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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to feed these apples to these horses?

65 replies

BestZebbie · 09/08/2015 15:13

We have just harvested the apples from our garden and after picking out the perfect ones for us and composting the rotten/wormy ones I am left with a carrier bag of 'seconds' - apples that are basically good and could be intensively processed to make into puree etc, but are small or have minor skin blemishes etc.

There is a field with horses in just down the road, WIBU to take these apples down to that field with my DS and put them over the gate with the expectation that the horses would eat them?

In my mind apples are a nice treat for horses, but I am aware that I am not a horsey person and so would there be some terrible injury I could potentially do the horses by doing this? They are red eating apples, I think Red Windsor, all ripe.

OP posts:
Arkkorox · 09/08/2015 16:45

Or your local riding for the disabled center! My boy works his little hooves off with the kids and apples in his dinner always go down well

LikeTheShoes · 09/08/2015 16:46

you could ask the owner first?

(why don't you turn them into apple purée and freeze it?)

pinkchoctruffle · 09/08/2015 16:47

I don't mind people giving apples to my ponies.

My ponies don't mind people giving apples to them Grin

But some people hate it so best to ask!

DiseasesOfTheSheep · 09/08/2015 16:53

Nice thought, OP, but not a good idea, as you're now aware Smile You could offer them to the owner if you see them, or leave them somewhere outside the field with a note for the owner saying you thought the horses might enjoy them but didn't want to give them to them. Don't hang them on the gate though - mine certainly show no respect for carrier bags Wink

TheWitTank · 09/08/2015 16:54

I really hate this - you shouldnt feed anybodies animals without prior permission. I've also had the bloody lawnmower clippings thing -man blissfully unaware he could be causing the horses a nasty bout of colic. It seems mean to deny children the joy of feeding a horse an apple or polo, but I don't like titbits being fed over the fence (restricted and special diet and I don't want to encourage bossy behaviour and nipping!). If I was asked I would happily explain why and encourage people to give them a fuss instead. Well done for asking though op instead of just chucking them in!

Sparklingbrook · 09/08/2015 16:57

I don't think you should ever feed other people's animals without asking first.

Pepperonipeteczar · 09/08/2015 16:58

I wouldn't bother, I tried to feed old ryvitas to the ducks a few weeks ago and they weren't interested.

Trying to think of another animal that would eat them? You could ask a local wildlife sanctuary if they accept donations of food for the guinea pigs, rabbits or other animals like that? Or my friend leaves a bucket of them on her drive with a sign saying "free apples" and people do actually take them

mmmuffins · 09/08/2015 17:09

It is never ok to feed someone else's pet without asking permission.

Vycount · 09/08/2015 17:33

Agree with others, don't feed horses anything without asking the owners. Not a polo, not an apple, a carrot - nothing. Most horses will be much nicer to talk to over the fence if no food is involved anyway. Smile
I nearly lost a horse to mystery colic a few years back, then when she came home realised the cause of the problem. As a neighbour started throwing bags of apples into the field...

Original poster
BestZebbie · 09/08/2015 17:34

Pepperoni: we will do what we've done with 'seconds' apples in years before having DC - process them into something and feed bits to our hamsters (I have quite a lot of hamsters so they can get through a fair amount of veg offcut type stuff). The hamsters would not be missing out if I gave the seconds away, though, as they'd just get bits of the other ones we are keeping.

OP posts:
villainousbroodmare · 09/08/2015 17:50

Not unreasonable, I think, not really, and tbh the perils of feeding a few apples to the average nag in a field are being seriously overestimated by the respondents... however if nothing else a few of these responses show the intensity of feeling of the typical British leisure rider and as such I would give their animals a wide berth unless invited otherwise.
Also quite easy to get bitten or kicked while dispensing treats if you aren't acquainted with the horses.

EnlightenedOwl · 09/08/2015 17:54

Another no. Also am I right in thinking apples would ferment in the gut? Would worry about colicking etc

anyway very bad idea - never ever feed anyone else's animals.

Murfles · 09/08/2015 17:57

I actually had to move my horses field as people were forever feeding them from the roadside. It's a nice thought but I don't like them getting tit bits as one of my mares can get a bit bolshy and snappy if she's given too many. She'd taken to running to the fence when she saw people but I was always scared she'd nip a child. I'd ask the owner first as others have said a change to diet can cause colic in horses.

