How to Feed Bean Plants to Horses
Hand-feeding is a good way to build up rapport between an owner and his horse. While a horse's staple diet is of grass or hay the occasional variation can be given as a reward, or simply as a treat. Horses will eat almost anything: from carrots to apples, corn and oats. Horses also love beans as they provide a sweet treat which can easily be hand-fed.
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Instructions
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Choose your beans. Beans come in a variety of types, from string beans to snap peas, green beans and the common kidney bean. Fresh green beans and snap peas are the best for horses as they are the sweetest variety. De-string the beans and take a handful to the paddock or stables.
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Alert the horse to your intention of feeding it. This can be done by clicking the tongue or fingers or otherwise getting the horse's attention without startling it. Calm the horse by either stroking its neck, or the middle of its nose.
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Hold out your hand, palm upwards and completely flat with three or four beans lying across it. Hold the hand close to the horse's mouth, making sure to keep fingers flat lest they be mistaken for a bean.
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Repeat step three until all the beans are finished.
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Tips & Warnings
Feeding a horse shelled beans is not a good idea, as the beans are small and can roll around in the palm. Feed the whole bean---pod and all---as this is much easier for a horse to take from the palm.
Never feed a horse castor beans, as they contain ricin which is extremely poisonous to all animals.
Do not hold your hand just out of a horse's reach or tease the horse by putting your hand close and then taking it away. Not only will this defeat the purpose of creating rapport, but can be very dangerous given that horses are large and sometimes unpredictable.
Do not over-feed a horse with treats. If the horse has access to food, then chances are they have eaten their fill, so a handful of a special treat is enough each time.
Children should be supervised at all times when around horses, especially if they are hand-feeding them.
References
- Photo Credit horse image by Penny Williams from Fotolia.com
