Are horses allowed to eat cucumber?

The cucumber contains a lot of water and fiber, vitamins and minerals, but few calories.

An ideal feed for your horse?

In this article you will learn when, how and how much cucumber you can feed your horse and what you have to pay attention to. Due to the sensitive digestion of animals, this is crucial to avoid undesirable side effects.

Are horses allowed to eat cucumber?

If the cucumbers are not sprayed and you slowly get your horse used to feeding them, there is nothing wrong with it.

However, the water-rich vegetable is not suitable to be offered in large quantities.
Advantages and disadvantages of cucumber for horses

For humans, cucumber is a refreshing and low-calorie food that can be eaten quietly more often and in larger quantities.

The vegetable has a pleasantly satiating effect, improves hydration and also contains vitamins, minerals and fiber.

But what about horses? You can find the answers to this question under the advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of cucumber for horses

Cucumbers are a fresh and refreshing treat for horses.

They contain a lot of water and thus contribute to the supply of liquid.

In addition, they contain various micronutrients. Among them:

B vitamins
vitamin C
vitamin K
Potassium
Iron
Magnesium

In addition, there is fiber, which is important for digestion.

With just 16 kilocalories per 100 grams of the vegetable, it is also a way to provide a snack for overweight horses.

In addition, cucumbers are inexpensive and – with proper habituation and selection – are well tolerated.
The potential disadvantages of cucumber for horses

Although cucumbers are neither toxic nor necessarily incompatible for horses, you should proceed with caution.

First get your animal used to eating such water-rich food.

Otherwise, diarrhea can be a possible consequence. This often lasts a long time in horses and can be extremely debilitating.

Therefore, only give a few thin slices at first.

This makes sense in several respects.

First, the digestive system can better adjust to the water-rich diet. This prevents complaints in this area.

Secondly, you can test whether your horse likes and eats cucumber at all.

Because this is not always the case.

This is also a possible disadvantage. While, for example, lettuce, apples, banana and carrots are very readily accepted, cucumber is a matter of taste.

Therefore, offer only small pieces at a time.

Another possible danger with cucumbers is that they have been sprayed with fertilizers or pesticides.

In some cases, these substances are dangerous even in small amounts.

Therefore, it is best to feed organic cucumbers or grow them yourself. This way you have a high level of safety.

How often can you give a horse cucumbers?

While cucumbers contain healthy micronutrients and provide variety, they are not so nutrient-dense that they contribute greatly to the supply of nutrients.

Not only for this reason, you should only offer small amounts and only occasionally.

For example, a piece of cucumber is ideal as a refreshment in summer.

In any case, make sure that your horse tolerates the water-rich vegetables and that they do not cause any discomfort.

Also, never feed it to other animals. Because if there is an intolerance or the digestive system is not adjusted to it, this can have serious health consequences.
What is the best way to feed cucumbers to my horse?

Since cucumbers are very rich in water, they spoil quickly and can become moldy. Therefore, you should not leave the vegetables for a long time.

For this reason, it is best to offer the cucumber directly.

This way you can see if your horse accepts the vegetable at all and no leftovers will remain.

Alternatively, you can add some pieces to the other green fodder.

You should also wash the cucumber thoroughly beforehand and cut it into thick, bite-sized slices. These can be taken up well by the animal.

It is only necessary to peel the cucumber if it is not an untreated organic cucumber.

Keep in mind that the peel contains the most nutrients. So feeding them along is the better choice.
Alternatives to cucumber

Suitable alternatives to green cucumber include the following fruits and vegetables:

Apples
Bananas
Pears
Broccoli
Grasses
Carrots
Cabbage leaves
Beet
Beets
Lettuce
Celery
Watermelon without peel

Note, however, that you must also offer these only in moderation and not in masses.

Because not all foods are a valuable contribution to the diet and are therefore rather to be understood as variety and treats.

Therefore, always inform yourself in advance about the food and accustom your horse to it slowly and gradually.