Sugar Cravings In Horses

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Thursday, October 25th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed

It used to be traditional to give your faithful steed a sugar lump. Some horses and ponies, especially if they are taken care of by children, will develop cravings sugar cravings, whether it is for the pure sugar or for sweet candy, such as peppermints that horses can become intensely fond of. Although sugar cravings seem innocent enough in horses, they can lead to serious health and behavior problems.

You Horse Eats Enough Sugar Already

The horse spent millions of years grazing all day in order to get the calories they needed to live. In modern times, horses usually have to work and live with humans. That means they eat at the humans’ convenience, and not their own. Your horse probably eats concentrated feed as well as hay. This feed gives your horse the nutrition and strength in order to pull a plow or carry a rider. It usually has molasses or sugar already in it. You really don’t need to add to the strength of your horse’s sugar cravings by feeding him candy or sugar as a treat.

Behavior Problems

Sugar cravings in horses can become so strong that they will not wait for the master or mistress to proffer the treat. If they know where the treats are stored (and they will, because they can smell it), they will eventually just chomp down on your pocket – whether it is still attached to you or not. This can lead to a lot of blood, sweat and tears for both horse and sugar-carrier. This can be especially frightening and dangerous for children or small adults paired with a gigantic horse.

Tooth Decay

Unlike people – or dogs and cats – horses don’t brush their teeth. Sugar takes it’s toll on horse teeth the same as it does on your dog’s or cat’s teeth (or yours, for that matter). Horses rely on their teeth more than other animals. If they can’t grind their food, the food is swallowed whole or in big chunks. This can lead not only to colic but a host of other health conditions related to poor nutrition. A horse with sugar cravings satisfied today may lead to a horse who can’t eat tomorrow.

What’s To Be Done?

The best way to get rid of your horse’s sugar cravings is not to give him any sugar or candy in the first place. Then you won’t get the begging and the fuss. But if your horse has already developed sugar cravings, you must be strong. You can’t give in to him. Treat with apples or carrot instead. Don’t eat any sugary treat in front of him. And put up a sign on his stall warning all others not to give him any sugar.

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