As Halloween is upon us, you may be asking questions like ''is it safe to feed pumpkin to horses?'' and ''what do we need to consider before offering pumpkin as a treat?''.
 
The answer is, yes, pumpkin can be fed safely to horses. However, there are some considerations.
 
Pumpkin is not a food most horses are accustomed to so we would recommend feeding small amounts introduced graually - just as you would when offering any new feed.
 
Some horses may not like the taste of pumpkin, others could happily eat a whole one!
 
Try mixing some pumpkin slices in your horses usual Simple System feed, such as with some soaked LucieNuts or HayCare.
 
A few points to note when feeding pumpkin:
  • We would suggest offering slices of pumpkin, rather than chunks or cubes, to help minimise the risk of choke.
  • Pumpkins are relatively low in sugar, they typically have less sugar than carrots, and so a slice of pumpkin can be fed to those prone to metabolic issues as an occasional reward.
  • A fresh pumpkin is likely to be the best choice, but if you are feeding your horse a used Halloween pumpkin, ensure any candle residue is removed and there are no signs of dirt or mould.
If you require nutritional advice for your horse, contact the Simple System Feed Line on 01728 604 008, or complete the online advice request form here.