20/06/2025
One of the things we get asked about a lot is "Why don't you let visitors feed the horses treats?"
In order to answer that question, we need to discuss a few things.
Horses have very delicate systems, and what you think might be a yummy looking bit of grass or a simple apple could actually be something that they aren't supposed to have. It could upset their stomach, or it could have too much sugar in it, causing a terrible reaction in horses that have a sensitivity. Did you know there are horses that can get very sick from high sugar content, and that certain grasses are bad for them?
Feeding horses from your hands also teaches the horses to associate hands with food. This in turn means that they will begin nipping at hands as they impatiently search for a treat. So, it isn't just WHAT you are feeding, it's HOW you are feeding it.
Danada's horses are used in lessons, in summer camps for kids, and with volunteers. We need our horses to be well behaved at all times. Safety is so important any time you are handling a horse, and even more so when their job is to work with children.
We can always tell when the horses have been getting hand fed treats. They start to get pushy, and they will begin nipping at our clothes and hands. This is also a terrible thing for the horse! They have to be corrected and retrained not to behave that way, so that they can be safe with our visitors, volunteers and program attendees. A horse that bites would not be able to stay in our programs.
As you can see, the reasons for not feeding the horses by hand at Danada are multi-faceted. We are not trying to be mean; we are trying to ensure our horses are healthy and safe. You are welcome to come out and pet them and say hello! We love our visitors, and we want everyone to enjoy their time here. ❤
📷by Tori Cochrum
