The Best in Holiday Treats for Your Horse

Apple with Stethescope - A healthy horse treat!
Apple with Stethescope - A healthy horse treat! Sellers

Newsdate: Monday 21 December 2020 – 7:00 am
Location: GILROY, California

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. 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.

Little girl giving an eager horse a treat.

Little girl giving an eager horse a treat

Every horse owner knows that fruits and vegetables make healthy holiday horse treats along with treats made using natural grains and molasses.
© 2008 by Louis New window.

Too many treats within a limited time may condition a horse to expect the treats as routine rather than as a once-iin-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

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.


Article is a reposting of an article originally posted December 2012

About the Author

Flossie Sellers

Author picture

As an animal lover since childhood, Flossie was delighted when Mark, the CEO and developer of EquiMed asked her to join his team of contributors.

She enrolled in My Horse University at Michigan State and completed a number of courses in everything related to horse health, nutrition, diseases and conditions, medications, hoof and dental care, barn safety, and first aid.

Staying up-to-date on the latest developments in horse care and equine health is now a habit, and she enjoys sharing a wealth of information with horse owners everywhere.

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