What people food is safe?

[Petra]

I was reading EW's thread on horses liking people food.
Wow! Not having any horse experience I had no idea horses would eat so many different types of food.
I have a question though. What food is safe and what food is dangerous?
I know chocolate and certain type of chewing gum is deadly for dogs. Reading this it made me wonder - what is not safe to offer to the horse?

[Gypsy Rose]

An HGS member put this up in a thread once, and I saved it:

Oddities often consumed by horses on pasture.

No problem, assuming fairly limited quantities and otherwise balanced ration:

• Dandelion
• Thistle (NOT Russian Knapweed or yellow star thistle–Centaurea spp)
• Sunflower seeds and plant
• Peanut plants
• Raspberry/blackberry bushes
• Wood/bark of most trees (NOT Prunus spp or black walnut or locust)

Potential problem if eaten in large quantities:

• Buttercup
• Morning glory
• Pokeweed
• St. Johnswort
• Gum-weed
• Astragulus and Oxytropis spp/(vetches and locoweed)
• Avocado leaves
• Bracken fern
• Most bulb type flowers (tulip, iris, etc.)
• Wilted red maple leaves
• Acorns/new oak leaves

Avoid at all costs (Lethal or severe toxicity potential)

• Lily of the Valley
• Larkspur
• Tomato or potato plants
• Rhubarb leaves and roots
• Poison hemlock
• Foxglove
• Leafy spurge
• Mustards
• Jimsonweed
• Alsike clover
• Blue flax
• Sorghum (Johnsongrass and Sudan grass)
• Oleander
• Privet
• Japanese Yew (all Taxus spp)
• Azalea
• Rhododendron
• Mountain Laurel
• Pits of peaches, cherries, or avocados
• Horsechestnut
• Russian Knapweed or yellow star thistle–Centaurea spp

Potential Treats
Perfectly acceptable treats (fed in limited quantities (<1-2 lbs/feeding)

• Carrots, apples, grapes
• Bananas
• Peas
• Green beans
• Lettuce
• Celery
• Dried beans, such as pinto, red, fava (however should be cooked or heat treated)
• Watermelon rinds
• Squash
• Mangoes (not the seeds)
• Raisins
• Bread/bagels/cake (NOT if they contain chocolate or poppy seeds)
• Pasta, macaroni
• Potato chips and potato products…(do not give raw potatoes to pregnant mare it is toxic……gives them blood poisoning).
• Rice products (not raw rice)
• Barley products
• Corn products
• Dairy products
• Eggs
• Fruit juices
• Hot dogs, hamburgers, tuna fish, ham or even roast beef sandwiches!
• Most dog and cat foods
• Zucchini
• Watermelon
• Parsnips
• Pumpkin

Beware large quantities, but probably acceptable in very small amounts (<2 to 4 ounces/day)

• Cabbage, broccoli, kale, chard, collard greens, brussel sprouts
• Spinach
• Rhubarb stems (NOT the leaves or roots)
• Garlic and onions (large amounts may cause anaemia) When lower doses are consumed on a regular basis, or Large amounts are consumed this may cause anaemia...(the same goes for onions.... to much can cause anaemia).
• Turnips
• Radishes
• Avocado (NOT skins or seeds)
• Lathyrus spp. beans (India)
• Sunflower seeds
• Sugar candies such as jelly beans, gummy bears, peppermints, etc.

Safe in very limited quantities BUT WILL CAUSE POSITIVE DRUG TESTS

• Morning glory plants
• Sassafras
• Willow leaves and bark
• Yucca
• Tobacco (consumed, not inhaled)
• Valerian root
• Carrots in very large quantities only (over 5 lbs day)!
• Persimmons (seeds also may cause impaction)
• Chocolate in any form
• Liquorice?
• Cinnamon products
• Nutmeg
• Hot pepper/chilli flavoured products (Nacho chips, etc)
• Non-decaffeinated coffee or tea in any form
• Caffeinated sodas
• Alcoholic beverages?
• Some dog/cat foods (Beware “bakery waste” as an ingredient-may contain chocolate)

Summary:
There are obviously a wide range of things that our horses may enjoy consuming, not all of which are good for their health. Many horses would refuse to even sniff many of the items listed above. Knowing which potential treats are safe, at least in limited quantities, is important for horse owners. You never know what might be offered to your horse!

[Petra]

Thank you! I have a book that lists all the dangerous plants. But I had no idea so many different kinds of people food are safe. Trigger gets mints once a while, but I don't give any treats to my other horses.
It is good to know though.