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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think that horses eat apples?

30 replies

Dohorseseatapples · 15/08/2020 14:11

I have 3 huge apple trees straining with with weight of a million apples at the moment.
Would it be weird if me to offer them to the many horsey people here to feed to their horses?
The apples are big and are eating apples but they don’t have perfect skin and have Small dark patches (this doesn’t affect the actual eatability of the apple for humans they just look a bit ugly).
I just have too many.
Would horses eat them?

OP posts:

Pipandmum · 15/08/2020 14:17

Yes they do, but as a treat. So a horse owner wouldn't take too many.
Some places press apples for juice I think - but you'd have to pick them.
Have you tried making your own apple jelly, chutney or sauce? I have an eating apple tree and make them as Christmas presents as well as for my own table.

totallyyesno · 15/08/2020 14:18

It's a bit early isn't it? Even if they are big, they probably aren't ripe yet.

livelyredjellybean · 15/08/2020 14:18

Horses can have apples as treats, yes, but shouldn’t eat them in huge quantities. Maybe offer them to people who keep pigs? Or cider/chutney/crumble makers?!

Chanjer · 15/08/2020 14:20

Any local cidery nearby?

Scattyhattie · 15/08/2020 14:20

Horses can't eat many apples though with the sugar.
Maybe any hobby cider/juice makers locally or some could make use to cook with instead.

Original poster

Dohorseseatapples · 15/08/2020 14:20

It's a bit early isn't it? Even if they are big, they probably aren't ripe yet.

They’re early apples. They will be fully ripe by the end of August. Quite a few are already falling off.

OP posts:

Serin · 15/08/2020 14:21

I just put them outside in buckets for people to help themselves to, (With a note saying please leave the bucket ) People know that they are good to cook with or chutnefy even if the dont look great.

HooseDilemma · 15/08/2020 14:21

If there is a big riding school near by, they might be interested? You could call them and see?

pinkmagic1 · 15/08/2020 14:22

Like pp posters have said, horses can have them but only as a treat so they probably wouldn't take many. Maybe pop them in a tub outside your house if you live on a main road. People who make jam etc. would love them I'm sure.

Roussette · 15/08/2020 14:24

It's a bit early isn't it? Even if they are big, they probably aren't ripe yet

Not too early! We have a garden full of early eating apples, red and ripe!

xyzandabc · 15/08/2020 14:26

Or offer them to a local zoo, animal rescue or farm park. Some of them have had such a hard time trying to feed the animals without paying visitors coming in.

julybaby32 · 15/08/2020 14:27

I believe pigs also like them, and tapiers. (Admittedly you might need to be near a wildlife park of zoo for the tapiers.) Any urban farms, rare breed farms, etc near you?

Original poster

Dohorseseatapples · 15/08/2020 14:31

If there is a big riding school near by, they might be interested? You could call them and see?

Yes! 2! It really is horse-land here. That’s why I thought of horses first.
I know nothing about them! I might be able to get rid of a few bags!

OP posts:

Tronkmanton · 15/08/2020 14:34

Pigs would be better. You can’t give many to horses.

RiteAid · 15/08/2020 14:47

They can have them now and then as a treat, but they’re sugary so they can’t have too many. By all means offer them, but you might not get rid of too many.

Deadposhtory · 15/08/2020 14:50

As previously stated only as a treat.
We cook ours and freeze. The rest we give away

whishtyournoise · 15/08/2020 14:50

The blackbirds and thrushes go mad for any windfalls from my tree. I always leave plenty as they fall for months and the birds keep coming back for them.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 15/08/2020 14:57

Pigs eat apples too. My sister gets pork from a farm local to her, where the pigs live in the orchards, eating the windfall apples - she says it is the most delicious pork ever.

Maybe you could find a pig farm that does this, and barter a load of apples for a couple of nice joints?

Nottherealslimshady · 15/08/2020 15:23

A local rescue would be good. If they've got ex factory farm pigs and stuff they'd probably really appreciate it.

Wbeezer · 15/08/2020 15:27

I gave my windfalls to soneone with pigs.

Whatwaswrongwiththatusername · 15/08/2020 15:34

Completely off topic, but is everyone else getting the same ad?
As an attempt to be helpful though, I would also say perhaps approach local farms as food for the pigs and leave some outside your house with a sign for people to help themselves? I can remember having apple trees as a child and the sacks of apples sitting around everywhere for ages, and then the smell of rotting apples...🤢

rosiejaune · 15/08/2020 15:40

Put them on a website like Freecycle or Olio; there are still some humans who will eat ugly apples, despite supermarket standards!

WhoWouldHaveThoughtThat · 15/08/2020 15:41

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius - I think the youngsters refer to them as 'Spliffs' now.

TheSpottedZebra · 15/08/2020 15:46

We give our MANY windfalls at the allotment site to a local pig sanctuary-they can eat loads I think, unlike horses, donkeys etc who can get sick from them if they eat more than the odd one.

sideorderofchips · 15/08/2020 15:54

Pop them. On olio

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