Do Horses Eat Candy? Treats to Give Our Horses at Christmas & All Year Long

Tis the season for chocolates, cookies, and candy! And as we’re enjoying this time of year that’s so full of sweetness, we can’t forget to let our horses in on all the fun, too! I know there are many who are against using treats when training horses and I can respect that decision as I have worked with horses where giving treats wasn’t a valid option. But here at Amazing Grace Stables, we believe in positive reinforcement training and treats can play a role in making training enjoyable for our horses. Of course, sometimes our horses get treats, well, just because they look so cute!

Some important things to remember!

 Know the correct way to give a horse a treat and never hand over treats to a horse that is being mouthy or pushy. And while treats are so fun to give, remember that all treats should be given in moderation - too much surgery intake isn’t good for anyone. Also, just because a treat is safe for horses doesn’t mean it’s safe for every horse. Some horses have conditions that make sugar and other things very unhealthy for them, Never give a horse a treat without first talking to the owner.

Below, find a list of safe and fun treats for our horses!

Candy:

Horses definitely have a sweet tooth! Some of their favorites are peppermints,  candy canes, and sugar cubes. They can even have some Jelly Beans, Jolly Ranchers, Skittles, and maybe even Rice Krispie Treats. Chocolate is a big no-no, as it can be harmful to their heart, kidneys, and nervous system. Also avoid giving anything too chewy, such as Taffy and Starburst, because it can easily get stuck in their teeth and is just all-around frustrating for them to chew. Candy is great for high motivation in certain training scenarios and for those special occasions to celebrate with your horse!

Fruit & Veggies:

While fruits and vegetables might not sound like such a huge treat to us, horses find them as good as candy, some may even prefer these over candy. The top favorites have to be the classic apples and carrots; just make sure that both of these are chopped to bite-size pieces because they can be a choking hazard when fed whole. Other fruits and veggies might be more surprising. Some horses like melons, pumpkins, celery, strawberries, and even bananas. Grapes and raisins are safe, too. These can be fed a little more often than candy, but still should never be fed in excess.

Sweets:

One of my horses loves waffles, yes waffles! You should see how excited she gets to receive this special snack. There are lots of sweet breads that are safe for an occasional treat, from pancakes, homemade bread, pretzels, and gram crackers to ginger snaps and gingerbread, even plain ice cream cones. These should be saved for those extra special days - like birthdays and Christmas! One thing that can be given on a more regular basis is animal crackers (plain, never chocolate). Our horses just love them!

The Correct Way to Treat:

Before ever giving a horse a treat, make sure you know the correct way to offer a treat to a horse. A finger could resemble a carrot to an excited horse and you could accidently get bitten.

How to Give a Treat:

Lay the treat on your flat, open palm; keep your fingers together and pointed slightly down. Allow the horse's lips to touch your hand as it eats the treat.

It may tickle just a little as they take the treat from your hand!

Do remember, if you’re ever uncertain if a treat would be safe or not for a horse, always err on the side of caution. Better to make sure your horse is healthy! And horses, just like people, have different food preferences. What one horse dislikes, may be another horse’s favorite. Armed with all these treat ideas, you will surely discover which each horse loves the most!

Enjoy spreading a little Christmas Cheer to your horse friends!