Want to know it? What do Horses Eat
By: Want To Know It
Horses are hoofed mammals that have 24 teeth specially adapted for chewing their favorite foods. But what are these favorite foods? What do horses eat? This post will answer that question, and also look at some interesting facts about horses.
What do Horses Eat?
Horses love to eat grass and plant materials. They eat what are known as legumes. The best known legumes are peas, beans, peanuts, lentils, alfalfa and carob. Horse owners usually feed their horses a mixture of grass and legumes which is called hay. Some owners feed horses oats and corn (maize). Horses also enjoy eating fruit, especially apples. Carrots are also given to some horses as a treat. Horses also need a high amount of salt in their diets, because they drink a lot of water. Owners usually leave a pile of salt (sometimes called a salt lick) that horses will lick during the day.
Interesting Facts about Horses
- China has the world’s largest population of horses, with over 8 million of them!
- Horses were voted as the fourth favorite animal in a worldwide poll last year. It was beaten by the tiger, the dog and the dolphin.
- Horse meat is consumed in some parts of the world and is exported from the United States.
- Police officers sometimes ride horses to control large crowds and patrol the streets.
- Horses can sleep both standing up and laying down.
- Horses are pregnant for 335-340 days.
- The oldest horse, ‘Old Billy’, lived to be 62 years old.
- Vets look at a the teeth of a horse to work out how old they are.
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29 Comments for What do Horses Eat
1. Kelsey Holland | April 30th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Horses eat sweet feed, hay, grass, carrots, apples, legumes.
2. emma carroll | June 29th, 2009 at 11:33 am
WOW thats cool … im emma as u can see i love love love horses im 9 years old and i adore horses.. i was wondering i’ve always dreamed to have a horse- I’d call it Susie- I KNOW WEIRD. Anyway do they eat lettuce?
3. Want to know it | June 29th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Hi Emma,
Yes, most horses will eat lettuce but they shouldn’t eat too much of it.
4. Tanja | July 29th, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Do horses eat celery???????
5. Want to know it | July 29th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Yes Tanja- horses do eat celery.
6. Nikki | September 2nd, 2009 at 10:18 am
Why cant they eat to much celery im getting a horse so i would really like to know
Thank you!
7. Want to know it | September 3rd, 2009 at 2:43 am
Horses find it hard to digest the celery ‘strings’ so you should avoid giving a horse too much celery. Some horses do not like celery and will not eat it at all.
8. chelsea | December 8th, 2009 at 8:48 am
horses love to live in wide areas
run around a lot
9. latifa | February 6th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
horses do eat celery
10. Want to know it | February 8th, 2010 at 11:48 am
As I stated above, some horses do eat celery. However, it is best if horses do not eat too much!
11. Robin | March 5th, 2010 at 12:26 am
What do one year old horses eat? Are they weaned yet?
12. Want to know it | March 6th, 2010 at 6:22 am
Horses (foals) are usually weaned between 5 and 7 months.
13. Grace | April 6th, 2010 at 7:32 pm
why do horses have to eat a lot of salt just because they drink a lot of water
14. Want to know it | April 7th, 2010 at 12:39 am
Because salt dehydrates. That’s why people feel thirsty after eating salty foods.
15. Grace | April 7th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
do horses like to eat pepper or cold stuff like icecream?
16. Want to know it | April 8th, 2010 at 1:55 am
Yep- horses have been known to eat both hot peppers and ice cream.
17. madsion | April 17th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
is there anything else horses eat? I found a horse cooped up in a medium small front yard in e.p.a by whole house bbulding supply, walking around in its own poop and i want to help it.
18. Want to know it | April 18th, 2010 at 11:48 pm
Madison,
If you think a horse is being mistreated then the best thing to do is call the police in your area.
19. anabell sunabana | April 20th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
how cool is this i learn more and more to help me and my horse
20. DANIELLE | April 29th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
Horses are the best.
21. Ronan | April 29th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
i was wondering if horses can eat rushes? if u know what they are?
22. Want to know it | April 30th, 2010 at 12:24 am
Yep- horses can eat rushes. However, some species of the weed are poisonous so it is best to check before giving any to a horse.
23. jamie | May 2nd, 2010 at 11:28 am
do horses eat polo mints and cheese?
24. Want to know it | May 4th, 2010 at 4:22 am
Yes they can eat both cheese and polo mints. However, they should only be given as treats.
25. charlotte | July 14th, 2010 at 8:38 am
do horses also eat some sweets?
26. delaney | September 21st, 2010 at 10:55 pm
yes my horse loves eating cookies and any thing with sugar, but i assume that it would be bad if they ate too much sugar. she also love cantalope
27. stephanie | September 28th, 2010 at 6:42 pm
hi im new to horses but i do love them any way are apples ok and what else would they be allowed to eat.
28. Liz | September 29th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
Too much sugar is as bad for horses as it is humans. Most horses will eat fruits such as apples,however,and they are healthy for them.
29. peep | October 13th, 2010 at 7:51 pm
Horses are awesome
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