Treats for Equines
Just like the normal food diet bores you sometimes, it happens the same way to horses. From time to time, your horse may need the best horse treats, like you need snacks. Best treats for horses need to be healthy to add some health benefits to the horse, like regular food.
Going further:
What Do Horses Like to Eat for Treats?
Horses can eat most of the snacks humans eat. Even though horses are picky eaters, they can eat a lot of snacks. You need to be cautious about your treats. Some snacks may upset the digestive system of your equine.
So what do horses like to eat for treats? Some of the best snacks to consider giving your horse include
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Apples
- Lettuce
- Celery
- Cucumber
- Carrots
- Oranges
- Pears
- Beer
- Pumpkins
- Melon
- Mints
Bananas
Bananas are always healthy for humans, and it’s quite the same for horses. The good thing is that horses also love bananas for their sweetness. Some people feed a whole banana to their horses. In this case, they do not even peel the outer skin.
Eating the entire banana while it’s still intact with the outer skin may sound insane to humans, and of course, it is. However, the whole thing for horses is different since they find the outer skin sweet the same way as the flesh. If you choose to feed your horse bananas, including the skin, clean the outer skin first.
You can also peel the banana before feeding it to your horse. If you choose to peel the banana, you should be ready to continue doing that every time. Once your horse gets used to the sweet taste of the banana flesh only, it may no longer eat the outer skin. So once you notice your horse rejecting a whole banana, just know you are in for some peeling.
You may also go the extra mile when snacking your horse with bananas. Unlike feeding the banana directly to your horse, you may peel, cut and freeze the bananas. Cutting helps the horse to eat with ease.
On the other hand, freezing helps feed horses bananas during hot seasons. Many people are not familiar with freezing bananas, but horses love it.
Strawberries
Strawberries are among the most common human fruits. At the same time, humans have been feeding strawberries to horses ever since the onset of their domestication. Strawberries make good treats for horses.
Just as we find strawberries sweet, horses enjoy them the same way. Though horses love this treat, you must clean them before feeding. Remember that when the strawberries are on the farms, the farmers spray them with insecticides and other chemicals.
If there is dirt or chemicals on the skin of the strawberries, your horse may suffer from stomach issues. If your horse feeds on dirty strawberries for a long time, other health problems may also arise.
If you provide the strawberry treats correctly to your horse, it should be in for many health benefits. Strawberries contain many healthy nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium.
However, you should be aware that this fruit has a lot of sugar, just like other treats for horses. Even though this strawberry sugar is natural, it may still impact your horse negatively. The case may be worse if your horse has some insulin problems.
Apples
They say, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” To horses, the saying is not so different. This fruit is a good treat and has some animal health benefits. You may feed your horse whole apples or cut them into halves. However, many people prefer to cut the apples into halves.
Cutting the apples aids in making the feeding process simpler for your horse. Apples are sweet, but the sweetness levels may change with the type of apple.
Some horses may prefer specific varieties of apples, while others may feed on all of them. Before feeding your horse apples, ensure you wash their skin thoroughly. While apples are in the orchards, farmers spray them with pesticides and other chemicals. Washing assures you that your horse will not come to contact with the chemicals.
If you have many apples around, consider turning them into horse snacks. The best time to convert apples to horse snacks is when they begin turning color. Do not feed your horse too many apples since they have too much sugar. Apart from the side effects of sugar, apples have many valuable nutrients, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber, and potassium.
Lettuce
When wondering what horses’ favorite treats are, know that crunchy and fresh lettuce is the best. With high water content and a lot of fiber, this treat is absolutely a real deal. Unlike other horse treats, such as fruits, lettuce does not have a lot of sugar. You are free to feed this treat to your horse as much as you wish since it is super healthy.
Celery
Just like lettuce, most horses love celery due to its crunchiness. There are only a few horses that don’t like celery. Such horses are picky eaters and can only take minimal amounts of celery at a time.
Celery contains a lot of health benefits. You may improve the digestion of your horse using this snack. Nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, magnesium, and phosphorus are available in celery. Remember to wash the celery correctly before feeding it to your horse. Washing helps in removing insects and dirt that may harm your horse.
You may feed celery to your horse whole or either cut it into small sizes. Some horses love to take the celery as a whole. To younger horses cutting the celery can help in chewing and even digesting. It is essential to monitor the feeding behavior of your horse before choosing how to feed it the celery.
