When it comes to spoiling your horse, nothing beats making your own horse treats! Homemade horse treats give you complete control over every ingredient. 

Making homemade treats is especially valuable if your horse has a metabolic disorder or specific dietary needs, and there's something special about the bonding time that comes with crafting treats by hand. You can customize each recipe to work around allergies or sensitivities while creating meaningful moments between horse and owner. Whether you're rewarding good behavior, celebrating during the holiday season, or packing portable rewards in your saddle bag for trail rides, your own horse treats offer benefits that commercial treats from the feed store can't match.

Before you start pulling out your mixing bowl and turning on the oven, remember that safety comes first. Always use horse-safe ingredients, watch your portion sizes, and check with your vet if your horse has special dietary needs.

Before We Start: Essential Baking Tips

Equipment You'll Need

• Large mixing bowl
• Cookie sheet or muffin pan
• Parchment paper
• Food processor (for chopping ingredients)
• Stand mixer (optional, but helpful for large batches)

Key Ingredients to Keep on Hand:

• Oat flour or whole wheat flour
• Cup oats
• Molasses and unsweetened applesauce
• Brown sugar (use sparingly)
• Flaxseed and chia seed
• Apple cider vinegar
• Teaspoon salt
• Vegetable oil (for greasing pans)

Smart Ingredient Swaps: If your horse has dietary restrictions, try swapping molasses for unsweetened applesauce, regular flour for oat flour, or sugar for mashed bananas. You can even make pill pockets by creating small depressions in your dough before baking - perfect for hiding supplements!

10 Treats Your Horse Will Love

Carrot Oatmeal Treats:

• 2 cups oat flour
• 1 cup oats
• 2 large carrots (shredded)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

Directions: In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients. Add shredded carrots and unsweetened applesauce for moisture. Form into small balls and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350ºF for about 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Penny's Carromints:

• Large carrots
• Crushed peppermint

Directions: Slice carrots into short sections and carefully hollow them out with a spoon or small scissors. Fill each section with crushed peppermint. Skip this recipe during humid weather since the peppermint can get sticky.

Cool Strawberry Treat:

• 1 apple
• 1 large carrot
• Fresh strawberries
• Molasses
• Oats

Directions: Shred the apple and carrot using a food processor. Chop strawberries into small pieces and mix everything with molasses in a large bowl. Form into patties and pat oats on top. Store in an airtight container in the fridge and serve chilled.

Banana-Glazed Apple:

• 1 banana
• Ice cubes
• 1 apple

Directions: Peel and mix the banana with ice cubes until smooth. Cut an apple and fill the center with the banana mixture. Pour the remaining banana mixture over the apple and serve cold.

Frozen Watermelon Cubes:

• Seedless watermelon
• Fresh mint leaves (optional)

Directions: Cube seedless watermelon and freeze until solid. You can mix in fresh mint leaves before freezing for an additional refreshing touch. These make great hydrating snacks when temperatures soar.

Halloween Horse Treat:

• Small pumpkin
• Apple slices
• Carrot pieces
• Grain or sweet feed

Directions: Hollow out a small pumpkin and remove any pumpkin seeds. Fill the cavity with apple slices, carrot pieces, and your horse's favorite grain or sweet feed. Replace the top and let your horse enjoy the whole thing.

Pumpkin Horse Style:

• 1 apple
• Grain
• Molasses
• Dried apple flakes
• Oats
• Pre-soaked bran (optional)

Directions: Carve out an apple and layer in grain, molasses, dried apple flakes, and oats. Add any other favorites your horse enjoys. Reattach the top like a jack-o'-lantern. If using bran, make sure to pre-soak it first.

Allergy-Friendly Flax Cookies:

• Ground flax seed
• Oats
• Water

Directions: In a mixing bowl, combine ground flax seed, oats, and water until you have a workable dough. Shape into small cookies and place on a baking sheet. Bake until firm.

Bonnie's Bonbons:

• Large carrots
• Molasses
• Crushed peppermint

Directions: Cut carrots into 1/4-inch rounds and arrange on a plate. Drizzle each round with molasses and sprinkle crushed peppermint on top. Serve fresh for the best taste.

Paco Bill's Horse Cookies:

• Oats
• Sweet feed
• Unsweetened applesauce
• Molasses

Directions: Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until well combined. You can use a stand mixer if making a large batch. Drop spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet or use a muffin tin for uniform shapes. Bake at 350ºF until lightly browned, about 20 minutes.

Proper Storage and Preservation

Once you've finished baking your treat recipes, proper storage keeps them fresh longer. Use airtight containers or resealable bags to maintain freshness – these portable containers are also perfect for packing treats in your saddle bag during rides. Baked treats typically last 5-7 days at room temperature, while frozen treats can be stored for 1-2 months in the freezer. For trail rides, pack individual portions in small bags or containers that fit easily in your saddle bag compartments.

Watch for signs of spoilage like mold, sour smells, or soggy textures. When freezing treats, use silicone molds or parchment-lined trays and always label them with the date you made them.

Special Considerations and Safety Guidelines

Different horses have different needs. Young horses do best with soft, easy-to-chew options, while senior horses should avoid hard treats altogether. Choose mashed or moist textures for older horses.

• Draft horses: Being some of the largest horses at nearly 2,000 pounds, they have different caloric needs than lighter breeds
• Ponies: Defined as horses under 14.2 hands, they can be more prone to insulin resistance due to their size and metabolism
• Light horses: Typically weighing just over 1,000 pounds, they benefit from treats that support energy and recovery
• Performance horses: Benefit from treats containing flaxseed and oats for energy and recovery support

Always consider your horse's breed, size, and activity level when choosing treat recipes, and avoid ingredients that can be harmful to horses like chocolate, onions, garlic, tomatoes, avocado, or anything with caffeine in your homemade treats. Consult your vet to determine the appropriate amount of food and treats your horse can have daily based on its health, activity level, and individual needs. Even the healthiest homemade horse treat should be given in moderation.

Not feeling up for a baking session? 

We offer high-quality, pre-made horse treats from trusted brands. Choose from popular options like Mrs. Pasture Horse Treats, Manna Pro varieties including Butterscotch Nuggets and Peppermint Wafer Treats, Funky Unicorn Electrolyte treats, and specialty options like The German Beet Treats and Effol Friend-Snacks. These treats range from health-focused options like Farnam Gastric Health Pellets to fun flavors like apple and mint, perfect for riders who want wholesome options without mixing and measuring.

Get Started Today!

There really is something special about making your own treats. They're crafted with care and tailored specifically to your horse's taste and health needs. Try a few of these treat recipes, experiment with seasonal ingredients, and don't be afraid to get creative in the kitchen!

For all your horse and stable supplies, visit Saddle Up Colorado. We've got everything from quality tack and saddles to rider gear to keep you and your horse ready for any adventure. Happy baking!

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"He knows when you're happy
He knows when you're comfortable
He knows when you're confident
And he always knows when you have carrots."
~Author Unknown

 

~ Saddle Up

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Originally Published on: October 23, 2014
Updated on: July 28, 2025