Do you feed your horses treats

[Lady2021]

My horse gets two carrots everyday.

 

[windand rain]

Rarely from my hand but they get carrots chucked round the field and equibites in their bucket

 

[doodle]

2 when I turn out, as bribary to not belt off as headcollor comes off. 2 when he comes in, more bribery so he comes to call. He gets a handful of carrots chucked over the door when I leave. I had got far too quick to give him treats to “makes him feel better” when ill but I have had to tell myself off as he was getting a bit grabby.

 

[HorseyTee]

Occasionally carrot/apple/mints into their feed.
I tend not to feed out my hand as my welshie was very grabby and rude when I got him so I don't like them to think food comes from hands and now I don't have an issue.

 

[millitiger]

Mine get lots of treats, I just use fibre nuggets
One when they are caught, when have their head collar off at turnout time, last thing once late night checks are finished and some random ones when I fancy!

when riding they get one each time I get on, once stirrups sorted, girth tightened, I’ve put my gloves on etc. They both stand very well and wait while I faff about!
they also get a treat when ridden if they’ve done something very well or in training them something new and we have a little moment of clarity or understanding.

they are NEVER rude about it and don’t mug but I also don’t see an issue with treating them if they are being good.

they get carrots in their feed as well but I don’t really see that as a treat as it’s just part of their dinner!

 

[doodle]

Oh yes he gets a polo when I get on and he stands still. Then 3 or 4 polos when I get off.

 

[dreamcometrue]

Mine gets treats as a thank you. We have an understanding and she doesn’t ask for extras. Like Millitiger I use Baileys High Fibre nuggets.

 

[ihatework]

Yup.
Unless they get rude, then Nope.

 

[soloequestrian]

One is clicker trained so gets a treat but ONLY after a click so she doesn't ever expect them at other times.
The other is a project and seems to have been given treats at random in his old home. He is terrible for frisking you. He only gets something now for being caught and very occasionally at the mounting block because he used to be worried about it.

 

[fankino04]

Probably far too many lol, we had a no treat policy 6 months after getting her as she started nipping but now she's good as gold again so gets a couple of carrots each day or half pack of polos.

 

[Auslander]

Pretty much every time I walk past him, as he flutters his nostrils seductively at me, and I cant resist! He's very polite though, and doesn't take it personally if I don't have anything
He also comes down to the garden fence for a slice of toast and honey every evening!

 

[milliepops]

Yep, some more than others but they all get something now and then.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Carrots and apples in their feed although we do carrot stretches every evening before they go to bed.

 

[Pippity]

Absolutely. She gets a treat when I mount, one when I dismount, if she's learning something new in the school, when I catch her, when I turn her out, and, basically, if she exists in my vicinity!

She doesn't mug. I've trained her that she has to look away to get a treat, so the worst she does is a very ostentatious look-at-you-then-look-away.

 

[PapaverFollis]

The Beast gets treats for just being beautiful sometimes. MrT doesn't because he's a thug. He only gets them for specific things and as infrequently as possible.

 

[Ceifer]

Absolutely. She gets a treat when I mount, one when I dismount, if she's learning something new in the school, when I catch her, when I turn her out, and, basically, if she exists in my vicinity!

She doesn't mug. I've trained her that she has to look away to get a treat, so the worst she does is a very ostentatious look-at-you-then-look-away.

Pretty much the same here. I don’t treat when I mount with my current mare but I have done when training horses that have been fidgety to mount and it works really well
But definitely when taking head collar off in the field and catching in.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Yes but I use Agrobs Haycobs rather than 'treats' as such.

 

[Cortez]

No, never. None of mine have ever been fed from the hand. I will occasionally give a bucket of feed as a tempter when training to load, but that's not a treat as such.

 

[Melandmary]

Gosh I must be really mean ?. Mellie gets a couple of nuggets after a ride and if she has had her mane brushed which she tolerates but none otherwise as she becomes a mugger. Oh and my old livery friends were under strict instructions for no tit bits because it once led to My tit bit ?

 

[PapaverFollis]

Gosh I must be really mean ?. Mellie gets a couple of nuggets after a ride and if she has had her mane brushed which she tolerates but none otherwise as she becomes a mugger. Oh and my old livery friends were under strict instructions for no tit bits because it once led to My tit bit ?

??? Sorry.

 

[Rumtytum]

No. He usually has perfect manners but treats turn him into no.1 gangsta yob mugger.

 

[NinjaPony]

One treat as I turn out, after I take his headcollar off, one when he comes in once the head collar is on. Makes life easy and stops him diving through his electric gate like a lunatic.

 

[Griffin]

Mine get lots of treats, I just use fibre nuggets
One when they are caught, when have their head collar off at turnout time, last thing once late night checks are finished and some random ones when I fancy!

when riding they get one each time I get on, once stirrups sorted, girth tightened, I’ve put my gloves on etc. They both stand very well and wait while I faff about!
they also get a treat when ridden if they’ve done something very well or in training them something new and we have a little moment of clarity or understanding.

they are NEVER rude about it and don’t mug but I also don’t see an issue with treating them if they are being good.

they get carrots in their feed as well but I don’t really see that as a treat as it’s just part of their dinner!

I'm the same, I just give treats (always ones that are no added sugar or a carrot, which are not half as bad as many people think). My mare is not rude and neither is the retired gelding that I care for, so I don't see an issue.. I always give a treat when I catch them, turn them out or have ridden them.

To be honest, I think giving a treat when you take the head collar off is quite useful for stopping them galloping off with their hooves flying.

 

[Lipglosspukka]

Yes. Yes I do. I'm not ashamed to admit it.

 

[Britestar]

Yes, all the time. Whenever I fancy giving them one.

 

[Dia]

Yes as part of (clicker) training.

They very quickly learn (behind a fence if necessary) that the way to get a click and treat is to stand calmly, out of the handler’s space, perhaps looking slightly in the other direction.

Stressy/muggy behaviour around food gets completely ignored and definitely never rewarded with treats.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Yeah, all the time - I have taught him 'wait' though so he won't have one unless he is looking forward and relaxed. He also gets one when I mount, one when he stands next to the mountign block, one when I catch him, when I let him go... all sorts of time. I use treats always to reinforce the behaviour I like from him.

 

[dogatemysalad]

Yes, always give a goodnight treat by hand. Also give a couple of mints after being untacked as a thank you for good work.
He doesn't get random treats though. He's a real gentleman , knows very well when treats will be dispensed so doesn't bother mugging my pocket on the off chance.

 

[Shysmum]

Yup, mentos, like chewy mints, once a week. I eat half the packet though !

 

[planete]

It depends on the horse. My old horse was a complete gentleman and would very gently try and cajole a treat out of you if he thought he deserved one but Woody was a complete thug when I got him, he had been used for 'pony parties' and expected non stop treats. He now knows he gets a reward for exceptional cooperation and a few carrot sticks in his bowl after a schooling session.