Making your own horse treats is not only a fun activity, but it’s also a great way to ensure your horse is getting healthy, delicious snacks. As a horse mom, I know how important it is to watch the sugar content in treats, especially since one of my horses is insulin resistant. While there are many low-sugar snacks on the market, they can get costly when you have multiple horses. That’s why I started making my own treats. It’s a viable option that’s not only budget-friendly but also customizable.
Additionally, one of my horses requires a daily pill medication, and the store-bought version of these types of cookies didn’t work well for hiding the pill. As she's also overweight, I didn't want to be giving her pill in sweet feed either. By making my own homemade treats, I can use a straw to create a perfect hole for the pill, making medication time simple.
Being an essential oil junkie-lol-I love adding essential oils labeled for ingestion to pack my cookies full of flavors my horses love. If essential oils aren’t your thing, you can simply omit them. But they make the cookies taste good and have the potential to extend the shelf life, so they're a worthwhile addition.
Important Note: Only use essential oils labeled for ingestion. I invite you to check out my go-to company, where I’ve visited the farms, helped plant, and harvested the plants, so I know I’m buying pure essential oils. They even have a whole product line specifically for use as supplements, which you can check out by clicking HERE.
Understanding Sugar Substitutes for Horses
When making homemade horse treats, it's important to consider the sugar content. Too much sugar can aggravate health issues like insulin resistance and laminitis in horses. Fortunately, there are several safe sugar substitutes you can use in place of traditional sweeteners like brown sugar, honey, and molasses.
1. Stevia: A natural, calorie-free sweetener derived from the leaves of the Stevia plant, Stevia is a great option for horses. It has a sweet taste without the negative effects of sugar.
2. Applesauce: Unsweetened apple sauce can add moisture and a touch of sweetness to your horse treats without adding a lot of sugar. Plus, it's full of beneficial nutrients like fiber and vitamins.
3. Pumpkin: Pureed pumpkin is another excellent substitute. It’s low in sugar but high in vitamins and minerals. Make sure to use plain, canned pumpkin without any added sugars.
4. Carrots and Apples: Finely grated carrots and apples can add natural sweetness to your recipes. They provide a great deal of flavor and are packed with vitamins and fiber.
Recipe Adjustments for Sugar Substitutes
When substituting traditional sweeteners in your recipes, it's important to adjust the other ingredients to maintain the right consistency. For instance, using applesauce or pumpkin might require reducing other liquid ingredients slightly to prevent the dough from becoming too sticky. Experiment with these substitutes to find the perfect balance that your horse will love while keeping their treats healthy and delicious.
Common Dry Ingredients for Homemade Horse Cookies
When making homemade horse treats, using the right dry ingredients is important to creating a healthy and tasty snack. Here are some common dry ingredients and their benefits:
1. Whole Wheat Flour vs. All-Purpose Flour: Whole wheat flour is a healthier choice compared to all-purpose flour as it contains more fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The extra nutrients in whole wheat flour contribute to your horse's overall health and digestion. If you need a gluten-free option, oat flour is a good substitute.
2. Bran: Bran is a byproduct of milling wheat and other grains, providing a high-fiber, low-sugar ingredient perfect for horse treats. It helps with digestion and adds bulk to the treats, making them more filling.
3. Oats: Oats, especially quick oats, are a favorite in horse treat recipes. They are packed with nutrients, including fiber, vitamins, and minerals, which are essential for your horse's health. They also add a chewy texture that horses love.
4. Flaxseed: Flaxseed is a fantastic addition to horse treats, offering a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which promote a shiny coat and healthy skin. It also adds a slight nutty flavor and helps bind the ingredients together.
Using these common dry ingredients in your homemade horse treats ensures they are nutritious and tasty. Experimenting with different combinations can help you find the perfect recipe that your horses will love.
Essential oils can be a fantastic addition to homemade horse treats, adding a boost of flavor that is perfect for picky horses. When I make horse treats, I generally add about 10 drops of essential oil to the applesauce. This helps ensure the oils mix evenly throughout the recipe. Essential oils are very concentrated plant extracts and just a little bit of essential oils goes a long way. Popular choices that my picky horse loves include cinnamon, peppermint, and fennel. These oils not only add a delicious flavor punch but also provide aromatic appeal. Think of fennel as adding the anise flavor you might recognize from cookies at the grocery store.
