Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
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I have recently found that my horses love citrus, I have had to fence off the citrus trees to keep them out. They now "demand" a tangerine, orange or grapefruit after their evening feed. Is this or can it become a problem? Can they eat too much of it? How much is too much? Is there something they are missing in their diets? I don't want any harm to come to them from this new "Must Have" they have developed.
Where are you from? Florida
How did you locate this forum? web search
Hi JoAnne,
To my knowledge, there is no problem in horse's eating citrus fruits. So, giving them one a day is fine. If they were to get hold of a whole tree's worth, they would likely suffer from some loose stools! But, they are not toxic.
Citrus fruits are high in vitamin C, as you know, but they are also a good source of fiber, potassium, and folic acid. Your horses likely enjoy them for their taste, rather than because of a nutrient deficiency. So, as long as your diet is balanced, this is not a concern.
Thanks for asking!
Dr. Getty 