Key takeaways
- Hand-feeding treats from your palm every time can teach nipping. Offer treats in a bucket or after a behavior.
- Do not feed foods that are toxic to horses, including chocolate, avocado and onions.
- Do not give treats to horses showing signs of colic or choke.
- Avoid sudden changes in the amount of treats; the gut adapts slowly.
The best horse treats are low in sugar, easy to break into small pieces and made from ingredients you recognize, such as oats, alfalfa, flax and apple. Mrs. Pastures Cookies and Stud Muffins are popular all-round choices, Redmond Rock on a Rope is a long-lasting stall toy, and hay cubes or plain carrots are the least expensive options. Choose the treat that fits your horse’s diet first, and keep treats to a small portion of daily feed.
Our top picks
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Quick Comparison of the Best Horse Treats
| Pick | Best for | Type | Typical treat size | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs. Pastures Cookies | Best overall | Baked cookie | Half to one cookie | Mid |
| Stud Muffins | Best for training and rewards | Soft muffin-style | Break into pieces | Mid |
| Manna Pro Bite-Size Apple | Best budget | Small pellet treat | A few pieces | Budget |
| Pennwoods Horse Treats | Best for horses on a diet | Crunchy natural treat | One or two pieces | Mid |
| Redmond Rock on a Rope | Best stall boredom option | Mineral lick | Not applicable, lick | Budget to mid |
| Standlee alfalfa or timothy cubes | Best low-sugar forage treat | Compressed forage | Handful, soaked if needed | Budget |
Check each product’s current label for ingredients and serving guidance, as formulas change.
Best Overall: Mrs. Pastures Cookies
These baked cookies are a long-time barn staple. They are firm enough to hand-feed without crumbling in your pocket, and most horses take them readily. The recipe is built around oats and molasses, so they are sweeter than a plain hay cube, but the size is easy to portion.
Weakness: they are not suitable for horses with insulin resistance or equine metabolic syndrome unless your vet approves. Read the nonstructural carbohydrate information if listed, and break the cookie into smaller pieces.
Best for Training: Stud Muffins
Stud Muffins are soft, which makes them useful for training because the horse chews quickly and you can ask for the next behavior sooner. The muffin shape splits easily into reward-sized pieces, and the flavor appeals to picky eaters.
Soft treats can stick to bits and equipment, and they spoil faster if stored in damp barns. Keep the bag sealed and use within the date range on the package.
Best Budget: Manna Pro Bite-Size Apple
For high-volume use, a bag of small apple-flavored treats stretches far. Pieces are small enough that you can give a single treat as a reward without adding many calories.
Because they are sweet, they should not become a daily ration. If your horse is overweight, count them in your total daily calories or choose a lower-sugar alternative.
Best for Horses on a Diet: Pennwoods Horse Treats
Pennwoods offers natural, crunchy treats made with simple ingredients, and some formulations are designed to be lower in sugar than traditional cookies. This makes them a better fit for easy keepers, horses with Cushing’s or older horses watched for weight.
Check the label for current ingredients and NSC claims, and compare with your vet’s feed guidelines. A harder treat can take longer to chew, which some owners prefer.
Best Stall Boredom Option: Redmond Rock on a Rope
A mineral lick like Redmond’s natural salt block on a rope gives a horse something to do in the stall without calories. Per the maker, it is mined salt with trace minerals and lasts weeks depending on use.
It is not a reward treat. Hang it where the horse cannot tangle in the rope and check for sharp edges as it wears down. Always provide fresh water.
Best Low-Sugar Forage Treat: Standlee Alfalfa or Timothy Cubes
Hay cubes are not flashy, but a handful of forage cubes is a good treat and fills a horse’s need to chew. Timothy cubes are generally lower in sugar and protein than alfalfa, which makes them useful for horses on restricted diets.
Soak cubes for older horses or those with dental problems to avoid choke risk. Store them dry to prevent mold.
Treat Quantity Guide
| Horse type | Typical weight | Suggested daily treat limit |
|---|---|---|
| Pony | 500 to 800 lb | 3 to 5 small pieces |
| Average riding horse | 1,000 to 1,200 lb | 5 to 8 small pieces |
| Draft or large horse | 1,500 to 2,000 lb | 8 to 10 small pieces |
| Easy keeper or metabolic horse | Any | Ask your vet; low-sugar only |
These are general guidelines, not veterinary advice. Adjust based on body condition and feed.
How to Choose Horse Treats
Read the first ingredients. Oats, alfalfa, flaxseed or apple should come before sugar or molasses. Sugar and molasses add calories without much nutrition.
Match the diet. A horse with insulin resistance, laminitis history or Cushing’s needs low-NSC treats. Ask your vet for a target.
Mind the size. Small, uniform treats make it easier to reward behaviors without overfeeding.
Check for banned substances. If you compete under FEI or other rules, check the ingredient list against the prohibited-substances rules of your governing body.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Hand-feeding treats from your palm every time can teach nipping. Offer treats in a bucket or after a behavior.
- Do not feed foods that are toxic to horses, including chocolate, avocado and onions.
- Do not give treats to horses showing signs of colic or choke.
- Avoid sudden changes in the amount of treats; the gut adapts slowly.
Cost Per Treat: A Worked Example
If a bag holds around 100 treats and you give four a day, it lasts about 25 days. A bulk bag of hay cubes might cost less per day, but feed per pound differs. Divide the package price by the number of servings to compare, rather than comparing bag price alone.
Decision Matrix: Matching a Treat to Your Horse
| Your horse | Best choice | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy, in regular work | Mrs. Pastures Cookies | Palatable, easy to portion |
| Young or green horse in training | Stud Muffins | Soft, quick to chew, splits into rewards |
| Easy keeper or overweight | Pennwoods or timothy cubes | Lower sugar, more chewing time |
| Stall-bound with boredom habits | Redmond Rock on a Rope | Calorie-free occupation |
| Large group, high volume use | Manna Pro Bite-Size | Cost-effective small pieces |
| Senior with poor teeth | Soaked hay cubes | Soft, forage-based, lower choke risk when soaked |
Storing and Handling Treats
Keep treats in a sealed bin away from rodents and damp. Soft muffin-style treats can mold within weeks in humid barns, while hard cookies keep longer. Discard anything with off smells or visible mold, and do not scoop treats with a wet hand into the bag. For travel, portion treats into small zip bags so you are not carrying a large open bag around horses who will crowd you.
When introducing a new treat, offer a small piece and watch for loose manure, hives or lack of interest over the next day. Add only one new item at a time so you can tell which caused any problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can horses eat carrots and apples every day?
Yes in moderation. A carrot or a few apple slices are fine for most horses, but fruit has sugar, so limit it for metabolic horses. Cut apples to avoid choke.
What treats are safe for horses with insulin resistance?
Choose low-NSC options such as plain timothy cubes or treats labeled low sugar, and confirm with your veterinarian.
How many treats can I give a horse per day?
Treats should make up a small portion of the diet. A handful of small pieces is typical for a healthy adult horse.
Are mineral licks a treat?
They are a supplement and a boredom reliever. They are not a reward, and horses on balanced diets may not need them.
Can treats cause behavior problems?
Yes, if given without rules. Ask for a calm stance before offering a treat and avoid feeding from your hand when the horse is pushy.
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