Horses are herbivores, which means they eat plants. Their stomachs are made for nibbling all day, not for big meals like people eat.

🌾 Grass and Hay (Their Main Food)

Horses and ponies in the wild eat grass all day long. When they live in barns or pastures without enough grass, they eat hay instead.

But freshly mown grass (grass clippings) is NOT safe. It can make horses very sick with colic because it ferments too fast in their stomachs.

🥣 Grain and Pellets (Only If Needed)

Some horses get a little grain or pellets for extra energy, especially if they:

• Work hard
• Are growing
• Are pregnant or nursing

Ponies usually need very little grain because they gain weight easily.

🍎 Treats (Only Sometimes!)

Everybody loves treats — and horses and ponies do too! They enjoy treats like:

• Apples
• Carrots
• Mints
• Sugar cubes

But treats are not for every day. Give treats only as a reward for being good, and only a little at a time.

🌟 Fun Fact!

• Most horses drink more than 6 gallons of water a day — that’s about 10 times more than a person drinks.
• Horses also make gallons of spit every day to help them chew their food!

🪣 Rules of Feeding a Horse or Pony

These rules help keep horses healthy and safe:

• Match the amount of food to how much your horse or pony works.
• Do not feed your horse or pony right before or after exercise.
• Never guess how much food to give — always weigh it.
• Feed at the same time every day, and keep their feeding bucket clean.
• Never feed old, musty, or moldy food or hay.
• Always give clean, fresh water.
• Make changes slowly — new food can upset their stomach.

🐴 Special Feeding Rules for Ponies

Ponies have small stomachs, so they must be fed:

• Little and often,
• Never one big bucket of food,
• More fiber and less grain,
• Carefully, because ponies gain weight quickly.

⭐ Kid‑Friendly Summary

Horses can eat:

• Grass
• Hay
• A little grain (if needed)
• Small treats
• Lots of water

Horses should NOT eat:

• Freshly mown grass
• Moldy food
• Bread
• Chocolate
• Poisonous plants

More information:

• Plants Horses Should NOT Eat in the Pasture