Be sure to only use essential ol labeled for ingestion, like my favorite companies Vitality™ line. You can check them out HERE.
My Friend's Quick Treats Solution
While I love baking and creating homemade treats for my horses, I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. A friend of mine, who isn't fond of baking, simply uses Honey Nut Cheerios straight out of the box, baby carrots, and Starlight mints as treats for her horses. However, these options are too sugary for my insulin-resistant horse. Here’s what I use instead:
Low Sugar Ready-Made Horse Treats
1. Teff Pellets
Teff pellets are an excellent low-sugar treat option for horses. They are rich in fiber and are usually well-tolerated. However, some of my horses aren’t fans of teff, so I use Timothy hay pellets as an alternative. While they have slightly more sugar than teff, they are still a relatively low-sugar option that most horses find tasty.
2. Hay Cubes
Hay cubes, made from compressed alfalfa or timothy hay, are low in sugar and high in fiber. They offer a crunchy snack that horses love and are cost-effective. Plus, they can be broken into smaller pieces to suit different preferences and needs.
3. Celery Sticks
Celery is a low-sugar vegetable that provides a crunchy and hydrating treat. It’s packed with vitamins and minerals, making it a nutritious choice for your horse. You can chop it into small pieces for easier consumption.
Even though these ready-made options tend to work well, I found myself needing a special solution for giving daily medications to my horses. That’s when I started making my own cookies with a hole in the middle to hide the meds. This way, I can control the ingredients and ensure they stay low in sugar and some of the chewier versions also work well for older horses that may have treble chewing hay cubes or pellets.
1. Apple Carrot Oat Bites
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of grated carrots
- 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce
- Half cup of flour (I like to use whole wheat flour)
- 2 cups of plain oats
- 10 drops peppermint essential oil (labeled for ingestion) (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 225°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well.
- Roll into bite sized balls. Poke a hole in them now if you need a pill pocket. I have found the best way is with a straw.
- Bake for one hour.
- Let cool and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
2. Pumpkin Oatmeal Balls
Ingredients:
- 2 cups oats
- 1 can of pumpkin
- Half cup flour
- For an optional essential oil, I Iike to add cinnamon. (only use essential oils labeled for ingestion)
Instructions:
- Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until well combined.
- Roll the mixture into little balls and place them on a greased cookie sheet. Add your hole now if needed.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes.
- Let cool and store in an airtight container in the fridge.
3. Cinnamon Flaxseed Cookies
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of ground flax seed
- 1 cup flour (whole wheat a great option)
- 1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup of coconut oil
- 1 cup grated zucchini
- 10 drops cinnamon essential oil (labeled for ingestion)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground flaxseed and flour, and mix well.
- Add the cinnamon essential oil to the applesauce and coconut oil, mix well and stir into dry ingredients.
- Stir in the grated zucchini.
- Drop spoonfuls of the batter onto the cookie sheet. Add a hole if needed.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Let cool and store in an airtight container.
5. Pumpkin and Flaxseed Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1 cup of ground flaxseed
- 1 cup of whole wheat flour
- 1 cup of quick oats
- 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce
- 2 TBS coconut oil
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a cookie sheet or use parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the pureed pumpkin, ground flaxseed, whole wheat flour, and quick oats.
- Add the applesauce and coconut oil, and mix until you have a thick dough.
- Drop spoonfuls onto the greased cookie sheet or roll into small balls and use a straw to add your pill pocket.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Let cool and store in an airtight container.
Bran and Molasses Horse Treats-Not as low sugar but tasty!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of bran
- 1 cup of whole wheat flour
- 1 cup of oats
- 1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup of coconut oil
- 1/4 cup of molasses
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a cookie sheet.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the bran, whole wheat flour, and quick oats.
- Add the applesauce, vegetable oil, and molasses, and mix until well combined.
- Drop batter by the spoonful onto the greased cookie sheet. Add your hole if needed.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Let cool and store in an airtight container.
These simple homemade horse treats are not only fun to make but also offer a healthier alternative to store-bought versions. Your horse will appreciate the special treat, and you'll have peace of mind knowing exactly what goes into these healthy treats. Happy baking!
Do you have a favorite homemade horse treat recipe? Share it in the comments below!
