins and fibre. Slice them into long strips to avoid choking.
  • Sweet Potatoes: A crunchy, nutritious treat. Horses also love the sweet potato leaves.
  • Swede & Turnip: Great root vegetables for variety.
  • Beetroot: Rich in antioxidants and a great source of fibre.
  • Cucumbers: Refreshing and hydrating, ideal for metabolic horses due to their low sugar content.
  • Celery: Crunchy and low in sugar, a suitable treat for horses with metabolic conditions.

Fruits: Most horses have a sweet tooth, but fruit should be fed sparingly and avoided for horses with metabolic conditions.

  • Apples: Always a favourite treat.
  • Pears: Another favourite that is safe in moderation.
  • Bananas: Feed in moderation.
  • Pineapple: Remove the core and skin, offering only a small amount.
  • Oranges: A juicy source of vitamin C. Feed only a few segments at a time.
  • Watermelon: Refreshing, hydrating, and horses can eat the skin too.
  • Berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries): These can be fed in moderation as a sweet treat.

Creating a Refreshing Water Buffet for Your Horse

A fun and sensory way to introduce new flavours into your horse’s diet is through a Refreshing Water Buffet. This involves adding dried herbs or supplements to water, encouraging your horse to drink more while exploring different flavours.

To prepare, you can mix herbs into hot water first then add the brew to cold water, or simply stir dried herbs directly into cold water. Offer each flavour in separate buckets so your horse can explore freely.

Here are some ideas for your water buffet:

**Important – Always ensure fresh, clean water is available in conjunction with these.

Discard any leftover flavoured water from the buckets after 2 or 3 days maximum.

You can add one or two tablespoons or dried herbs per 10 to 20 litre bucket of water. The mix can be made up stronger or weaker depending on what your horses like. If it’s too strong they will only take a sip and if it’s too weak they may empty the bucket!

Most herbs have medicinal qualities but offering a small dose via a water buffet or as an occasional treat isn’t going to have a therapeutic effect, but it can be helpful to know if your horse is really attracted to a particular herb then it may be worth supplementing it for a while. Please seek the advice of an animal naturopath or equine nutritionist before dosing larger amounts.

Adding Variety for a Healthier, Happier Horse

Adding variety to your horse’s diet through safe plants, herbs, and treats can enrich their feeding routine and improve their overall health. Just remember to introduce new foods gradually and always in moderation. Every horse is unique, so experiment to see which treats they prefer!

For a fun way to offer even more variety, try our Herb & Supplement Sampler Pack / Water Buffet Pack – Perfect for horses who love exploring new flavours and textures without having to purchase multiple products.

Our Greenpet Water Buffet pack contains a selection of 5,10,15 or 20 different herbs and supplements of your choice that you can add to water or offer free choice to see what your horses like. Also includes information on the benefits of 28 different herbs and supplements.

View our Water Buffet Pack here – https://greenpet.com.au/product/greenpet-equine-water-buffet-pack/

We stock a variety of individual dried herbs along with our unique blends to support your horses health – HERBS FOR HORSES: https://greenpet.com.au/product-category/horse-products/herbs-for-horses-horse-products/

Happy foraging!

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