Many horse owners ask if and how they can give “treats” to their overweight horses. As a nutritionist, I take great care to ensure that my own horse’s diet is well-balanced and that he has the best nutrition to support him as he ages (he’s 24 this year!)

As a “horse mom,” I love to give my horse, ET, treats. And he might just be a little spoiled. ET is at a healthy weight and is still in light work to keep his muscles toned. I am careful not to “over-treat.”

But what if he were overweight, and I still wanted to reward him with treats?

An overweight equid can still have treats, but a little more caution may be warranted.

Spread Out Treats

A great technique for treating overweight horses is to make one treat into several. For example, carefully chop a single carrot or apple into several smaller pieces. In this way, treating can be spread out over the course of a visit with your horse without feeding too much.

Remember that for an overweight pony or donkey, you may have to cut ½ of a carrot or apple for a given day of treats. Keep in mind body size and overall diet.

Some horses love bananas—the more ripe (yellow) a banana is, the higher in sugar it is. This could be an issue for carbohydrate-sensitive horses. Less ripe bananas (more green) could be an option, depending on the horse.

As mentioned above, you can take even half of a banana and cut it into several smaller pieces. Then you can spread out the distribution of treats. Many horses also love banana peels, which are largely fiber with less sugar. Just make sure the horse can properly chew the peel. If your horse quids or can’t chew hay, chances are a banana peel should also be avoided.

Types of Treats

There is one commercial treat in particular that ET loves. (Honestly, he loves a lot of types of treats.) That treat is about the size of a golf ball. It is on the “sweeter” side, but I break it up into several small pieces and use them for his stretching exercises or to hide his medication. We have to do what we have to do!

This allows him to have an extra special treat once in a while without going overboard. One treat for his 1,200 lb. (545 kg) body does not concern me based on his health status. I would not, however, give him a big handful of these special treats.

Similarly, what if your horse’s absolute favorite treat is a peppermint? Yes, you can give your horse a small peppermint (in most cases). But, you should stay away from feeding a handful (or larger amount) of peppermints. Everything in moderation!

That said, each horse is an individual. Special needs should be considered, even when it comes to treats. High-sugar treats should be avoided in equids with a history of laminitis or known to have insulin dysregulation.

Hay Pellets or Cubes

Don’t discount the use of the humble hay pellet or small hay cube as a treat. Many hay pellets are low in calories. But check with the manufacturer to be sure.

Most are small enough that a handful can be fed throughout a visit with your horse without adding a lot of calories.

Commercial Treats

There are a number of commercial treats on the market advertised to be “low carb” or “low sugar.” Proceed with caution! This does not mean you have free rein to feed as much as your horse would like to eat!

Check the ingredients. Are top ingredients things like beet pulp or other fiber sources? That is a clue that calories might be lower. You can always call the manufacturer to ask as well.

Final Words

All in all, a nutritionist can help you design a balanced diet to help your overweight equid shed pounds. Treats can be a part of that plan, but they need to be considered carefully and used in moderation.

Further Reading

Learn more about Nettie Liburt, MS, PhD, PAS, on her Facebook page.

  • Nettie Liburt, MS, PhD, PAS, provides consulting services on equine nutrition and management to horse owners, veterinarians, and feed companies. Her areas of special interest are the aging horse, glucose metabolism, and nutrition of the horse with endorine disease (PPID and metabolic syndrome).
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