7 Wholesome Homemade Horse Treats 

You want the best for your equine friend, from grooming and horse masks to top-quality boarding and comfortable saddles. But why stop there? Check out this herd of amazing homemade treats you can make with love, guaranteed to have your horse neighing with glee!

What Do Horses Eat, and What Can’t They Have?

One of many interesting facts about horses is that they cannot burp or vomit. This is related to a strong valve located extremely low in their long esophagi, which prevents food or gas from traveling back up to their mouths. Then, their food moves to the stomach, which, like humans, consists of only one chamber. Many assume horses have four chambers due to their large size and often being grouped with their farmyard friends, cows.

Horses eat various foods, including hay, alfalfa, oats, corn, barley, apples, bananas, and even the occasional peppermint treat! These behemoths eat plants exclusively, but certain items are off-limits. Due to their extremely fragile digestive system, horses cannot eat:

• Anything with Caffeine
• Avocados
• Fruits with Pits
• Tomatoes
• Cauliflower, Broccoli, Kale, and Cabbage
• Potatoes
• Rhubarb
• Chives, Onions, Leeks, Garlic, Shallots
• Bran Products
• Breads, Donuts, Rolls
• Meat Products
• Dairy
• Chocolate

Delectable Homemade Treats for Your Horse

Ready to dig in? Check out these fun and wholesome horse treats you can make in your kitchen! Store all homemade horse treats in an airtight container and keep treats containing perishable ingredients in your fridge for up to a week.

1. Peanut Butter Apple Horse Treats

Recipe by Barn Manager

Ingredients:

• 1 Apple
• 2 Cups of Flour
• 1 Teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon
• ¾ Cup of Peanut Butter
• ¾ Cup of Water

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 325°F.
2. Grate your apple and pat the shavings dry. Then, please place them in a paper towel and squeeze out any remaining moisture.
3. Mix your dry ingredients.
4. Add your apple shavings and peanut butter to your dry ingredients.
5. Slowly add water until it becomes a manageable dough – yours may require less!
6. Add flour slowly if your dough becomes too sticky.
7. Form your dough into desired shapes and place on a non-stick baking pan.
8. Bake your treats for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

2. Mighty Sweet Oat Horse Treats

Recipe courtesy of The Farm House

Ingredients

• 1 Large Carrot
• 1 Large Apple
• 1 Cup of Molasses
• 2 ½ Cups of Old-Fashioned Oats
• 2 Tablespoons of Oil

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F.
2. Shred your carrot and apple into a large bowl.
3. Add your oil, oats, and molasses into the mixing bowl and combine with your shredded apple and carrot mixture.
4. Stir well to combine, ensuring all the oats are covered in molasses.
5. Pour the mixture into a greased 9” × 13” baking pan, smoothing and flattening it across the entire surface area.
6. Bake your treats at 400°F for about 45 minutes or until crispy.
7. Remove from the oven. Score the treats evenly across the top using a butter knife.
8. Allow the treats to cool completely, which will make them harden. Once completely cool, break the treats into individual pieces at the score marks.

3. Earth Muffins

Recipe from Michelle N. Anderson of The Horse Magazine

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup of Frozen Blackberries
• ¼ Cup of Ground flaxseed
• ¾ Cup of Warm Water
• 2 Cups of Oatmeal
• 2 Cups of Oat Flour
• ½ Cup of Organic Sugar
• 1 Teaspoon of Sea Salt
• ½ Teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. Soak the ground flaxseed in warm water for 10 minutes or until it becomes gelatinous.
3. Combine the flax-and-water mixture with sugar in a mixing bowl.
4. Stir in your oat flour, oatmeal, salt, and cinnamon until the mixture is well combined.
5. Pour your batter into a greased mini muffin pan.
6. Firmly press one berry into each muffin with the thick side of the berry pointing down.
7. Bake your mini muffins for 18-20 minutes.

4. EmpowerMINT Snacks

Recipe Courtesy of The Farm House

Ingredients:                     

• 2 Medium Apples                                   
• 1 Cup Rolled Oats                                   
• 12 Crushed Peppermint Discs or 6 Candy Canes
• 2 Cups of Flour                               
• 1/3 Cup of Molasses                                  
• About 1 Cup of Room-Temperature Water

Directions: 

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Place your mints or candy canes in a storage bag and crush them using a hammer or meat tenderizer.
3. Core and finely chop your 2 medium apples.
4. Combine the flour and oats in a large bowl. Mix well.
5. Add the molasses to the oat and flour mixture. Stir well to combine.
6. Slowly add water until the mixture forms a cookie dough consistency.
7. Stir the crushed peppermints and chopped apples into the dough-like mixture.
8. Roll a tablespoon of the mixture into balls and place onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
9. Bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes or until the treats are golden brown.

5. Simple and Easy Cookie Treats

Recipe Courtesy of The Farm House

Ingredients:

• 2 Parts Molasses
• 1 Part Water
• 1 Cup of Flour, Approximately

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
2. Combine the molasses and water.
3. Add flour slowly until a dough is formed. You may require less than a cup.
4. Roll out your dough onto a flat surface.
5. Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut the dough into your desired shape.
6. Place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 350°F for approximately 30 minutes or until the bottoms are firm and lightly browned.

6. Quick, No-Bake Treats

Recipe Courtesy of The Farm House

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups of Quick Oats
• Peppermints
• 2 Cups of Flour
• 2/3 Cup of Molasses

Directions:

1. Combine oats, flour, and molasses in a bowl. Roll the treat dough into 1″ balls and place on parchment paper.
2. Press each treat flat with a peppermint in the center.
3. Chill the treats in the refrigerator until firm.

7. Festive Mistletoe Muffins

Recipe by Barn Manager

Ingredients:

• 1 Apple, Shredded
• 1 Small Box of Raisins
• 3 Cups of Oats
• 2 Tablespoons of Honey
• 3 Tablespoons of Flour
• 2 Tablespoons of Brown Sugar
• ½ Cup of Crushed Peppermints
• 2 Cups of Water
• 48 Miniature Cupcake Liners
• Optional: Green and Red Icing
• Optional: Sprinkles

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. Grate/shred your apple.
3. Crush peppermints by placing the candies in a resealable storage bag and beating them softly with a hammer or tenderizer.
4. Mix your oats, water, and honey in a bowl.
5. Microwave your oat, water, and honey mixture for two minutes.
6. Add the shredded apple, brown sugar, crushed peppermints, flour, and raisins to the honey oat mixture.
7. Place your muffin mixture back in the microwave for two more minutes.
8. Place your mini cupcake liners on a cookie sheet, using two liners per muffin for support. Fill with your muffin mixture.
9. Place your mini muffins in the oven for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Note: The muffins do not rise.
10. Let the muffins cool. You can decorate them with icing and sprinkles to make them festive or leave them bare for a lower-sugar snack option.

Summary of Wholesome Homemade Horse Treats