During the holidays, people enjoy plenty of special treats, so why shouldn't horses? Holiday treats can provide pleasure and add beneficial nutrients to your horse's diet.
Earth as holiday ornament
Fruits and vegetables such as apples and carrots make healthy holiday treats for horses along with cookie and muffin treats made using natural grains and molasses.
© 2016 by Jaren Jai Wicklund
Certainly, everyone enjoys seeing the horse's reaction when offered a special treat. However, too many treats in a short time span can not only affect your horse's health, but can also lead to behavioral problems.
Too many treats within a limited time may condition a horse to expect the treats as routine rather than as a once-in-a-while serendipity. Horses are large animals and can become quite persistent and aggressive when they come to expect treats as routine. In addition, if a horse has a tendency to obesity, higher calorie treats may exacerbate the weight problem, especially if they are given in abundance.
During the holidays many horse owners have visitors including children who like to give horses and other animals treats. Proper supervision is always important when children are around horses, and especially at times when horses may become excited and more aggressive as they reach for expected treats.
Every horse owner knows that fruits and vegetables make healthy horse treats. Also, many recipes using natural grains, molasses, and other ingredients that are healthful for horses are available, as well as some commercially prepared treats.
When using fruits and vegetables such as apples and carrots as treats, remember that they should always be cut into horse friendly pieces to prevent choking or getting lodged in the horse's esophagus. Strips of carrot and slices of apple tend to go down more easily for most horses.
Nutritionally, apples provide your horse with potassium which is important for proper muscle contraction and nerve function. Also, potassium is an electrolyte which is important for cellular metabolism.
Apples also provide calcium and phosphorus which are important for bone growth, muscle and heart function, and milk production. Phosphorus is required for bone structure and energy metabolism. Apples also provide fiber in the equine diet.
Carrots contain vitamin A which is needed for healthy eyes, mucus membranes, skin and hair. During the cold winter months when horses don't have access to green pasture some additional vitamin is good for them.
Here is a recipe for healthy cookies/muffins for your horse:
Apple and Carrot Cookies/Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 and 1/2 cups freshly grated apples (1-2 apples, depending on size)
- 1 and 1/2 cups freshly grated carrots (about 2-3, depending on size)
- 1 cup of wheat bran
- 1 cup of rolled oats
- 1 cup molasses
- 1/2 cup of whole wheat or all-purpose flour (approximately.)
- 1-2 eggs for binding (use your judgment)
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix all ingredients. Oil a 9 x 9 inch square cake pan OR use muffin tins. Spread the batter evenly in the cake pan, or portion evenly in muffin tins, and bake for about 30 minutes. (It may need more or less, depending on your oven.) The batter will start to shrink away from the sides and it will be firm to the touch. If using the cake pan, slice into squares while still warm. Keep in the refrigerator in an air-tight container or zip-lock bag.
During cold weather when horses are burning extra calories, these treats are great, but lease feed only one or two at a time as these are very rich and high in calories so DO NOT OVERFEED.
When considering whether to give treats to your horse or not, it is best to consider their intended purpose and role in your horse's overall health and well being. Many horses are happy with a little extra physical attention. A gentle pat on the neck or a little vocal praise, or in some cases, some extra grooming makes food treats unnecessary.
As long as a horse has a well balanced diet of forage and grain with some mineral supplements when necessary, a few treats can warm the heart of the horse owner and the horse as well when not overdone.
Wishing all of you and yours a HAPPY HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON from all of us at EquiMed.com.