What Can My Horse Really Eat as a Treat? The Complete Safe Guide

By Jenni · Horse Care & Nutrition · 45+ years experience

“I still remember the first time I gave my mare Rhapsody a banana. She sniffed it suspiciously, lip curled, clearly thinking ‘What IS this weird yellow thing?’ Then she took a tiny, careful nibble — and within seconds, she’d inhaled the whole thing, peel and all, and was searching my pockets for more. Twenty-five years later, she still gets one every Sunday morning. And she knows the day and time like clockwork.”

After 45 years with horses and 25+ years breeding warmbloods, I’ve come to understand that treats aren’t just about nutrition — though that matters too. They’re about connection, trust, training, and joy. But with so much conflicting information about what’s safe, many horse owners feel anxious about giving treats at all.

This guide covers exactly what’s safe, what’s dangerous, and how to use treats well. For the actual recipes — including the 6 homemade ones my horses love most — you can grab the free printable guide below.

Why the Right Treats Actually Matter

Treats serve real purposes beyond being something nice to give your horse. Used well, they’re powerful tools:

• Training rewards — positive reinforcement for desired behaviours
• Bonding — special moments that build genuine trust
• Enrichment — variety and interest in their diet
• Medication delivery — hiding supplements or medicines
• Hydration support — water-rich treats in hot weather

But treats can also cause problems when fed in excessive amounts, when they’re high in sugar for metabolic horses, or when they’re prepared incorrectly. The key is choosing treats that add genuine value — not just empty calories.

Safe Fruits: Nature’s Candy (The Healthy Kind)

Fruits offer vitamins, antioxidants, and natural sugars that horses find delicious. Here are the best options with the key preparation points you need to know.

🍎 Apples — The Classic for Good Reason

High in vitamin C, fibre, and antioxidants. The crunch helps clean teeth naturally. Always remove the core and seeds — apple seeds contain amygdalin which converts to cyanide when digested. Cut into quarters. 1–2 apples per day for an average horse.

After 45 years I’ve learned that horses have apple preferences just like people. One of my geldings will only eat red apples — hand him a green one and he’ll drop it indignantly and stare at me like I’ve insulted him.

🥕 Carrots — The Perfect All-Around Treat

Excellent source of beta-carotene, fibre, and other nutrients. Lower in sugar than most fruits, which makes them great for frequent feeding and even suitable for most metabolic horses in moderation. Cut lengthwise if your horse is older or has dental issues. 2–4 large carrots per day.

You’ll hear people say carrots are too high in sugar. Compared to apples, bananas, or most fruits, they’re actually relatively low. For healthy horses, carrots are an excellent treat choice.

🍌 Bananas — High-Energy Power Treats

Packed with potassium (important for muscle function), vitamin B6, and quick-digesting energy. Both fruit and peel are safe — some horses prefer the peel, which I find endlessly amusing. 1–2 bananas per day. Particularly useful before competition or long trail rides.

🍉 Watermelon — Summer Hydration Hero

92% water content makes this perfect on hot days. Excellent for hydration when horses aren’t drinking enough. Remove seeds and cut into chunks. Rind is safe but most horses prefer the pink flesh. 2–3 cups per day. Fair warning: it is spectacularly messy. Feed outside.

Other Safe Fruits (Quick Reference)

Fruit	Safe Amount	Key Prep Note
Pears	1–2 per day	Remove core & seeds
Strawberries / Berries	½–1 cup per day	Wash well, can feed frozen
Cantaloupe / Honeydew	2–3 cups per day	Remove rind and seeds
Peaches, Plums, Nectarines	1–2 per day	⚠️ Remove pits — they contain cyanide
Grapes	10–20 max	Very high sugar — occasional only

Safe Vegetables: Lower Sugar, Nutrient-Dense

Vegetables generally contain less sugar than fruit, making them excellent choices for training treats, frequent feeding, or horses with metabolic issues.

🌿 Celery — The Ultimate Low-Calorie Treat

Virtually no sugar, high in fibre and water. This is my go-to for clicker training sessions where I need to give many repetitions without adding significant calories. Cut into 2–3 inch pieces. Food-motivated horses who need to manage their weight can have celery frequently without concern.

🥒 Cucumbers — Cooling and Refreshing

95% water content, very low sugar. Particularly good on hot summer days. Can feed whole or sliced. Most horses enjoy them. 1–2 cucumbers per day.