CanIBeTimmythedog · 09/08/2015 17:57

Crikey the OP was asking before she's done anything. How snippy is your response carb.
The horses I was bought up around tended to getting aggressive if hand fed, plus special diets, colic etc etc. I second the idea of taking them to a riding school.

Pardonwhat · 09/08/2015 17:59

Yabu and I'd be seriously pissed off if someone did it to my horses. They're full of sugar which can be dangerous for horses. How would you feel it I leaned over your fence into your back garden and fed your dogs chocolate? Same thing.
Please don't do it.

mistlethrush · 09/08/2015 18:00

It's very early to be harvesting apples and they are likely to be rather sour which are very likely to cause colic which can kill a horse.

pinkchoctruffle · 09/08/2015 18:03

To be fair apples aren't fatal to horses as a rule.

Vycount · 09/08/2015 18:04

"Not unreasonable, I think, not really, and tbh the perils of feeding a few apples to the average nag in a field are being seriously overestimated by the respondents..."

You are bloody joking aren't you? £600-odd vet bill was the result of my neighbour feeding my horse a few apples. I don't think you know much about horses.

I now have an elderly pony with a metabolic problem that means he is on a zero-sugar diet. No carrots, apples, molassed feed... he also had daily medication which isn't cheap. I'd be thoroughly p'd off to find someone feeding him.

But I guess the bottom line is that "nags" in a field aren't a cheap alternative to a petting zoo. Many of them are someone's much loved pet. People don't think it's OK to take their children to lean over garden fences to feed cats and dogs and really horses in fields are no different.

villainousbroodmare · 09/08/2015 18:05

Pardon, it's not actually the same thing. Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine which are specifically toxic to dogs. Fructose and glucose in apples is also present in high quantities in August grazing.
It's also a couple of considerable leaps from apples to colic to death.
I think OP won't feed the horses. Job done.

chocolatechip123 · 09/08/2015 18:07

I wouldn't feed an animal withput asking tbe ownet. One of my sisters horses has almost eaten himself to death - twice (greedy bugger).

Apple sauce? Mum used to make bathfulls of the stuff at harvest time. I still love it.

Lurkedforever1 · 09/08/2015 18:15

Op you've already taken the answer on board so won't say it again. However if you see the owners ask, some horses are in fixed calm herds and fine for a few apples, I'd not let anyone randomly feed over the fence but happy to let some individual horses be fed outside the herd.
villainous unless you are psychic then it's not overestimating. No stranger automatically knows they're lined up in pecking order or their dietary requirements. So unless you would be happy for someone to have given your baby red bull and treacle toffee, and your kids vodka then keep your uninformed and ignorant opinion to yourself.

villainousbroodmare · 09/08/2015 18:21

Grin Vycount, I'm an equine vet.
Have a read of this, might clarify a few things for you in the management of your EMS/ Cushingoid/ potentially laminitic pony, and the best of luck to you with him.
www.thehorse.com/articles/26873/understanding-carbohydrates-in-equine-diets
To be clear, I would not recommend anyone to feed anything to animals that are not their own.

Wolfiefan · 09/08/2015 18:23

You lovely, sensible person for asking OP!
My sister has two horses. I never feed them anything. They get the odd Apple etc but only in their feed. They both have medical issues and also need to have their weight controlled carefully. Plus both have the tendency to be nippy, bargy arseholes if "treated"!!
Grin

Fluffy24 · 09/08/2015 18:35

I'd be happy for anyone to come and ask - I'd not want someone to feed them, but I'd probably invite them to come with me to give them a couple when I'm there to supervise. My concern would be a fight starting over them, with horses these can be nasty and expensive.

It seems to be a common misconception that horses are just 'there' when they actually belong to people, who often spend lots of money on them and for whom they are as much part of a family as dogs or cats (and for some, children), and don't take kindly to the sense that they are somehow a public asset or part of the wildlife! I think this is why some peeps get really upset about it. It's the same with farmed livestock.

Fluffy24 · 09/08/2015 18:36

And you did ask OP so all good! Smile