Safe to feed whole apples?

[Suzikins]

I've read so many times that ponies can choke on whole apples. I have a 17.2 hh horse but still worry (he's my baby!) so I cut his apples up for him every time. I've just read, though, that a horse can be entertained in his stall at night by letting a whole apple float in his water bucket. Is that safe? I want to try that but I don't want my horse to choke in the middle of the night (or any other time for that matter)! Does anyone else feed whole apples to their horses? (sorry for what is probably such a basic question!)

[Alibi]

I feed apples and carrots whole, and so far (touch wood) i've never had any problems. Its like your horse could get stung by a wasp in the field, be allergic, so what do you do keep him in with wasp repellent on everyday, just in case?

I've had one of my old horses choke on just horse feed, which was nicely dampened, after coughing and spluttering he was ok, but what should i do not feed him?

Having horses is risky!

[Showjumper]

I don't, but only because my pony is a greedy pig and I like to keep her busy for as long as possible...

[Bozzy]

My horse has whole apples in his dinner. He's a funny one though, he's eat around it until his scoffed all the food and then take the apple, bite it in half with his front teeth and eat a half at a time!!

[bexj]

I give Molly whole apples. If they are too big she just chomps them in half carefully with her front teeth - she stops when she feels your fingers:D Then she takes it into her mouth and sucks and slurps on it till it becomes a mushy mess, and usually dribbles it all over me:D :D Horses eh - who'd ave 'em?

[T-bred]

If they are too big she just chomps them in half carefully with her front teeth

Caesar does that too.

she stops when she feels your fingers

It depends on Caesar's mood!!!

Then she takes it into her mouth and sucks and slurps on it till it becomes a mushy mess, and usually dribbles it all over me

Caesar does that too!!!!!:D

Anna

[PromiseMe]

I think it depends on your horse...

Some horses are very greedy, if you give them a big apple, they'll just swap ALL of it off your hand and chomp it all in their mouth
Some neater horses while you offer them an apple will chomp off half with their front teeth and then eat the other half.
So which type is YOUR horse?

And another thing...Id try it while youre around first...so you know what happens and JUST in CASE he choke, youll be there

[Suzikins]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I'll give it a go today and hope he knows where the apple ends and my fingers begin! :-)

[martini55]

Martini always bites it in half as well! And she now bites the 2nd half of the apple in half again because nasty mum used to hide yucky tablets in it!

[RachelEvent]

I always chop apples up for Ferdie - firstly because he is one of those greedy horses who would take the lot and probably attempt to swallow it whole, and secondly because cutting the apple in half takes 10 seconds, and as it is reducing a risk, why not?!

Rachel xx

[TWH Addict]

I always chop Laceys apple in half, not that she cant cope with a whole one, its just shes getting two treats for the price of one ! Only time I give her a whole apple is when I put one in her water bucket to play with..

[cazrider]

I'd never have thought of this! What a good idea.. if, as you say Suzikins, its safe. Has anyone tried it and found it isn't safe?, or apart from TWH Addict, tried it and found it is safe? TWH Addict, does the apple get eaten by the morning?

I can really see Sennie enjoying this as he loves playing with things, and as we have two apple trees in our garden, we have plenty of raw material!

[TWH Addict]

To be honest the apple is eaten within 5 mins. Shes pretty adept at "bobbing for apples" now :D

[TWH Addict]

Since my last post, a friend sent me this article.. from now on im chopping up all my apples!!

Choke happens from a few different causes: 1) a horse is greedy and bolts his food, 2) foods, like beet pulp, are not soaked prior to feeding, 3) horse's teeth are bad causing improperly chewed food, and 4) feeding of odd shaped foods like carrotts, apples, etc.)

I have seen choke on several occasions, and it can be a very scary ordeal. When you see a (your) horse in distress, neck lowered and distended with gunk running from its nose and mouth, it's frightening. If you find a horse with choke, remove all food and water, put them in a quiet place. Call the vet and they will come and administer a tranquilizer to 'relax' the esphoageus (sp). Generally, when the esophageus stops trying to push the mass food down, the food will dislodge. (When the espohageus spasms against itself, it is acutally counter-productive). As is the case with Harold's friend, sometimes it is necessary to tube the horse in an attempt to dislodge the food. One important thing to remember is once a horse has choked, it will be prone to choking again. Prevention: If your horse bolts his food, put some fist-sized rocks in his food pan/bin; he will have to move them aside to get to his feed, thereby slowing him down. Always soak beet pulp. Make sure your horse's teeth
are in good working order to allow best chewing ability. If you feed apples/carrotts, etc. make sure they are cut in small pieces (I cube mine).

Hope this sheds a little light for those of you wondering what choke is and what to do about it.

[jump me charlie]

i always chop them up for many reasons. two treats for the price of on and as someone said before, it takes 10 seconds and why not try the safe rout, it better to be safe then sorry eh??

alibi, it's not like a wasp thing because that is not easily prevented, and whether or not a wasp comes is completely out of your control. cutting the apple is fast and easy and can really make a difference.