You may have one or more fig tree lining the fence of your property. A property adjacent to your ranch may have a fig tree or several. You may be planning to plant a fig tree and this will propel you to wonder can horses eat figs. It is no secret that figs are a bit of a conundrum. The fruit is amazing but the leaves are not.
If you have ever been in contact with fig leaves then you must have experienced the irritation, scratching, inflammation and perhaps rashes. Some severe cases can be too painful. However, this is not always the case for horses. Can horses eat figs does not have a straightforward answer? The answer truly depends on many factors.
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Can Horses Eat Figs
Train Your Horse & Cure Bad Habits!
Let us first understand the nutritional and hence dietary requirements of a horse. A horse can eat a plethora of fruits. Some fruits are more beneficial for horses, like berries that are rich in antioxidants. Some fruits are not so healthy. Most fruits are supplementary for the natural diet of horses. For instance, watermelons keep horses hydrated during the summer months. Passion fruit has the ability to keep horses calm.
Fruits should never be the substantial bulk of what you are feeding your horse. Moderation is the key. Fruits rich in sugar should be strictly limited. The stems and leaves of plants bearing fruits are a different premise. Horses should not feed on stems and leaves, including those of figs.
Horses should always give fresh fruits. Moldy fruits are unsuitable. Hence, you should not allow your horse to eat just about any fruit it gets and this includes your horse gorging on figs from the tree regardless of which phase of development or ripening they may be in. Fruits should be washed to get rid of fungicides and pesticides before being served to horses. This effectively rules out horses eating figs directly from the tree.
Also, horses may choke when they try to gorge on large chunks of relatively harder fruits. This is not so much of a concern with figs.
Are you still asking if can horses eat figs?
Horses can eat figs. They can also eat apples, apricots, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, cantaloupes, dates, grapefruits, seedless grapes, mangoes, guavas, peaches, oranges, pears, plums, pineapples, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, squashes, tangerines, bananas with the peels and watermelons with the pulp and the rind. This comprehensive list is not an endorsement of multiple servings of fruits. Limit fruits to one serving at a time, preferably just once a day.
Watch out the lips burn
If there is a fig tree accessible to a horse, it is likely to reach out for the fruit and it would not care whether or not the pear-shaped dark sweet flesh is fresh, ripened, dried or infected. The horse would reach out for the fruit, gorge it and may even try its luck with the leaves and stem.
Horses can eat all the figs on the tree even before they ripen so you may not be left with any. The leaves and stem are not much of a problem for horses. They do feel discomfort and in some cases, severe irritation but the leaves are not really poisonous for horses. They do not suffer inflammations or rashes like humans. But they do have lip burns if the sap of the fig tree is leaking or the horse breaks parts of the tree to get the fruit and naturally has a brush with the white sap.
Conclusion:
Some horses would feel the burn on their lips and never attempt to eat the figs again from the tree directly but some are not so smart and may keep trying their luck, effectively getting hurt and also consuming all your figs. Before you close this article you may be interested in Is Celery good for Horses too. That was the answer to Can Horses Eat Figs? Let us know in the comments below if your horse like figs or not.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can horses eat figs?
Horses can eat figs in moderation as they are not toxic to them. However, figs should not be a regular part of a horse’s diet as they are high in sugar and can cause digestive issues if consumed in excess.
Hi, my name is Idammah, and I am a huge animal lover! I have always had a special place in my heart for pets, especially cats. I currently have a rescue cat named Simba, who has brought so much joy and love into my life. In my free time, you can find me playing with my cats or watching some animal documentaries. When not spending time with my cat, I enjoy writing about my experiences as a pet owner and sharing helpful tips and advice with other pet lovers. I hope to connect with other pet enthusiasts and share our love for animals through this blog.
