Are you thinking of adding new fruits to your horse’s diet?
Did pears come to mind? You’re in luck, as we’re just about to dig into the nitty-gritty of feeding pears to horses!
They’re fresh, almost always in season, and affordable.
Still, are pears right for your pet?
Grab a chair, and let’s find out!
What are the things you should know?
Pears are healthy and safe when taken in the right quantities.
While it might seem uncommon, this nutritious fruit is also used as a treat in some places.
Like apples fed to horses in North America, pears serve as treats in European countries, and horses enjoy them.
What are the nutrients that can be found in pears?
Asides from the sweet taste of this fruit, your horse is likely to relish in its texture.
Pears are rich in nutrients and would make a great addition to your horse’s diet.
It has high fiber and low protein content. With this, it can satisfy some of your pet’s nutritional requirements.
The amount of pectin in pear will also benefit your horse greatly. Pears are rich in pectin, a soluble fiber.
Its functions include making your pet’s tummy lining stronger.
With pectin, there is a significantly reduced formation of gastric ulcers in your horse’s body.
Nutrients are also better absorbed by your pet. It is because this substance slows down the digestive system.
This soluble fiber also prevents tummy acid’s from accumulating in your horse.
Pears are also a hot spot for many vitamins. Vitamin B2 or riboflavin is present in this fruit.
It is essential for the breakdown of carbohydrates in your pet’s body, thereby releasing energy. This process is called metabolism.
Vitamin C helps your horse with fixing up damaged cells. It supports the growth of your pet.
It also helps with the formation of skin, tendons, and ligaments.
Vitamin E protects your horse’s body from foreign substances. Think about it like a shield.
It prevents these substances from harming your pet’s cells, tissues, or organs.
Copper allows for the maintenance and development of your pet’s vital organs and bones.
Can horses eat pears?
Yes, you can feed this sweet and juicy fruit to your horse.
Vets and horse nutritionists agree with this. However, do this only in small quantities.
Ripe and squidgy pears are very easy for your pony to digest.
Before feeding your pet, check that the fruit is not rotten or old.
Spoilt or old pears can cause your horse’s tummy to get worked up.
Your pet can also become colic and worse as time goes by.
How do you prepare pears for your horse’s consumption?
Just as for other fruits and vegetables, you must wash pears thoroughly.
This is done to remove dirt and all forms of germs from the fruit.
Wash it thoroughly with cold water, then slice it into small pieces.
Chopping or slicing pears into smaller parts make sense because larger sizes might get stuck in your horse’s throat. It would choke your pet.
Ensure also that you remove the stalks and seeds of this fruit before feeding it to your horse. Pear seeds contain bits of cyanide in them.
If the seeds are fed to your horse consistently, the amount of cyanide will build up in your pet’s body.
Cyanide is poisonous and can negatively affect your horse’s health.
If you have a pear tree around your horse’s pasture, you can give your pet its fruits.
However, you’d have to careful. As a rule, never let your pet eat any type of fruit off the ground.
If it is a pear, it is likely to be dirty, moldy, and might contain seeds.
Remember that your horse’s digestive system is sensitive.
It also gets worked up if your horse feeds on the wrong things.
Since horses do not vomit, your pet will likely experience tummy upsets caused by colic acids.
Why is it essential that you feed pears in small quantities?
Yes, pears are healthy and nutritious.
They also contain various vitamins and minerals. Still, this doesn’t mean that you should gorge your horse on pears.
Introduce new foods to your horse in small portions first.
This way, you can study your horse’s response and make adjustments based on them.
This gradual process also prevents any adverse reaction.
Overfeeding your horse on pears will make it too full for foods that make up its main diet.
Your pet would also not get all the nutrients it needs or a balanced meal. Pears contain too much sugar.
Remember that this fruit should only be served as a treat or snack.
Give your horse not more than two pounds of this fruit, three times a week.
