pears?

[solomon]

Hi everyone its me again the thick one wondering if i can feed pears to the gorgeous Peter. The kind people at our local fruit and veg shop gave them to me for him but are they ok? He loved the pink lady apples they gave him! I still havent tried swede, what other yummies do you all add to boring old pony nuts and chaff.

[racaille]

There's a pear orchard next to the club so our lot scoff them by the bucket load in the autumn.

Triangle, my shettie, also enjoys oranges, bananas (even the skins), pineapple, crisps, dry dog food .... He won't eat asparagus trimmings though.

[solomon]

That reminds me of a donkey that ate my lunch once-ham sandwiches!!

[haffyfan]

Don't buy pears as can't stick them (or many other fruits/.vegs for that matter...i am so naughty) but mine will eat them if they are donated and I often buy them oranges and bananas for their morning treat when i go out to check them. They also eat any left over plums/nectarines if my Oh has had them.

Our shopping always looks really healthy and laden with fruit/veg...if only they realised who was actually eating it!

Harry likes turnip/suede but Murph is not fussed either way and sometimes eats it/sometimes leaves it and neither are keen on parsnips but harry sometimes eats them. Actually it's the only thing I've known him refuse to date.

They also eat any left over veg such as broccoli, cauli and sprouts (never potato's) but whether or not this is actually good for them i couldn't say! Murph ate a tomato once and Harry would I'm sure given chance but think I've read somewhere those and strawberries are not good for them.

Oh nearly forgot they love sweeties (thats why i nearly forgot as we call them horse sweeties!) - otherwise known as Dates.... fantastic treats for horses...my two can't get enough and Harry licks his lips for ages afterwards and best of all they even sound like sweeties if you buy the types in reseable bags

[racaille]

I'm intrigued Haffy - what kinds of fruit and veg do you eat then?

Re dates - are they stoned? No, that came out wrong. Do the dates have their stones removed? or do the boys crunch them up?

[haffyfan]

They are removed, i buy the ready to eat type from Asda!

I eat potato, cauli and brocolli if I must, carrots if raw but not cooked. I like tomotos, beetroot and kiwi's and some grapes/apples and occasionally plums but wouldn't buy them really if OH didn't have them.

Crisps/chocolate are much tastier!!

edited as I put pears instead of plums

[jack]

i didnt think you can feed horses oranges im sure i read it some where

[jack]

hope this helps

1. Fruit and vegetables come in a VAST variety, and some may not benefit your horse as well as others. Some can also be toxic, or just dangerous. (unsafe fruit and veggies in warning section)
2. This 'how to' will tell you in general what fruit and vegetables are safe for horses and which aren't. Feel free to add your own modifications.
3. All of these fruit and vegetables should be easy to find in supermarkets, greengrocers, markets, and in any places that sell food.
4. Apples and carrots, are overrated. They can get boring for horses, so why not try something new?
5. Safe FRUIT below:
* Apple
* Apricot
* Banana
* Blackberry
* Blueberry
* Cantaloupe
* Cherry
* Coconut
* Grapes
* Oranges
* Peaches
* Pears
* Pineapple
* Plum
* Strawberry
* Watermelon + rind
6. Safe VEGETABLES below:
* Beets
* Broccoli (?) can cause gas, otherwise feed in tiny portions
* Cauliflower (?) can cause gas, otherwise feed in tiny portions
* Cabbage
* Carrot
* Corn
* Cucumber
* Lettuce
* Parsnip
* Pumpkin
* Squash
* Sweet Potato (?) May have normal Potato properties
* Swede
* Turnip
A pile of swedes/rutabagas
A pile of swedes/rutabagas


[edit] Tips

* If someone ever says - feed them anything you want, don't listen.
* Ask your vet, they should know.
* If in doubt, leave it out.
* Horses like variety.
* Be warned, horse will eat things not good for them.
* Better less treats than colic or illness.
* Do not feed a lot, even if it is safe, none will be good in large amounts, and none will be bad in tiny amounts.


[edit] Warnings

* Don't take this guide completely accurately, some sources may be wrong, some horses may be allergic to them, so take care in what you do feed them.
* ALWAYS remove any pits from ANY pitted fruit - these can be very dangerous to horses.
* If in any doubt, just don't feed it to them.
* Feed in moderation.
* Unsafe FRUIT below:
o Avocado
o Persimmon
* Unsafe VEGETABLES below:
o Broccoli (?) can cause gas, otherwise feed in tiny portions
o Cauliflower (?) can cause gas, otherwise feed in tiny portions
o Any member of nightshade family (peppers, etc.)
o Onion
o Pickle
o Potato
o Sweet potato (?)
o Tomato

[Becca]

Bernie adoooooooooores pears, we have a tree in the garden at home and when bern eats the he dribbles loads

[solomon]

Pete has them for tea tonight hope he likes them!

[fimacg]

the first time mine tried pears the had such an expression of surprise on their faces, they the rolloed it around their mouths before scoffing heartily - all expressions and reactions have been the same with all of them when I first give them a pear.

[solomon]

Wasn't there to seee his face today, i don't give him his tea or breakfast in the week, i guess he'll be used to them by friday when i see himnext. They were nice pears though.

[rainbow]

sam will eat just about anything! but he does love his banana's My OH on the other hand wont at anything that is green, as in fruit and veg something about texture....I just think he is odd.

[maximum]

i used to ride a boy called Tyne who adored his pears and ate them with great gusto accompanied by loud slurping noises.

[zoe]

Mine love pears, my kids use the ponies as an excuse not to eat the fruit in their lunchboxes and "donate" them after school.
I use swede as a stable toy, I just chuck them in whole and they take a bite, kick it round a bit then eat some more.
I eat most fruit and veg but agree with haffy - choc and crisps are best!

[fallible]

I had a pony on loan who taught all my horses to eat oranges.
Mind you the wifie who owned him used to give them everything including potatoes (which i had been told at some point, have cyanide in the skins??) All her beasties were incredibly long lived.

[racaille]

There are always some ponios who are 'outside the law' in terms of what they eat! Triangle has been scoffing acorns and oak leaves for the last five years and loves red pepper trimmings (the stalk and insides) yet he seems to carry on regardless. I've been saying he is 44 for ages now - he must be more, I think ... and still an 'ornery critter.