Cucumber
Cucumber falls inside the bracket when looking for the perfect treats for your horse. Its low level of calories makes this treat healthy for your horse. When feeding cucumber to your equine, you don’t have to limit the amount it can take.
Another advantage is that you can grow this plant in your garden. Even in a small garden, cucumbers always thrive well. Before feeding cucumbers to your horse, you need to wash them carefully.
Carrots
Do horses like carrots? Carrots fall among the treats horses love. These vegetables are tasty and bring additional health benefits. Some vitamins and minerals are available in this treat, thus increasing its worth.
Even though carrots have several minerals and vitamins, there are instances when you shouldn’t feed them to horses. One of the most common occasions is when your horse suffers from laminitis. Once your horse eats carrots while suffering from this condition, the symptoms and pain may increase.
Oranges
You enjoy your orange the same way a horse wants this fruit. The only significant difference is that horses can eat oranges in full. That means eating without removing the outer orange skin. You can also peel the oranges before feeding them to your horse. Some horses love eating oranges without the outer skin.
You may make the experience much better when you peel the orange and refrigerate it. Freezing the oranges makes a perfect refreshing snack for your horse. When you begin freezing oranges and feeding them to your horse, they may get addicted.
Once your horse tastes cold oranges, it may be hard to eat the normal oranges. You may also give your horse some sips of orange drink. As insane as it may sound, you should know that horses love orange juice as well.
If you choose to cheer up your horse with some orange juice, just don’t give it too much. Orange juice may contain too much sugar, which may be harmful. Too much sugar in your horse may trigger illnesses like laminitis and equine metabolic syndrome.
Pears
Pears have almost the same texture and feel as apples. Since horses already love apples, it is definite that pears are also their favorite. Unlike apples, horses find it challenging to eat pears in whole. Apples are well round, while pears have an uneven shape. It is best to slice pears into small sizes before feeding your horse.
Pears have the same health benefits as apples and other horse snacks. If you cut pears into suitable sizes, you may feed them to your horse without restriction. The sugar level in this fruit is also good, and you shouldn’t worry about any adverse outcomes.
Beer
When you are away from fruits for a while, beer is among the top treats you should consider for your horse. As insane as it may sound, beer makes the perfect treat for horses. An occasional can of beer can help cheer up your horse. However, you should not create a whole beer party for your horse in the barn.
When it comes to horses, beer proves to be relatively healthy in many aspects. Unlike in humans, where there are several side effects, in horses, beer helps mostly in bonding. This reason ranks beer among the best treats for horses. The best way to give beer to your horse is by adding it to its feed.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin falls among the human vegetables that are also safe for horses. You can find pumpkins almost anywhere. After Halloween, your horse may enjoy a lot of pumpkins since they tend to cost less. Horses can eat whole pumpkins, including the outer skin. You don’t have to peel, but it is important to remove the seeds.
Melon
Melons are a favorite of horses because of their sweet taste and high water content. The water level in melons makes them perfect treats, especially on hot days. Also, you don’t have to remove the seeds. These seeds do not have any negative effects on your horse.
Despite being sweet and healthy, you should not feed melons in large amounts at once. Too much melon may lead to bloating. The level of water in the fruit may be the cause of bloating. Before feeding melons to your horse, make sure you cut them into small pieces.
Mints
The taste and smell of mint are always attractive to humans. To your horse, the effect is relatively the same. Horses love mint and always yearn for more when you introduce it. However, mint has a high sugar content, and you must be keen.
Some horses have restrictions when it comes to their diet. Even though mints make good horse snacks, dietary restrictions may limit mint consumption.
Which Treats NOT to Give Your Horse
Even though many treats are friendly and improve horses’ health, some can be harmful. Below are some of the most harmful treats for horses that you should look out for
- Avocados
- Cabbage
- Tomatoes
Avocados
Surely avocados are interesting to you but not so much to horses. Even though some horses may find this fruit sweet, it may raise some health concerns. All avocados have a toxic effect that may negatively affect a horse. Due to this effect, you should never feed avocado to your horse, even in small amounts.
Cabbage
Cabbage is full of vitamins, and you may think it is a good treat for your horse. However, the reality is that it is not. Despite having nutrients, cabbage contains a lot of gas that may negatively affect your horse.
