As the holidays roll in and the feasts roll out, it seems a bit of a shame to be eating all of this food and not including our horses. Especially when there are so many leftovers from the Thanksgiving feast that could potentially be given to your horse. Did you know that an estimated 364 million pounds of food go to waste nationwide during Thanksgiving? Cut down on your waste this year by giving your horse some of the extra ingredients from your favorite holiday recipes. Don’t let the holidays gobble up your sanity! Keep reading for some of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes and the ingredients that your horse can enjoy too!

What is safe to share with my horse this Thanksgiving?

While we all want our horses to be a part of everything in our lives, sometimes there are things they can’t participate in. Just like with Thanksgiving, there are foods that they can and can’t eat. It’s important to make sure to check with your vet first before you make your horse anything outside of their normal food regimen. We’ve included a list of things that are okay and not okay for your horse to have this Thanksgiving.

Things that are harmful to your horse during Thanksgiving:

• Onions
• Garlic
• Meat products
• Tomatoes
• Rhubarb
• Russet or red potatoes
• Bread products (like stuffing)

Things your horse can actually eat during Thanksgiving:

• Chopped-up corn still on the cob
• Carrots and carrot peelings from the stuffing
• Celery (both the stocks and the greens)
• Apples and apple peelings that are left over from the pie
• Green beans (as long as they are organic. Some types of green beans are processed with particular pesticides and if fed to your horse can be harmful.)

Your horse may not be able to take a bite out of everything you prepare, but we do know a few recipes that your horse will be able to help you eat. What better way to share the holidays than with your best friend? There are a few dishes that are a staple to every Turkey-day dinner. Check out some of our favorite recipes that are great for your table and use horse-friendly ingredients!

Apple-Berry Crisp

Chances are you have delicious blackberries in your pasture. Did you know that horses love blackberries and blackberry leaves? Whether you pick them yourself or get them from the store, make sure you grab a few extras for your horse too. And, of course, whatever apples you peel and core you can give the remnants to your horse. Since this recipe calls for oats, you could potentially make a little treat for your horse too. Combine the extra apple pieces, blackberries, and some oats, and drizzle a little molasses on top. Voila! A berry sweet dessert for their after-dinner treat.

For your horse: Blackberries, apples, and oats.

Apple-Berry Crisp Recipe

Ingredients:

• 4 cups peeled tart apples
• 2 cups fresh or frozen blackberries
• ¼ cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1tsp cinnamon

Topping:

• 1 cup rolled oats
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp flour
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ⅓ cup cold butter, cubed

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Mix the first 6 ingredients
3. Place in a greased, 9-inch square baking dish
4. Set aside

Topping:

1. In a separate bowl combine oats, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon.
2. Sprinkle evenly over the fruit mixture
3. Cut butter till crumbly, sprinkle over fruit mixture
4. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the topping is browned

Yam Puff

Did you know that horses can eat yams? They are a fantastic source of vitamins C and E. Not as a regular supplement, but as a treat every now and then. They can also be great for your horse with a little bit of molasses on them. If you plan on making horse treats this Thanksgiving, you can use any extra soft yams mixed with oats and molasses baked, to make some pretty tasty treats.

For your horse: raw yams (whole pieces or peels)

Yam Puff Recipe

Ingredients:

• 4 large Yams
• ¼ cup butter
• 2 well-beaten eggs
• ¼ cup white sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 2-inch piece of ginger, peeled and grated

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Cook yams until soft.
3. Put everything in a food processor or blender
4. Put the mixture in a greased 8”x8” baking dish
5. Place in oven for 30-40 minutes or until browned
6. Take it out and let it cool.

Green Bean Casserole

If you want to make this so that your horse can have some extras, make sure you buy raw, organic whole green beans. They won’t have as many chemicals in the processing so they won’t be dangerous to your horse's delicate digestive system. Make sure you break them into pieces before feeding them to your horse, this will make it less likely for them to choke.

For your horse: organic green beans

Green Bean Casserole Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of organic, raw green beans, cut in about 1 in sections.
• 1 (10.5 oz.) can of condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup of your favorite shredded cheese
• 1 (6 oz) can of french-fried onions.

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
2. Steam the chopped green beans until they are soft
3. Put the soup into a microwave-safe container and microwave on high for 1-3 minutes, or until warmed.
4. Mix green beans and soup together, and spread evenly in a casserole dish
5. Sprinkle the cheese on top to your heart's content.
6. Add the french-fried onions to the top.
7. Place in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes or until the onions turn brown.

We know you’ll be “occupied” with making the perfect feast to impress the in-laws but take a minute to go outside and say hello to your horse and bring them a tasty treat. Even if you can’t share every piece of your meal with your equine friend, they will still appreciate every little extra bit you do give them.

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