Can Horses Eat Turnip Greens?

Horses can safely eat turnip greens, provided the horse enjoys the taste. Horses, like people, can be fickle eaters. If one horse eats a particular fruit or vegetable, it is not a sign that every horse will. Caring for a horse can be tricky. Turnip greens can serve as an adequate treat but cannot comprise the totality of a horse's diet. In addition to treats, horses must eat from a combination of pasture grazing, hay and concentrates.

  1. Pasture Grazing

    • Allowing your horse to graze pastures supplies it with a natural diet. Horses are born to graze. Make sure your horse has adequate grounds to graze as horses can be selective. Just because a field is green doesn't mean your horse will eat all of it. Pasturing can curtail problems with tail chewing, wood chewing and feeding on manure. It also slows the rate of digestion which allows for more nutrients, and more water, to be absorbed.

    Hay

    • Hay is the most common food fed to domestic horses. Most horses are fed a hay mixture of grass and alfalfa. The quality of the hay is important. Horses should not be fed hay that is moldy as it can cause digestive problems. According to Acreage Equines, hay that is too dusty can cause respiratory problems and should be soaked in water before feeding. Hay should also be checked for insects, including blister beetles. Hay cut with a straight mower, or immediately after a frost, has a significantly reduced risk of beetle contamination.

    Concentrates

    • Hay and pasturing do not provide enough nutritional variety for horses. Concentrates, such as processed or sweetened grains, are a necessary supplement for a healthy diet. Beet pulp is another common concentrate added to horse diets but it must be soaked in water before feeding. Barley, corn, sorghum and wheat require the most processing of all concentrated grains. They should not be ground too fine, as the resulting dust can cause respiratory problems. Also, according to the North Dakota State University website, finely ground grains have been linked to increased digestive problems.

    Treats

    • Treats are a useful tool for training your horse. The treat to give to your horse depends on what the animal prefers. Common treats for horses are apples, carrots, turnips and broccoli. Adding fruits and vegetables to horses' diets is a simple way to give them additional nutrients and vitamins not found in hay or pastures. Peeling and trimming are not required; in fact, whole fruits and vegetables can increase dental health. Trimmings, such as apple skins and turnip greens, also make for effective horse treats.