Tomatoes
Ripe tomatoes are attractive and delicious to humans but not similar to horses. Your horse may find tomatoes unpleasant due to their smell. The taste is also not pleasing. However, there are no specific side effects of tomatoes, but the taste and smell are not so welcoming to your horse.
The Difference Between Organic and Commercial Snacks
Organic horse treats come from natural ingredients and are among the foods horses can eat. These ingredients do not go through any additional processing. Natural whole-food ingredients are the main items in the making of these treats.
Commercial horse treats include the addition of G.M.Os and go through other additional processes. There are several pros and cons of commercial and organic horse treats.
Find out more below:
Organic Snacks
| Pros | Cons |
| They are perfect for your horse’s health. | They can be expensive. |
| They come from natural ingredients. | Organic treats may live for short periods on the shelf. |
| Good for the environment. | It may not be available in some places. |
| They have high nutritional content. |
Commercial Snacks
| Pros | Cons |
| Less expensive | Commercial treats are not so nutritious |
| They have a longer shelf life | Some of the ingredients may be harmful |
| Comes in many options and flavors | Does not come from whole food ingredients |
| Easily available in shops |
The Best Horse Treats at a Glance
| Buckeye Nutrition Treats for Horses, Apples, Snaps | Best for horses of all ages | -Does not have any additives -Comes from real apples |
| DPD the German Horse Muffin All Natural Horse Treats | Best for easy eating | -Maintains freshness due to the resealable bag -Soft, making chewing easy -Contains all-natural ingredients |
| Probios Horse Soft Chews Apple Flavor | Best for training occasions | -Comes in pellets -Does not contain any additives or flavors |
| Manna-Pro-Bite-Size Nuggets for Horses - Horse Training Treats | Best for training occasions | -Contains additional yummy flavors -Comes in pocket-size packets, making them good reward treats -Comes with lots of minerals and vitamins |
| Nutrigood Senior Snax Horse Treats | Best for adult horses | -Contains glucosamine -Contains omega three fatty acids -Comes with a rich apple flavor |
| Purina Apple and Oat-Flavored Horse Treats | Best for easy eating | -Comes in pellets -Contains a rich apple taste -Comes in a pocket-size packet |
| Mrs. Pastures Horse Cookies | Best for young horses | -Contains natural ingredients -Comes with a perfect texture -The sizes are ideal for chewing |
| Ginger Ridge Meadow Mints Horse Treats | Best for horses of all ages | -Has all natural ingredients -Contains a natural peppermint flavor -Comes in nitrogen bags for total freshness |
| Equus Magnifucusinc 011-1003006 the German Beet Treat | Best for middle age horses | -Has all natural ingredients -The pieces are small for young adults -Contains a delicious beef flavor |
| Horsemen’s Pride Himalayan Salt Block on a Rope for Horses | Best for high iron supply | -The rock is all-natural -Contains a lot of iron -The rock has the purest form of salt |
| Flix 100% Flaxseed Healthy Treats for Horses, High in Omega 3 | Best for horses of all ages | -Comes in large pellets -Contains natural ingredients -Has a natural flavor |
| Uncle Jimmy Licky Thing Candy Apple | Best for all life stages | -Special packaging for an always-fresh treat -Contains a natural apple flavor -Contains lots of minerals and vitamins |
| Huds and Toke Carrot Horse Bix - Horse Training Treat | Best for training | -Crunchy, bringing that awesome feel to your horse -Has a natural carrot flavor -Comes from natural ingredients |
Reviewing the Top Horse Treats Currently on the Market
Buckeye Nutrition Treats for Horses, Apples, Snaps: Best for Horses of All Ages
About
This option is the best if you are looking for horse snacks that can feed horses of all ages. This treat also comes with several nutritional benefits to assure you of a healthy horse all the time. The fact that this snack comes from real apples also proves that the product is beneficial for your equine.
Brand: Buckeye Nutrition
Flavor: Apple
Age range: All life stages
Item form: Dry
Unit count: Single pack
Package info: Plastic bag
Package volume: 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms)
Recommended Uses
- Reward during training
Pros
- Suitable for horses of all ages
- Highly digestible
Cons
- Some horses may not find it tasty since there are no additional flavors
DPD the German Horse Muffin All Natural Horse Treats: Best for Easy Eating
About
This German horse muffin makes that perfect treat for your equine. This treat also proves to be healthy due to the absence of additives. These muffins are chewy and soft, making them ideal for any horse. If your horse is under medication, this snack may be perfect to act as a reward after every dose.
