When it comes to treating our hobby farm friends, we often wonder if our different animals can share the same goodies.
For example, if you’re a goat owner and also have horses, you might be curious about whether your goats can indulge in horse treats.
Although we do not have horses on our homestead, we do know all about goat treats and nutrition, and are here to discuss what’s safe, what’s beneficial, and what potential risks might lurk behind sharing horse treats with your caprine companions.
What Treats Are Safe For Goats
First things first, it’s essential to understand that not all treats are created equal.
Goats, like any other animals, have unique dietary requirements. They are ruminants with four stomachs and high dietary fiber requirements.
Safe treats across the board for goats include fresh fruits and vegetables like apples, radishes, and leafy greens like lettuce.
Additionally, goat-specific commercial treats or treats made specifically for ruminants can be a safe addition to their diet, but in all honesty, we stick to 100% natural, raw fruit and veggie treats for our goats!
Do Goats And Horses Eat The Same Thing
While goats and horses might share some dietary preferences, which we talk about in our post Can Goats Eat Horse Feed, they also have distinct dietary needs.
Goats are herbivorous ruminants and are obligated to eat only plant-based foods.
Thanks to their longer digestive process, and the unique bacterias housed in their rumen, ruminants are also incredible at metabolizing low quality proteins and other “quantity over quality” nutritional foodstuff.
On the other hand, horses are grazers, primarily consuming grasses. This difference in eating habits means that while there might be some overlap, their diets are not entirely interchangeable. In the long run goats truly require more roughage than horses and both animals have unique macro and micronutrient needs.
Horse Treats For Goats
Horse treats, available in an array of flavors and textures, might seem tempting to offer your goats.
Most are actually sweetened and often contain ingredients like grains, molasses, and herbs.
While this doesn’t make them indigestible for goats it’s very crucial to be discerning and mindful of the ingredients.
Remember, goats can suffer from grain poisoning (acidosis), will experience bloating and digestive issues if they ingest too many sugars at once, and can quickly develop bad eating habits if offered too many treats.
Can Goats Eat Horse Treats Safely
If you are in the habit of offering your horses veggie and fruit treats such as carrots and apples, feel free to offer your goats some at the same time!
But if you are thinking of giving your goats non-fruit or veggie horse treats, it’s vital to read the ingredient list carefully.
Goats have sensitive digestive systems, and certain ingredients found in horse treats might not agree with them. As mentioned, excessive sugar content and even artificial additives can potentially lead to digestive issues!
We suggest chatting with your local vet before offering your goats any horse treats, as they will be able to suggest a safe dosage and stear you clear of particularly harmful treats.
The Health Benefits of Horse Treats For Goats
In moderation and with caution, it’s true that some horse treats can provide added nutritional value to your goats’ diet.
For example: certain herbal ingredients like peppermint or chamomile, often found in horse treats, can have soothing and digestive benefits for goats.
Some horse treats also contain essential vitamins and minerals that could contribute to your goats’ overall well-being.
However, we truly believe that it is safer and more beneficial to offer your goats any fresh herbs directly, and supplement their diet with goat specific mineral blocks, salt licks, and other goods.
In our opinion, the bodily size, nutritional needs, and metabolism of a goat and a horse are all so different that what added nutrition a horse treats isn’t significant or worth the risk of bloating, bad eating habits, or other negative results.
The Risks Of Offering Your Goats Horse Treats
We have already mentioned some potential risks and harmful results of offering your goats horse treats, but we will outline them all clearly here:
- Excessive consumption of treats high in sugar or additives could lead to obesity, dental problems, or gastrointestinal disturbances.
- Some horse treats might contain ingredients that are toxic to goats
- Too many grain heavy horse treats can lead to bloating and potential acidosis in goats
- Goats and horses do not have the same mineral or vitamin requirements, so offering goats medicinal treats intended for horses can actually harm your goats and lead to health issues.
Appropriate Treats For Goats
As hinted at, the best and most appropriate treats for goats are garden fresh veggies, fruits, and herbs.
The natural components of these treat foods will do much to boost the long term health and happiness of your goat without all the potential risks and added sugars that manufactured goat, or horse, treats contain.
If you are needing more inspiration on appropriate treats for goats, check out our post archive where we have many posts that touch on all different types of foods and treats for goats!
Our Favorite Goat Treats
Two of our most favorite treats to offer our goats are watermelon in the summer and sweet feed in the winter.
Watermelon is a delicious, hydrating treat for goats that our nannies love to gobble down and sweet feed for goats is a wonderful way to dote on your trip during colder winter months when there isn’t much tasty forage available.
We also always offer our goats unlimited amounts of hay, as this densely fibrous food is critical to their digestive and metabolic wellbeing!
Frequently Asked Questions Related To Can Goats Have Horse Treats
Can Goats Eat Horse Apples?
The horse apple is Maclura pomifera, commonly known as the Osage orange. It is the large fruit of a tree native to North America but is not suggested for livestock ingestion.
Final Thoughts On Can Goats Eat Horse Treats
In the delightful world of hobby farming, sharing treats can create bonds and moments of joy.
When considering whether your goats can eat horse treats, it’s crucial to approach with caution and mindfulness, thinking about the differences between the two animals.
While some horse treats may offer health benefits, the potential risks of digestive issues and toxicity cannot be overlooked.
We suggest that you always prioritize your goats’ well-being by providing treats that are safe, nutritious, and suitable for their unique dietary requirements!