Last Updated on March 23, 2022 by Allison Price
Bananas are a favorite treat for horses, and there are many health benefits. This is what I discovered after doing extensive research about why bananas are good to horses.
Can Horses Eat Bananas?
Bananas are safe for horses. Bananas can be a tasty snack for horses and are rich in nutritional components.
Safe deals for horses that are healthy and balanced include almost any fruit and many vegetables. Apples, as well as carrots, are most common, yet
Banana nutrition facts
Here are the nutritional facts about bananas according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This agency regulates food labeling via the National Labeling and Education Act.
| Total Fat | 0.3g |
| Saturated Fat | 0.01 g |
| Polyunsaturated fat | 0.01 g |
| Monounsaturated fat | 0 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 1 mg |
| Potassium | 358 mg |
| Carbohydrate Total | 23 g |
| Dietary fiber | 2.6 g |
| Sugar | 12 g |
| Protein | 1.1 g |
| Vitamin A | 1% |
| Magnesium | 6% |
| Vitamin C | 14% |
| Vitamin B-6 | 20% |
Amount per 100 grams (89 calories)
How many bananas is a horse allowed to eat?
Horse owners recommend that horses only be fed two bananas per week. As a treat, you could give your horse a quarter of the banana each day.
Horses will eat all the bananas they can find. This means that you need to limit the amount of bananas your horse consumes. Limit it to 2 bananas per week.
Bananas and other treats can have adverse side effects. You should feed your horse small banana treats between regular feeding times and not right before they are fed their regular feed.
The horse will continue to eat its regular feed.
Negative consequences of bananas
Bananas are good for horses if eaten in small quantities. Horses can have digestive problems if you give them too many.
A sugar rush is a sudden increase in blood sugar. Your normally calm horse may become hyperexcited and even injure themselves suddenly. Alcohol is also a sugar and excessive sugar can cause the same effects as alcohol. A drunken horse is not something you want.
Horses with insulin problems are particularly at risk from high sugar levels.
Avoid giving your horse banana chips or other processed banana treats. They are high in sugar. Most of the nutrients are also lost during drying.
Banana cakes and puddings should be avoided if your horse is suffering from metabolic problems. Horses with metabolic problems should avoid bananas. Fructose is a sugar found in fruits. Insulin-resistant horses should limit sugar intake.
Bananas should be avoided if your horse has Hyperkalemic periodic Paralysis (HYPP). Bananas are a good source of potassium, as this disease is very rare.
Can horses eat bananas peels?
It is safe to give horses bananas unpeeled, but many horses will not enjoy it. You’ll be surprised at the results! It tastes terrible! Horses, just like us, prefer the sweet part of the banana.
For some horses, however, it won’t be a problem. You can see if your horse will eat the whole banana without complaining. However, make sure you remove all stickers!
Some food, especially those that are intended for mass consumption, may not be organically grown. To be safe, you should remove the peels.
Banana peels can be difficult to chew for horses with dental problems.
Three ways to give bananas to horses
Peeled banana
Fresh bananas are the easiest way to feed your horse bananas. Although some equestrians recommend giving their horses bananas with skin on, not all horses like it. You can try it and see how your horse reacts.
Bananas baked and frozen
Frozen bananas are a great summer treat. Frozen bananas can be a tasty summer treat for horses.
You can bake treats for horses that contain bananas as the main ingredient. You should ensure that your horse is fed only safe food.
Mixing Bran Mash
You can also add bananas to horse bran mash.
FAQ
Can horses eat honey and bananas?
Bananas and honey can be safe for horses with normal metabolism if they are consumed in moderation.
Can bananas be used to treat stomach ulcers in horses?
Bananas may be good for horses with stomach ulcers according to some equestrians. They are high in phospholipid. These claims are not supported by scientific evidence. Bananas are safe for horses as long as they are healthy and in very small quantities.
Can horses eat banana skin?
Banana peels are safe for horses based on their nutritional content. Some horses might find it difficult to chew banana peels, especially if they have dental problems. Make sure you are checking that the bananas your horse is fed are free of pesticides.
Conclusion
Bananas make great treats for horses. They can safely be fed to your horse as long as they are given in small amounts. You may find that your horse does not like bananas. But don’t bet!
- Bananas and other treats should be fed to horses in moderation.
- Limit your banana intake to two per week.
- Be on the lookout for changes to any new treats.