Brand: Tuzhbik
Flavor: Natural
Age range: All life stages
Item form: Muffins
Unit count: Single pack
Package info: Bag
Package volume: 1 pound (0.45 kilograms)
Recommended uses
- Works well when medicating your horse
- Works well as an in-between meals snack
Pros
- This product contains no additives proving to be healthy for your horse
- Soft and chewy for easy eating
- Suitable for horses of all ages
Cons
- Relatively expensive
Probios Horse Soft Chews Apple Flavor: Best for Training Occasions
Amazon’s Choice Award for Best in Horse Probiotics and Digestive Supplements by Probios
About
This horse treat is the best for a healthy digestive system and other positive health factors. This snack works for all classes of horses. If you are looking for horse snacks that are perfect for traveling and therapy, this option is among what you need.
Brand: Probios
Flavor: Flavorless
Age range: All stages of life
Item form: Pellet
Unit Count: Single pack
Packaging info: Plastic bag
Package volume: 21 ounces (600 grams)
Recommended Uses
- Perfect for training and exercises
Pros
- Suitable for horses of all ages
- Easily digestible
Cons
- The lack of flavor can be uncomfortable for some horses
Manna-Pro-Bite-Size Nuggets for Horses - Horse Training Treats: Best for Training Occasions
About
The apple flavor in this horse treat brings that great taste all horses want. In addition, the treat comes with a lot of vitamins and minerals. Due to these minerals, you can be sure of a healthy horse. Its pocket-size packet makes it perfect for traveling and other occasions such as training.
Brand: Manna Pro
Flavor: Apple
Age range: Adults
Item form: Wafer
Unit count: Single pack
Package info: Plastic bag
Package volume: 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms)
Recommended Uses
- Traveling
- Training
Pros
- This snack has a great taste due to the apple flavor
Cons
- This treat is only ideal for adult horses
Nutrigood Senior Snax Horse Treats: Best for Adult Horses
Amazon’s Choice Award for Best in Horse Treats by Manna Pro
About
Are you searching for the perfect horse snacks suitable for your senior horse? This product is just what you need. This snack goes through special baking, making it soft and easy to chew. This product aids in supporting the joints and bones in your horse due to the presence of glucosamine.
Brand: Manna Pro
Flavor: Apple
Age range: Senior
Item form: Chewy pellets
Unit count: Single pack
Package info: Plastic bag
Package volume: 2 pounds (0.9 kilograms)
Recommended Uses
- Suitable for use as an in-between snack
Pros
- Enriches the horse’s coat due to the presence of Omega 3
Cons
- Not ideal for younger horses
Purina Apple and Oat-Flavored Horse Treats: Best for Easy Eating
About
When it comes to the best horse treats with apple flavor, this treat falls among the bracket. One of the greatest advantages is that you can feed this treat to any horse regardless of age. The pellet nature of this snack makes it easy for horses to eat. You can be sure of a healthy horse since this snack does not contain artificial additives.
Brand: Purina
Flavor: Apple
Age range: All life stages
Item form: Pellets
Unit count: Single pack
Package info: Plastic bag
Package volume: 3.5 pounds (1.5 kilograms)
Recommended Uses
- Suitable for training
- This snack works well as an in-between snack
Pros
- Suitable for horses of all ages
- Easy to eat
Cons
- Quite expensive
Mrs. Pastures Horse Cookies: Best for Young Horses
Amazons Choice Award for Best in Horse Treats by Mrs. Pastures
About
When looking for all-natural horse snacks, this product will end your search. This treat contains zero artificial ingredients and no preservatives. Combining oats, wheat, cane molasses, and fresh apples brings that perfect flavor.
Brand: Mrs. Pastures
Flavor: Horse pony
Age range: Young horses
Item form: Cookies
Unit count: Single pack
Package info: Jar
Package volume: 32 ounces (907 grams)
Recommended Uses
- Suitable for eating in between main meals
Pros
- This snack has a crunchy feel that tiny horses love
- This treat works well with young horses
Cons
- Not suitable for older horses
- This snack has a short shelf life
Ginger Ridge Meadow Mints Horse Treats: Best for Horses of All Ages
About
This treat contains all-natural ingredients making it fall among the most healthy horse snacks. The natural peppermint flavor brings an irresistible taste to any horse. This treat is also G.M.O free, meaning you don’t have to worry about any GMO-related side effects such as several allergic reactions.
