Variety is not the only reason to give your horse some vegetables occasionally. Vegetables - and the leafy parts of them - often contain lots of fiber. Super healthy for your horse! Therefore, give the vegetables with stems and leaves, because horses eat that in the winter too. But be careful: not all types of vegetables and fruits are suitable, and some types are better given in small quantities.

Healthy vegetables for your horse

What vegetables can your horse eat? Of course winter carrots, but also fennel or celery and the leafy parts of them, for example. Radishes, lettuce, green beans, and peas are also great for horses. Vegetables from the cabbage family can be fed in small quantities. Examples of these are broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, or the leaves of these. Be careful not to give too much at once and try it out first. Just like with humans, cabbage can sometimes cause a bit of extra gas... Plants from the nightshade family are toxic to your horse: these include tomato plants or raw potatoes. Raw corn cobs are also not very suitable as horse feed as they contain a lot of poorly digestible starch.

Give the vegetables with stems and leaves, as this is where the fiber is. For example, do not cut off the stems of the fennel and do not remove the rose hip leaves. In nature, horses also eat unprocessed things like carrots with greens and sand on them, dried nettles with thick stems, and whole rose hips with some leaves. Therefore it is good to give them everything, as important nutrients or fibers are often found in these parts.

• All types of carrots (e.g., parsnips)

• Fennel

• Celery

• Radishes

• Lettuce

• Green beans

• Peas

• Broccoli (in moderation)

• Brussels sprouts (in moderation)

• Cauliflower (in moderation)

• Kale (in moderation)

• Artichoke

• Parsley

• Pumpkin (with seeds)

• Spinach

• Chicory

What fruit can you give your horse?

Of course, you can also give fruit to your horse. However, do not do this daily, as fruits naturally contain more sugars than vegetables. Besides being very tasty for horses, fruits also have a healthy effect on the body. Did you know that bananas and blueberries, for example, have an alkalizing effect? Vegetables can be given daily, but it is better not to give fruit because of the sugars.

• Apple

• Banana

• Pear

• Peach (without pit)

• Plum (without pit)

• Blueberry

• Black currant

• Raspberry

• Mandarin

Cutting vegetables?

Some people cut the carrots for their horses, but you have to be careful with that. Small pieces, especially round slices, can cause esophageal obstruction. So it is better to just give a whole carrot or cut it in half lengthwise.

Picking herbs or grazing

If your horse is not in the pasture during winter, it can also be nice to take him for a walk along the local roadside for some variety. There you can find all kinds of tasty grasses and herbs that are a nice addition to the - sometimes a bit boring - winter diet. Think of rose hips or cleavers, for example. Your horse will also appreciate a tasty willow branch or some dried nettles as a supplement to his diet. Willow branches are also ideal to put in the paddock to prevent boredom.

Picking herbs for your horse in autumn:

• Blackberry leaf

• Nettle

• Yarrow

• Dandelion leaf

• Rose hips

• Narrow and broad plantain

• Thistles

Conclusion: Variety is tasty and healthy

Variety is the key to health. It is not very fun and tasty for your horse to get the same food all year round. In fact, it is very healthy to vary the diet. Just think of horses in nature, they don't eat the same thing all year round either. In winter, for example, they eat more tough grass (because of the fibers) than in summer. Variation and lots of fiber are the keys to good health. And with a little variety, you will also make your horse very happy!