Is it ok to give a horse a carrot

[SkinnyGirlBethany]

Hi
I live in the country and surrounded by equestrian facilities and lots of horses in fields. I walk with my dd's lots and we stop to look at the various horses and donkeys- they often come to the fence to "talk to us".
Is it ok tk take a carrot or is that not on. I remember doing this with my mum as a kid bit haven't done it since.

[mousyfledermaus]

no, please do not feed any animals anything without the owners expressed approval.

[SkinnyGirlBethany]

Thanks- thought that! I won't

[Haggyoldclothbatspus]

Only If you want me going postal at you when I catch you at it!

[Earthdog]

No one has explained why. It is because many horses & ponies are laminitic which means too much sugar in carrots, polos etc can make them fatally ill! Feeding treats can also make horses nippy. Fed the wrong way, ie not cut lengthways and they can choke the animal.

[smackapacca]

Crikey - who knew it was so controversial??? I wouldn't go postal at anyone for giving my horse a carrot, but

My horse nips; it's really irritating. We've had him for over 20 years and he still does it. We think that he got too many treats as a young'un.

Just stroking them and saying hello would be enough OP. They do get into bad habits really easily.

Thank-you for asking :)

[SkinnyGirlBethany]

I figure it's always better to ask first. My mum should know better as she used to keep horses as a teenager.

The main reason I'm trying to get the dd's used to them is we see horses walking etc all the time. And we stop the pram etc as I heard it can freak them out as they walk past. '

[smackapacca]

I think your attitude is great. Just trying to respect horse/owners space is really helpful.

The thing my horse is most frightened of is pigs of all things!

I stopped today to let someone stroke my horse. I never want to appear like I expect more consideration just because there's 1/2 a ton more of 'me' than anyone else.

[SkinnyGirlBethany]

To be honest all the horse owners round here are great. I am a keen runner and know it freaks them out so I walk/ wait and the riders are genuinely thankful.

To be honest IMHO if you live in the country horses/ tractors etc come with the territory.

[Mirage]

SkinnygirlBethany,you sound a very considerate person.You've got me wondering if dpony has ever come across a pram-she never has with us.

Smackapacca,apparently almost all horses are frightened of pigs.I was told it is a primevil thing,to do with horses being gored by wild boar in the distant past.I couldn't work out why our bombproof old mare went all eye rolly and puffed and blowed as we passed a certain field on our hacks,until a neighbour told me there were pigs in it.The hedge is about 10ft high and you can't see or hear them,but she could smell them and didn't like it.The alpacas don't even merit a look though.

[smackapacca]

YY Mirage. I went to agricultural college and all the horses there would freak out around the pigs. You'd have thought they'd get used to it, but most of them never did.