Thinking of adding a new flavor to your horse’s plate? Summer is almost over and you have probably never even thought if your horse can get benefit from zucchini or not?
If not, read the article till the end to get the nutritional vegetable for your horse before it’s gone from the market for a few months. It can be seen in some parts of the world year-round but you gotta have to do some search to get it fresh.
Zucchini, a summer blessing, is just not a regular vegetable but a nutritional powerhouse for humans and animals for which it is safe to be eaten.
Balanced consumption reduces blood pressure, cholesterol, and the risk of stroke. This fully packed nutritional packet is also believed to be good for heart health.
Both cooked and raw form is equally beneficial. Now you know how good this is for you and so let’s discuss how it helps in keeping your horse healthy. But first, let me answer your first question in detail.
Can horses eat zucchini? Horses can eat zucchini and it is as safe as it is for us. But there are few things you need to keep a check on to get the benefits only. Make sure it is not overgrown and bigger. Try to feed fresh Zucchini as treat.
Do horses like zucchini?
Most of them, like humans, every horse’s likes and dislikes are different. But in most horse’s cases, it seems to satisfy their taste buds.
If you have never fed or haven’t fed zucchini this summer, it’s an ideal time to make up for that.
Summer is going by, zucchini is ideal to be eaten young. Bigger and out-grown zucchini not only loses its taste but some nutrients as well. Some overgrown zucchinis even complained about tasting bitter. So, why would one be willing to let go of this opportunity to provide all the essential nutrients in one go? So grab all the young zucchinis from the market before it’s late.
Cooked or raw?
I would recommend raw. Boiled and steamed vegetables are never that healthy as they lose their few nutrients while being prepared. But boiled and steamed vegetables are better than cooked in oil. Oil cooked vegetables do more harm than good to the animals. So, it’s good for horses to eat them uncooked.
What nutrients does zucchini contain, and how are they beneficial for horses?
Zucchini contains many valuable and momentous minerals and vitamins that are necessary to bring sanity to the insane health conditions.
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Iron
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin K
- Folic acid
They are all essential to be a part of a horse’s diet. Let’s discuss how.
Calcium
Calcium is every species’ need on the earth and it becomes even more important for 500 kg horses. The mature horse needs 20 grams of calcium on a daily basis. Pregnant and lactating mares are in need of calcium more than anyone else. So, it can be fed to pregnant and lactating mares to fulfill at least some part of their need.
Magnesium
20 mg magnesium per kilogram of body weight a day is a requirement of the mature horses to maintain the blood serum levels. If zucchini is filling some part of this need in a safe organic way then why not?
Iron
Zucchini is rich in iron. We all know iron deficiency leads to anemia. And it is the main reason for lethargy, loss of appetite, poor performance, lack of energy, and overall weakness. It may not cure this problem fully but it will help in bringing the condition from worse to better.
Phosphorus
Phosphorus makes up 14 to 17% of the equine skeleton and this defines the importance of it for better functioning. Zucchini combined with other phosphorus-rich foods is a good makeup for this need.
Potassium
Potassium is least required by the horses to be fed intentionally as they are consuming it in many ways. But that does not mean you can neglect this essential nutrient. It is still very important for your pet horse to live a balanced life.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A helps horses in multiple ways. It builds a strong foundation for the immune system, vision, and reproductive functions.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K not only prevents the risk of hemorrhage but also plays an important role in the regulation of calcium level in both humans and animals.
Vitamin C
No one at least in this century is unaware of the importance of vitamin C for immune health. It aids in fighting viruses and bad bacterias. It is water-soluble so the fear of overfeeding can rest in peace as it will flush itself out from the body. So, the rule of feeding in moderation does not apply to this vitamin.
Folic acid
You might be unaware of the benefits of folic acid for horses even though I didn’t get the idea of supplementation of folic acid for horses but thankfully I now know what it does to them and you should know too. It is particularly supplemented for broodmares and breeding stallions. It’s even more essential for horses going through myeloencephalitis and sulfonamides.
All these nutrients are playing their part in your horse’s health in different ways. Nothing in this nutrient package is useless. And the plus point is, it is the safest way to fulfill the deficiency of any above-mentioned nutrients. So, do not let the chance to go out of your hand for this year.
Zucchini peels, yay or nay?
Zucchini gets a Yay for some reason because there is nothing harmful about them. And if these thin peels are adding more value to the horse’s meal than why not?
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Conclusion
Can horses eat zucchini? It’s a big “yes”. They can eat zucchini and it’s as safe as it is for other mammals. But make sure the zucchini you are feeding your horse is not overgrown or bigger. Young zucchinis are more beneficial, healthy, and tasty. And the question, whether they like it or not depends on the likes or dislikes of your horse. Your horse may love it or can even deny eating it but most horses love it. And it is recommended to feed zucchini in summer to gather more benefits from it.
Sources
https://animals.mom.com/kind-vegetables-can-horse-eat-6325.html
https://esc.rutgers.edu/fact_sheet/odd-things-that-horses-eat/