Brand: Ginger Ridge
Flavor: Peppermint Fresh
Age range: All life stages
Item form: Pellets
Unit count: Single pack
Package info: Platic bag
Package volume: 1.75 pounds (0.79 kilograms)
Recommended Uses
- Works well during training
Pros
- This snack lasts long due to the nitrogen content
Cons
- This treat may be expensive when you compare it to others
Equus Magnifucusinc 011-1003006 the German Beet Treat: Best for Middle Age Horses
About
This product is the best when looking for healthy horse snacks with no additives. All natural ingredients combine to bring that healthy snack for your horse. The lack of GMO also means you should not worry about allergic reactions after consumption.
Brand: Equus Magnificusinc
Flavor: Other
Age range: Young adults
Item form: Pellets
Package info: Plastic bag
Package volume: 6 pounds (2.7 kilograms)
Recommended Uses
- Works well when traveling
- Suitable for taking before main meals
Pros
- Works well for middle age horses
Cons
- This snack may not have a longer shelf life
Horsemen’s Pride Himalayan Salt Block on a Rope for Horses: Best for High Iron Supply
Amazon’s Choice Award for Best in Horse Skin, Coat, and Hoof Supplement by Horsemen’s Pride
About
This salt block is your perfect option when looking for whole-natural horse snacks. The high mineral content in this supplement also facilitates the proper health of your horse. This block of salt aids in reducing boredom since it keeps your horse busy for some time.
Brand: Horsemen’s Pride
Flavor: Rose
Age range: All life stages
Item form: Powder
Unit count: Single pack
Package info: Bag
Package volume: 2.2 pounds (0.99 kilograms)
Recommended Uses
- Works well after main meals to kill boredom
Pros
- Works for horses of all ages
Flix 100% Flaxseed Healthy Treats for Horses, High in Omega 3: Best for Horses of All Ages
About
This option is perfect for good horse snacks for old and young horses. Several advantages are also available in this treat. The antioxidants in these ingredients prevent different kinds of inflammation. This horse treat also comes in a small package making it easy to carry.
Brand: Horse Guard
Flavor: Unflavored
Age range: All life stages
Item form: Large pellets
Unit count: Single pack
Package info: Plastic bag
Package volume: 9 pounds (4 kilograms)
Recommended Uses
- Traveling and exercises
Pros
- Suitable for all life stages
- Easy to carry when traveling
Cons
- Absence of flavor may be unpleasant to some horses
Uncle Jimmy Licky Thing Candy Apple: Best for All Life Stages
About
When looking for long-lasting treats for horses, go no further. This horse treat contains a natural apple flavor which many horses love. Several minerals and vitamins also come with this snack to promote your horse’s health as an additional benefit.
Brand: Uncle Jimmy
Flavor: Apple
Age range: All ages
Item form: Pellets
Unit count: Single pack
Package info: Plastic jar
Package volume: 1 pound (0.45 kilograms)
Recommended Uses
- In between meals snack
Pros
- Good for traveling
- Suitable for all ages
Cons
- This product may not last long due to a lack of preservatives
Huds and Toke Carrot Horse Bix - Horse Training Treat: Best for Horse Training
About
This premium quality horse treat assures your horse wholesome sweetness. This snack falls among the best treats for horses. The carrots and other ingredients make this product entirely natural. You can be sure of zero GMO-related side effects.
Brand: Huds and Toke
Flavor: Carrot
Age range: All ages
Item form: Large pellets
Unit count: Single pack
Package info: Carton box
Package volume: 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram)
Recommended Uses
- Works well as a reward treat in training
Pros
- Convenient due to the small parking size
Cons
- This snack may not last long on the shelf due to zero preservatives
- This product can be relatively expensive
FAQs on Horse Treats
- How should I give snacks to my horses? You should feed the horse snacks in moderation to avoid health and digestive issues.
- How many snacks should my horse eat? Your horse can eat two or three snacks at a time, depending on the calories it needs.
Summary
Treats for horses must be healthy and suitable for specific occasions. Horse treats such as Buckeye Nutrition Treats for Horses work to fulfill those crucial needs. You can try several snacks and choose the one that goes well with your horse.
