Treats are part of life with a horse — a thank-you after a good schooling session, a positive reinforcer for clicker work, a Christmas-morning ritual or simply a way of saying hello. But not every food in the fridge is safe for an equine digestive system, and the wrong treat can cause anything from a bout of colic to a full laminitic episode.
This guide covers the best treats for horses — the safest fruits and vegetables, the most useful shop-bought treats, two reliable homemade recipes, and a clear list of foods to avoid. It also explains how to feed treats so you reward the horse without teaching nipping, mugging or the all-too-familiar pocket-search behaviour.
Table of Contents
Why Horse Treats Matter
A horse’s main diet should always be forage — grass, hay or haylage — supported by a balancer or hard feed appropriate to the workload. Treats are not nutrition. They are a small, deliberate addition to the diet, and they earn their keep in three places:
- Reward and reinforcement. A clear, consistent treat after a difficult exercise can mark a behaviour you want to see again — particularly in clicker training.
- Bonding and routine. A handful of carrots after grooming, the post-ride apple in the field — these little rituals build a quiet, settled relationship.
- Disguising medication and supplements. A wedge of apple or a slice of carrot can hide a powdered supplement or wormer paste.
The risks come from quantity, sugar load and sharp objects in the fridge. Get those right and you can reward freely.
The Safest Fruits and Vegetables
Most healthy adult horses can safely eat the following in small, sensible portions. Always wash, core and chop into thumb-sized pieces to reduce choking risk.
Carrots
The classic. Whole, chunked or halved lengthways. High in fibre and beta-carotene, low enough in sugar to suit most horses. Avoid sliced rounds — they are the right size and shape to lodge in the oesophagus and trigger choke. Stick to chunks at least two finger-widths wide.
Apples
A horse-yard staple. Core and quarter — apple pips contain trace cyanogenic compounds, and a whole stalk can stick. The fruit itself is high in pectin and water but also high in sugar, so feed sparingly to native types and ponies prone to laminitis.
Bananas
Yes, including the skin (provided it’s not waxed and unwashed). Bananas are very palatable, easy to chew and useful for older horses with poor teeth. Half a banana is plenty.
Pears
Treat as you would apples — quartered, no core. Pears are softer than apples, which suits older horses, but the sugar content is similar.
Watermelon and other melons
Surprisingly popular. Most horses love watermelon, including the rind. Cut into wedges and remove any large seeds. A great cool-down treat in summer.
Other safe options
- Strawberries (washed, hulled)
- Mango (no stone)
- Pineapple (no skin or core)
- Celery sticks
- Cucumber slices (cut lengthways into batons)
- Squash and pumpkin (cooked or raw, no rind)
- Swede and turnip (chopped)
- Sugar beet pulp (soaked, the standard low-sugar feed-ingredient form)
- Hay cubes (especially good as training rewards)
- Sunflower seeds (in small amounts)
- Dried apricots, prunes and pitted dates (very high in sugar — strict moderation)
The Best Shop-Bought Horse Treats
UK and European tack shops carry an enormous range of commercial treats. The strongest are clearly labelled with sugar content, formulated specifically for equines, and free of horse-unfriendly extras such as chocolate or onion powder. A few categories to look for:
Low-sugar, “lite” treats
- Pure Treats (The Pure Feed Company) — molasses-free, low-energy, suitable for laminitics and good doers when fed in moderation.
- Spillers Meadow Herb Treats — herbal, lower-sugar, palatable.
- Baileys Stud Balancer Cubes — balancer pellets fed by hand work brilliantly as rewards without adding sugar.
Flavoured pellet treats
- NAF Blueberry & Banana, Cherry, Hedgy treats — small, hard-baked pellets ideal for handing out one at a time.
- KM Elite Ultimate Treats — herb-and-fruit mixtures.
- Equerry Minty Treats — popular peppermint flavour.
“Likits” and slow-feeders
Hanging mineral or herbal blocks that the horse licks rather than eats. Useful for stabled horses prone to boredom or stereotypies, and a slow-feed alternative to handfuls of high-sugar treats.
What to avoid in commercial treats
- Treats with a long ingredient list and unfamiliar additives.
- High-molasses bars marketed as “horse cake” — fine for occasional use, terrible as a daily habit.
- “Human” snacks marketed for pets but not species-specific (e.g. dog biscuits, generic pet treats).
Homemade Horse Treat Recipes
Homemade treats let you control sugar content, ingredients and portion size. Two reliable, time-tested recipes:
Recipe 1: Low-sugar oat and apple drops
Ideal for ponies and good doers. Makes around 40 small treats.
- 500 g rolled oats
- 1 large apple, finely grated (no core)
- 1 large carrot, finely grated
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened apple sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive or linseed oil
- 50 ml water (only if mixture is too dry)
- Preheat the oven to 160 °C / 325 °F (fan).
- Mix all ingredients into a stiff dough. Add water only if it crumbles.
- Roll into walnut-sized balls and flatten slightly on a lined baking tray.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes until firm and lightly browned.
- Cool fully on a rack, then store in an airtight tin for up to a week, or freeze for a month.
Recipe 2: Three-ingredient banana balls
Gentle on older horses with worn teeth. No-bake. Makes around 25.
- 1 ripe banana, mashed
- 200 g rolled oats
- 2 tablespoons grated carrot
- Mix to a stiff dough.
- Roll into small balls.
- Refrigerate for an hour to firm up before serving.