🎃 Pumpkin — Seasonal Superfood

High in fibre and beta-carotene. Horses love it, and after Halloween pumpkins are abundant and cheap. Remove the hard outer shell and feed the flesh raw. 2–3 cups per day. I buy several after Halloween, scoop out the flesh, and freeze it in portions for months of treats.

Other Safe Vegetables

Vegetable	Safe Amount	Key Prep Note
Sweet potato	1 potato per day	Must be cooked — raw is hard to digest
Green beans	1–2 cups per day	Raw or cooked
Butternut / Winter squash	2–3 cups per day	Remove shell, feed flesh
Romaine lettuce	2–3 cups per day	Wash well
Turnips	1–2 per day	Root and greens both safe

6 Homemade Horse Treat Recipes

Homemade treats let you control the ingredients, avoid unnecessary sugars and additives, and customise for your horse’s preferences and dietary needs. Below are the 6 recipes I’ve developed and used with my own horses over the years.

The full step-by-step instructions for all 6 are in the free downloadable guide — here’s a preview of what’s inside:

Seasonal Treat Ideas

One of my favourite things about treats is working with the seasons — using what’s fresh, affordable, and appropriate for the weather.

Special Considerations: Metabolic Horses

Horses with insulin resistance, Cushing’s disease, or a history of laminitis require careful treat management. The good news is there are still excellent options.

Best Low-Sugar Choices

• Celery — the safest choice, virtually no sugar
• Cucumbers — very low sugar, high water content
• Green beans — low sugar, many horses enjoy them
• Small amounts of carrots — despite the myths, a few per day is usually fine
• Romaine lettuce — mostly water and fibre

What to Strictly Avoid for Metabolic Horses

• Apples and bananas (higher natural sugar)
• Grapes (very high sugar concentration)
• Any dried fruits (concentrated sugars)
• Commercial treats containing molasses
• Sweet fruits generally — melons, berries, stone fruits

I’ve had two horses with insulin resistance over the years. Finding safe treats they enjoyed without triggering laminitis was a challenge at first. Celery became our staple. One mare loved frozen cucumber chunks in summer — cold, crunchy, refreshing, and completely safe. Small pleasures matter even for horses with metabolic issues. The full guide includes a dedicated low-sugar options section with serving sizes.

Using Treats for Training: The Important Principles

Treats are powerful training tools when used correctly — and can create real problems when used incorrectly.

• Size matters: Training treats should be thumbnail-sized or smaller. You’ll feed many repetitions and large treats add up quickly.
• Timing is critical: The treat must be delivered within 2 seconds of the desired behaviour.
• Intermittent rewards: Once a behaviour is learned, don’t treat every single time. Random rewards create stronger behaviour than constant ones.
• Don’t reward pushy behaviour: If your horse mugs you for treats, you’re reinforcing exactly what you don’t want. Require polite behaviour first, every time.
• Vary delivery: Alternate between hand, bucket, and ground feeding to prevent pushy hand-searching behaviour.

My personal approach after decades of training: treat frequently during learning, intermittently during practice, and only for exceptional performance once a behaviour is established.

The Bottom Line: Treats Are About Connection

Yes, nutrition matters. Yes, safety matters. But what really matters is the moment of connection when you offer a treat to your horse — the trust in their eyes, the joy when they recognise the sound of their favourite treat bag.

Rhapsody’s banana tradition isn’t about potassium. It’s about the fact that every Sunday for twenty-five years, she and I have shared that ritual. As long as she’s greeting me with banana anticipation, I know she’s feeling good and happy.

Choose treats that are safe. Feed them responsibly. Most importantly, feed them with love.

— Jenni @ 4 The Love of Horses

Share it with barn visitors, neighbors, and anyone who might feed your horses. Prevention starts with education.

Related Articles You’ll Love:

• What NOT to Feed Your Horse: Complete Guide to Toxic Foods
• Horse Nutrition Basics: Complete Feeding Guide
• Understanding Your Horse’s Digestive System
• Metabolic Horses: Diet Management for IR, Cushing’s & Laminitis

After 45 years with horses and 25+ years breeding warmbloods, I’ve learned that the best treats are the ones fed with knowledge, care, and love. Have questions about feeding treats or want to share your horse’s favorite? Leave a comment below—I read and respond to every one!

— Jenni @ 4 The Love of Horses