Is watermelon ok for horses?

Question

i know it is fine for them to eat it but what about a whole watermelon? Will they get sick from eating the whole thing?

Answer 1

I wouldn't feed the horse the rind of the watermelon, as I've had horses colic after eating it.

But the inside of the fruit is considered fine. I use it at rodeos to give my horses sweet treats while re-hydrating them as well! Perhaps not a whole watermelon in one serving, but some rationed throughout the day is alright.

Answer 2

Mine LOVE all melon!!!!! They think that stuff is heaven!!!!

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I had my horses(3) get into my watermelon patch, we had a good 20+ well they ate them all! None of them got sick.

Answer 3

Most horses know when to stop.  If it eats a whole one, it could be really thirsty and the flavor is better than it's trough.  In this hot weather, my neighbors got into my watermelon patch.  She said they tasted better than the trough water and it quenched their thirst.  After my first fear and anger, I could see the horses logic...green slimy stuff at the bottom of my glass would be lest tasty than watermelons...

Answer 4

Defiantly the meat, but maybe not the rind.

Answer 5

i give my horse watermelon and there has been no problems but i also don't give it maybe two or three times within tree-four weeks or about a month( in the summer). i would ask your vet but it hasn't had any bad effect and i have been doing it for years.

Answer 6

I would not give them a whole watermelon because

a.) That is a lot of food (don't want them to get fat/sick)

b.) They could choke if you didn't cut it up

But like you said, it is fine for them to have, rind and all. :)

Answer 7

I wouldn't give a whole one but watermelon is safe to give a horse, including the green part, i would get the seedless variety.  Now if its one of those tiny watermelons that should be fine.

Answer 8

of course...just not the whole thing..sometimes at the horse shows the people who run it will give out food and one time that gave out watermelon...i didn't finish mine so i just gave it to the horses! They loved it!!!

Answer 9

Goodness!!  Watermelon AND the rind is fine for horses!!!  And a whole one as a treat is FINE!!  

I wouldn't be giving them one a day...and not the biggest one I could find.  But mine get them all the time in the summer...AND NOT ONE PROBLEM!!  I give them about one a week in the hot part of summer...and I chill it for them in the creek.  They absolutely love it!  I split a large one in two for each horse.

I've never cut them up...but my horses don't 'bolt' their food.  Use your own discretion with your own horses.

Here is a site of safe fruits and veggies for your horse...Notice that watermelon and the rind are on it.  It also has unsafe for your information...http://www.equinerecline.org/fruits.html

Answer 10

its fine but the poster who said horses know when to stop eatting is stupid..Horses will eat themselves to death

Answer 11

i would cut it up. they might choke or something.

Answer 12

Yes, just don't feed them too much. Bit of an indulgence, yes?

Answer 13

Yes watermelon and the rind are both okay for them to eat!!. And horses dont know when to stop eating. They will eat themselves to death so dont listen to what the other person said about them knowing when to stop. And my horses have ate lots of watermelon and never gotton sick!

Answer 14

I used to give my horse pieces of watermelon as a treat. She absolutely loved it. Both the rind and the inside. I never gave her a whole melon though. I'd assume moderation would be important.