Apples & Oats for Horses

Horses are herbivores designed to consume plant foods. Grains play an important role in a horse's nutritional needs. Oats are the most popular grain for horses, according to Rutgers University. Other grains horses enjoy include corn, barley and wheat. Apples are a nutritious treat for horses that provide carbohydrates to help fuel their bodies.

  1. Oat Quality

    • Oat starch is easy for your horse to digest and absorb. Quality is important when choosing oats for your horse. Horses are not fed oats for the fiber content. Oats in the form of oat hulls have poor quality fiber, so the starch content determines the quality of the oats. Higher bushel weight oats contain more starch and less fiber than lower bushel weight oats, so they are favored when it comes to quality.

    Oat Nutrition

    • Oats provide your horse with the starch and protein it needs in its diet. Horses use protein to build and maintain their muscles. Oats also provide a wide variety of important minerals, including iron, zinc, manganese, phosphorous, calcium and copper. These minerals help your horse maintain electrolyte balance and proper nerve function. Calcium and phosphorous make up about 70 percent of the minerals in your horse's body; these two minerals are needed for proper bone development.

    Apple Nutrition

    • Most horses love apples. Apples are high in potassium, which is important for muscle contraction and cellular metabolism. They also provide simple sugars, which help with your horse's energy requirements. Apples provide your horse with other vital minerals, such as calcium, phosphorous and magnesium. Apples are considered a treat for horses, though, and should make up a small amount of their daily nutrition. Aim for no more than two or three apples per day. Feeding a horse too many apples may upset its digestive system.

    Considerations

    • Horses generally like the sweet taste of red apples, but some also enjoy green apples. When feeding your horse apples, cut them into small pieces to prevent choking. Oats are prone to mold growth, which can cause contamination. Purchasing oats listed as "triple clean" means the contamination risk is lower due to a more rigorous cleaning process.