Top Ten Horse Treats That You Can Find in Your Kitchen

These days, feedstores and livestock suppliers are full of commercially made, prepackaged horse snacks that are advertised as “better than fruit or vegetables!”

They say that the treats are healthier, have less sugar, and are the best thing for horses since grass itself. (Except ironically they say that grass isn’t too good for them either, so let’s just say hay).

Here’s the catch: these products are RIDICULOUSLY expensive. A quick Google searched revealed five pound bags of horse treats from anywhere from ten to fifty dollars. Uh, no thank you. No one wants to spend that much for glorified horse feed in a five pound bag.

Okay, if you feed your horse these, I’m not saying that it’s a horrible thing and the world is going to end from it. If that’s what you choose to do, that’s your choice! And hey, a horse deserves some pampering every now and then (couldn’t fathom spending fifty dollars, but you know…).

So what’s a horse owner to do? Horses are expensive enough without having to spend extra just to give your hardworking friend a little extra love.

Well, here are ten treats that you can find in your kitchen, backyard, or the produce aisle of the grocery store. And for some of them, all they cost is a little bit of time.

#1 Carrots

Everywhere I looked, carrots were numbered as the main super treat. Chock-full of vitamin A and C, which helps with viruses and the immune system, you can buy them for about three bucks at the store and chop them up into smaller bits so they last longer and the horse doesn’t choke on them. Also, I have yet to find a horse that doesn’t like them!

2# Chickweed

This wild plant can be found in almost every American yard in the US. Once used as fodder for cattle and horses, it’s now considered invasive. But horses love it! It’s full of Vitamin C and other minerals. However, as with all wild plants, make sure that it’s chickweed, and it wasn’t sprayed with pesticides. A plant called spurge looks very similar to chickweed, however, when it breaks it exudes a milky sap. Chickweed doesn’t have this sap, so this test is a simple way to make sure it’s chickweed if you’re stuck.

#3 Apples

High in vitamins, apples are the legendary universal horse treat. What horse movie have you not seen where the know-nothing horse girl give a horse an apple and they suddenly become best friends? (yes, I am glaring at Spirit Untamed at the minute)

Interestingly, not all horses like apples (my lesson horse Tuffy is an example of this), and apples are high in sugar, which means that horses with Cushing’s Disease or are overweight might not benefit from apples.

However, they are an excellent once in a while snack.

#4 Bananas

Yes, horses love bananas! They can eat them with or without the peel, and they are full of potassium. Besides, who doesn’t have bananas hanging around the house?

#5 Oranges

I remember reading one of Joanna Campbell’s Thoroughbred books, where two of the characters were riding their horses through an orange grove in Florida and one of the horses snitched an orange, carefully squeezing the juice out of the orange and leaving the peel. Oranges are a bit more expensive, but they are full of vitamin C.

#6 Grapes

Fresh or dried into raisins, grapes make an excellent horse treat. Raisins keep well and they’re tasty for you too, so you could pack some for a trail ride. Horses like sweeter grapes the best. They’re about $5 a container, depending on the area, so it might be best to save for an equine birthday.

#7 Watermelon

Have an extra watermelon you can’t use fast enough? Horses will eat both the rinds and the fruit of the watermelon. It makes a great summer treat, and it’s good for their heart!

#8 Stone Fruits

Peaches, plums, and cherries are all great horse treats for a special occasion! Just don’t feed them the pit, since they can choke on it.

9# Lettuce

Horses love lettuce! Buying a lettuce head and keeping it in the fridge will make a cold and tasty snack for your horse, and lettuce is packed with vitamin K, A, and folate.

#10: Strawberries, Blueberries, and Raspberries

Bring on the berries! Horses love these sweet fruits, and they are full of antioxidants, and vitamins A, and C. Raspberries are known to help with hormonal balance– good for moody mares during heat.

And that’s it! Ten healthy horse snacks that you can find right in your kitchen. Of course, there are more than this, but I believe these would be the easiest to find and the most enjoyable for horses.

Next time you spend time with a horse, try some of these treats! Of course, be safe (use a flat palm to give the treat, or put it in their bucket) and ask the owner before giving a horse any treat.

I hope you enjoyed this article, and if you do try any of these unusual foods, let me know in the comments!