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All horses enjoy occasional tasty treats and offering them can strengthen your bond with your equine companion. Giving treats to horses is an important component of training, enrichment, showing affection, and even administering medications for many owners.

However, not all human foods are safe for equine consumption. Feeding your horse an unsafe food as a treat can lead to digestive problems, colic, or even serious toxicosis (poisoning).

Owners must also consider the frequency, amount, and types of treats they feed, as not all treats are suitable for all horses, and excessive feeding of any item can lead to unintended weight gain.

Whether you’re an experienced equestrian or a new horse owner, it’s important to understand what treats are safe for your horse and which ones should be avoided. Read on to discover which common foods make safe treats for horses and which should be avoided to keep your equine companions healthy and happy.

Giving Treats to Horses

Feeding treats can play a key role in bonding with your horse. Treats can serve as a reward for good behavior or a handy way to hide unpleasant-tasting medications.

Some of the most common reasons horse owners and handlers feed treats to horses include: [1][2]

  • Training: Some owners use treats as a reward during training. Offering treats as positive reinforcement tells the horse that they have performed the correct task and makes the horse more likely to perform that task again in the future.
  • Behavior modification: Providing treats can be an effective distraction from a known stressor by helping reduce negative behavior responses. For example, you may provide treats to distract a horse who is anxious about needles during a veterinary appointment.
  • Enrichment: Combining treats with toys or other enrichment items can reduce boredom and encourage natural equine behaviors. For example, a horse on stall rest may benefit from appropriate treats in a feeder ball to provide entertainment.
  • Hiding medications: Many medications have bitter, unpalatable flavors that horses refuse to eat willingly. Using treats to hide the medications (e.g. “pill pockets”) can help deliver those medications in a more enjoyable manner.
  • Human-animal bond: Many owners find joy in watching their horse enjoy a tasty treat, using it as a way to show love and affection for their equine partner. Additionally, treats help horses develop a positive association with their owner, leading to increased engagement and interaction between horse and owner.

Guidelines for Feeding Treats

Regardless of your reason for feeding treats, there are several important considerations when selecting and feeding any form of treats to your horse.

Key considerations include:

  • Palatability
  • Quantity
  • Health status
  • Storage

1. Palatability

Just like humans, horses can be picky about certain flavors. You may have to try several types of treats to find one that your horse enjoys.

Some horses also display neophobia, or aversion to new feed items. [3] These horses may need several exposures to a treat before they decide to taste it and may need to try it several times before deciding whether they enjoy the flavor.

Several research studies have explored which flavors horses enjoy the most. These studies not only give insight into horses’ preferences, but also provide a starting point for owners wanting to introduce new treats or flavors into their horse’s diet.

Common flavorings that horses enjoy include: [4]

  • Fenugreek
  • Banana
  • Cherry
  • Rosemary
  • Cumin
  • Carrot
  • Peppermint
  • Oregano

2. Quantity

Owners should always give treats in moderation, to prevent digestive upset, unplanned weight gain, and imbalances in the horse’s overall diet. A good rule of thumb is 1 – 2 treats or pieces per day, although some smaller treats may be given more frequently as part of a structured training program. [5] Some commercial treats provide feeding instructions on the bag or label.

It’s also important to consider the size of pieces you feed at one time. Some horses swallow treats whole, with very little chewing. These horses could be at risk for choke, where the treat lodges in the horse’s throat and prevents food or water from passing through.

Solid treats that do not easily crumble, such as apples and carrots, have a higher risk of causing choke compared to other items.

To reduce the risk of choke, only feed small, bite-sized pieces. Larger treats may need to be broken up by hand before feeding. This is particularly important for older horses, who may have poor dental health that prevents them from chewing large feed items thoroughly. Pieces about the size of your thumbnail are appropriate for all sizes and ages of horses.

3. Health Status

Some horses have pre-existing health conditions that make certain types of treats unsuitable for them to eat.

Notable conditions that may influence treat selection include: [6]

  • Equine metabolic syndrome: These horses require a low starch and sugar diet to help manage their insulin levels. High sugar or starch treats, such as those containing molasses or grains, are unsuitable for these horses.
  • Obesity: Obese horses require a restricted diet to encourage weight loss. These horses should only receive low calorie treats and may have stricter guidelines on the amount and frequency of treats given.
  • Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis: Horses with this muscle disease are very sensitive to potassium levels in their diet. High-potassium treats, such as bananas and cantaloupe, are not suitable for these horses.
  • Dental issues: Horses with dental disease and older horses with poor dentition often cannot chew treats thoroughly, meaning that hard or crunchy treats pose a higher risk of choke. Softer treats, such as watermelon or pears, may be more appropriate for these horses.

Work with your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist to determine what treats are safe for your horse if they have a health condition that may affect your treat selection.

4. Storage

Storage is important to keep treats fresh and to prevent mold growth and rodent access. Sealable buckets or containers are ideal, as well as storing treats in a cool, dry location. [5] For commercial treats, double check any expiration dates on the package before feeding.

If you notice any changes in the odor, texture, or color of your treats, do not feed them and dispose of them out of reach from horses and other domestic animals.

Safe Treats for Horses

There are several safe treats available for horses, including fruits, vegetables, herbs, and some kitchen staples. Remember to feed these products in moderation and be mindful of the size of pieces you feed.

Fruits

Fruits are a tasty, sweet treat for humans and horses alike. Although most horse owners tend to feed apples exclusively, many fruits are safe for healthy horses as an occasional treat.

Fruits that horses can enjoy include:

  • Apples: These are a classic horse treat that many owners feed. Ensure apples are cut into small slices to reduce the risk of choke.
  • Berries: Horses can eat many types of berries, including blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries.
  • Bananas: Many horses enjoy bananas, peel and all! However, bananas should be avoided by horses with HYPP.
  • Citrus fruits: Despite their sometimes-sour flavor, some horses enjoy citrus fruits such as oranges, tangerines, lemons, limes, and clementines. They can even eat the peel!

Safe Treats for Horses

  • Coconut: The inner flesh of a coconut is safe for horses to consume. Ensure the tough outer husk is completely removed before feeding.
  • Grapes & raisins: Some horses enjoy grapes as a sweet snack. Raisins are also safe for horses.
  • Melons: All types of melon are safe for horses, including watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew.
  • Pears: Pears can be a softer and juicier alternative to apples for horses with dental concerns.
  • Pineapple: This sweet fruit can be safe for horses in small amounts. Ensure you remove the tough outer skin and the fibrous core to reduce the risk of choke.
  • Stone fruits: Horses can eat the flesh of some stone fruits, such as peaches, apricots, dates, nectarines, plums, cherries, and mangoes.