2006-06-10 13:24:38 · 12 answers · asked by mrsrooster 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
No....never give them too many. Sugar cubes are treats to horses like apples are. Usually you give them when they've done good or its their B-Day. Still its like humans and candy....its good but not the best if we have too much.
2006-06-10 13:29:18 · answer #1 · answered by Vicky S. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they are, but they are very small-
just use them for a occasional treat.
I have a box at the stable but I usually give carrot pieces
or packaged horse treats instead. I use apple-flavored treats that are low-sugar. I think they're by Purina, they come in a 3-lb? bag and are apple, butterscotch or licorice flavored.
If I run out of the others I have the sugar cubes as a backup.
2006-06-11 05:04:30 · answer #2 · answered by ladders_to_fire 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sugar is actually poisonous to horses. Digesting it causes the bacteria in a horse's gut to create toxins - the same toxins that cause laminitis. Apples and carrots have alot of sugar in them - so does most grass and hay.
If your horse is insulin resistant, overweight or hypothyroidic, sugar can cause laminitis and in extreme cases, founder.
If you want to feed treats, I'd recommend feeding hay cubes. Horses get the "treat effect" by eating something differenty and yummy, it doesn't need to be sweet.
Good luck
2006-06-10 13:29:55 · answer #3 · answered by AtreyuRoxs 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My sister & brother-in-law have owned horses and ponies for the past 30+ years. They claim all the vets over the years tell, and have told them, to not give horses the sugar cubes except for _VERY_ rare treat. Sugar rots their teeth, too.
Ditto chewing tobacco. :-/ Horses seem to crave that stuff, too.
2006-06-10 13:32:25 · answer #4 · answered by techyphilosopher2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a treat or reward they are fine. They are so small that they don't do anything. We give our horses sugar treats for rewards when training. If you do introduce sugar cubes they may not like them at first but keep trying and they learn to love them!
2006-06-10 14:34:16 · answer #5 · answered by Chelsea 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't say I'm 100% but i used to have a horse for a few years and Ive always heard that they were good so no i do not think they are bad for there teeth but you might want to ask a vet to be certain.
2006-06-10 14:01:17 · answer #6 · answered by julie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a treat no they are fine for the horse.
They are no worse than the premade horse treats which are full of molassas or sugar. Most people only give them as a treat and if your horse likes them they work ok.
Some people give those hard pepermint candies and some horses love them. I have one thatl ikes them and one that will spit them out. I never knew horses could spit but mine hates those pepermints.
2006-06-10 14:46:18 · answer #7 · answered by tlctreecare 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they were very bad our horse would be dead. The kids give her about eight sugar cubes every day. I have to ration them or they would give her ten pounds a day.
Our vet said not to worry about it.
2006-06-10 13:27:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, not at all. But don't give it to him/her as food or snack, just as a treat, or when you think it deserves it for being there for you when you need it. Don't be embarrassed, either. Allot of people ask this question.
2006-06-10 13:37:47 · answer #9 · answered by Paris 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lots of opinions!here! but ask your self is it really worth the risk?
give em nice juicy carrots instead
2006-06-11 10:08:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