- Use within three days.
Both recipes can be tweaked: a teaspoon of cinnamon, ginger or a few crushed mints can boost flavour without adding sugar.
Treats for Training and Clicker Work
Training treats need to be small, easy to deliver and uniform — so the horse learns the click means food without becoming distracted by which flavour you’ve handed over. The classics:
- Hay cubes — uniform, low-sugar, ideal for clicker training.
- Carrot batons — cut lengthways into small pencil-sized pieces.
- Balancer pellets — palatable, very low calorie per piece.
- Small pellet treats — NAF, Spillers and similar in their smallest size.
For training, deliver from a flat hand or out of a feeding bowl rather than from the pocket. Pocket-fed treats teach mugging and nipping faster than any other behaviour you’ll have to undo.
Foods Horses Should Never Eat
Some foods are mildly inadvisable. Others are genuinely dangerous. The list below should be considered absolute — these are not “occasional” foods.
Toxic or seriously harmful
- Chocolate, coffee and cocoa products — contain theobromine and caffeine, both toxic to horses and disqualifying under FEI rules.
- Avocado — leaves, fruit and pit are all toxic to horses.
- Onions, garlic in large quantities, leeks, chives and shallots — cause Heinz-body anaemia.
- Tomato plants and unripe tomatoes — solanine toxicity.
- Potatoes, especially green or sprouted — solanine toxicity.
- Stone fruits with stones — peaches, plums, cherries; remove the stone.
- Rhubarb leaves — high oxalates.
- Brassicas in large amounts — cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower; cause severe gas and discomfort.
- Acorns and oak leaves — toxic, especially in autumn when ponies seek them out.
- Bread, doughnuts and other dough products — risk of choke and impaction colic.
- Dairy products — horses are lactose intolerant.
- Meat and meat products — horses are obligate herbivores.
- Lawn clippings — fermented quickly, very high colic risk.
Safe in tiny quantities only
- Sugar cubes, peppermints, polos — fine occasionally; problematic as a daily habit.
- Bread crusts — small amounts only, never doughy bread.
- Crisps, biscuits and other human snacks — high salt and fat; not worth the risk.
How Much, How Often, and How to Feed
Even safe treats can cause problems in volume. A useful rule of thumb is to keep treats below 1% of total daily intake — roughly two large carrots’ worth for a 500 kg horse on a normal day. For laminitis-prone ponies, treat that figure as a maximum, not a target.
How to feed without creating mugging
- Feed from a flat, open hand. Tuck thumb across the palm and offer the treat on the flat. This protects fingers from accidental nips.
- Feed in a bucket or out of the pocket of a coat the horse never sees. Pocket-fed treats teach searching behaviour.
- Mark the moment, not the gesture. If you only treat after a specific cue or behaviour, the horse learns the behaviour earns the food, not the proximity.
- End the session cleanly. When treats are finished, show the empty hand, return the bucket and walk on. Do not negotiate with a horse hunting for more.
Treats for Laminitics, Cushing’s and Older Horses
For native ponies, good doers and any horse diagnosed with laminitis, Cushing’s (PPID) or Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), sugar load matters.
- Choose explicitly low-sugar / molasses-free commercial treats — Pure Treats, Spillers Meadow Herb, balancer pellets.
- Use carrot, celery or hay cubes rather than apples or stone fruit.
- Skip mints, sugar cubes and “horse cakes” entirely.
- Cap quantity at a small handful per day, not several handfuls.
For older horses with worn teeth (smooth-mouthed seniors), soft treats are kinder. Mashed banana, soaked sugar-beet pellets and softened hay cubes are easy to chew and absorb.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best treats for horses?
Carrots and apples top almost every list, with bananas, watermelon, pears and hay cubes close behind. Among shop-bought options, low-sugar treats such as Pure Treats, Spillers Meadow Herb and small NAF pellets are widely recommended. The “best” treat is whichever your horse enjoys, your vet approves of and you can feed in moderation.
What can horses eat as treats?
Safe options include carrots, apples, bananas, pears, watermelon, strawberries, mango, pineapple, celery, cucumber, swede, pumpkin, hay cubes and small amounts of dried fruit. Anything sugary should be limited, and stones, cores and toxic items must always be removed.
What treats should you avoid feeding horses?
Chocolate, coffee, avocado, onions and garlic, raw potato, tomato plants, rhubarb leaves, lawn clippings, bread dough, dairy and meat are all on the no-go list. Stone fruits should have stones removed, and brassicas must be limited to small portions.
Are sugar cubes and mints safe for horses?
In tiny amounts, occasionally — yes, for a healthy adult horse with no metabolic concerns. As a daily habit, they push sugar intake up and risk dental problems. Better, low-sugar alternatives are widely available.
Can horses eat apples every day?
A small amount, yes, in most healthy horses. For laminitics, Cushing’s horses or good doers, daily apples can push sugar intake too high. Substitute carrot, celery or low-sugar pellets for the daily ration.
Can I make my own horse treats?
Absolutely. Oats, mashed apple, grated carrot, banana and a little oil produce reliable, low-sugar treats that bake well and store for around a week. The two recipes above are good starting points, and both scale up easily for the yard.
How many treats can a horse have a day?
As a guide, treats should account for less than 1% of daily intake — roughly 100–200 g for an average 500 kg horse. Smaller ponies and metabolically sensitive horses need less. The exact number matters less than restricting sugar load and not letting treats replace forage.
