Treats for horses

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PentathlonQueen

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Hi, I have just got a new horses and I want to give her treats once in a while but I don't know what's best to give her. I was thinking sugar cubes or polo mints but I heard that sometimes they make horses nippy? :confused:
 
Any treat given by hand could make a horse nippy or searching, which is also rude. My lad has to be fed in his bucket or on the floor, he searches and will pull at pockets etc. But my lass doesn't so she gets her treats from hand, just a matter of knowing your horse.

I give my lad a few carrots or apples, he also likes the odd ginger biscuit or extremely small piece of Kendal mint cake (very very rarely) My lass's passion is parsnips, she loves them! Also likes apples and pears. I have never met a horse that doesn't like the odd polo or two. Likkit bars are a great favourite with my two as well.

FDC
 
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My horse gets all sorts of treats, tack shop bought, polos, carrots and other fruit/veg, likits, my cereal bar....

He gets a treat after a good schooling session or hack, and most definately after a competition! He gets treats in the stable too when we are practising good stable manners or stretching.
 
My horses don't get treats. I'm a mean mum but I cannot stand being mugged for polo's etc. If they have been particuarly good just pop a carrot in his feed bowl at dinner time.
 
i've got a little tub which takes 2 bags of mint imperials, i keep it outside the stable and he gets one (or a few) each day, he isn't nippy or anything like that so it's safe to give him treats by hand.
i also buy the treats from tack shops/feed stores, give polos, apples, carrots and anything else that i have available (which is safe for him).
my ponies don't get treats from the hand as the one is very nippy and gets quite angry so we make sure we have nothing in our pockets before handling him, the other pony will on the odd occassion get a treat but it's normally once he's in the stable and i'm just finishing up.
 
I used to carry werthers on me as it was used for teaching my old boy to stop bombing off being led in from field but to stay with me and stand quitely at the hose - had to get him there 1st which is where the werthers came in handy...they were his fav.

Mr Toby gets bit of an apple, carrot or spillers treat when being turned out, but when he gets in field and stood quietly but he's so gentle.
He doesn't get them all the time, but to have something on me is helpful in use for distraction if needed.

Or when we've had a good schooling session on whatever.

he also has a likit hanging in his stable
 
tazzle said:
Horses only get nippy in my experience if they do not have rules or consistancy if being fed treats by hand... treats in a bowl no problems just don't give lots high sugar treats ( not good for teeth or waistline)
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Actually sugar is not bad for their teeth because a horse's teeth has no enamel at the surface only porous cementum, so they are not at risk of cavities the way ours are. The only enamel they have is within the bodies of the teeth. As their teeth grow continuously through their lives, and the surfaces are worn away as they chew, they have whole new teeth as they grow out and wear down. So, if decay was to begin in a horse's tooth, it would just be grown out, before it had any time to develop further. However, sugar is dangerous if the horse has insulin issues, other than that a very small amount of sugar does very little harm. Also remember there is a lot of sugar in carrots, parsnips, bananas and apples.
FDC
 
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