Treats or no treats?

Do you remember the idea of Cool Britannia

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arwenplusone

arwenplusone

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and that is the question???
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Just curoius to know really. When I got my 4 yr old she had no idea what treats are - now I DO feed them (shoot me down if you will) but sometimes she'l all over me frisking for food
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I do know a few people who do not ever feed horsey treats as encourages to bite and I see where they are coming from.

Thoughts??
 
I wouldn't say never as they often get something when being turned out, it encourages them to hang around for a moment instead of charging off in a flurry of hooves. They look quite affronted if I am empty handed though
 
i dont feed mine treats at all, only because they are young 6month-4yr and with children around i dont want them picking in pockets and nipping, they have there breakfast and tea that is there treat
 
I did't vote on this one because some of ours do get treats and others dont. My highland has good manners and wont mug for food, the same with my daughters tb and the old arab but we also have a part broken rescue mare and a 3yr old who dont get fed by hand, just in case of nips. The big boys are never given treats in sight of the babies.
 
Mine gets carrots when she does her stretches after she's ridden. I also give her a mint when she's turned out to stop her charging off and also when I catch her as a reward (she's a mintoholic). Recently one of the other liveries came to a couple of shows with us and gave Jen a mint when she came out of the SJ ring (this happened about 2x) and now she stops as she leaves the arena and expects the nearest person - usually a complete stranger to give her a mint!
 
I try not to. Before I got Taffi he was fed 12 packets of polos a week - you can imagine how he behaved, it was bad enough he was 4y.o, gelded late and 'full of character' without a sugar addiction too
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Anyone who went within three feet of him was lynched
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I will spoil my old boy with treats as he did'nt seem to understand treats when he came to me last year and the look of expectation on his face would melt your heart! He has never become nippy because of it and at his age I think he deserves them. Our cob however can be a bit nippy so he only has them when turned out. I use carrots, apples, polos or somtimes richtea biscuits!!
 
Mine get treats every day, OH is terible, he is constantly giving them horsey treats, polo's etc.

I only give them something if they deserve it.
Beau is very polite and would never be rude, Lance on the other hand has always nudged you if you even just stand next to him, just incase you do ave anything.
 
I sometimes give my horse treats if he has been good or I am making him wait for his tea (due to riding him) or just because I love him! But I don't give him them everyday and he is well mannered when he does get them. My old horse however I almost never gave treats to as he was quite grumpy, he would be happy that you'd given him a treat but then would get anngry if you didn't give him any more! So if you wanted to give him a treat it would be one over the stable door and then run and leave him to it or risk being bitten!
 
I just give mine a handful of feed or a carrot after they have worked or have just come in to have stuff done.

A little bit of feed and a cuddle before going back out to their friends.
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otto will frisk you when you approach but as soon as he realises you have nothing he stops.he does get treats but not routinely. meg will just bite you anyway!
i have just bought a new horse which gets a treat when she is turned out so i shall continue that, if i remember....
 
Mine doesn't have anything sugary because he's overweight, but does have the occasional horsey treat. He has one after a ride if he's been good. I never put treats in my pockets and only very very rarely give treats in the field.
 
Used to feed my pony treats all the time

but not so much anymore...the eventers get the odd polo after a round...

and thats about it
 
I put no as Pidge loves treats and has a tendancy to try to mug me or my pockets in the hunt for them and at 17hh and 620kg its not funny
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he does get them occasionally but does have plenty of carrots etc in his feed or scattered in the field so does not miss out, just try not to hand feed them.
 
My little stally is very well-mannered about treats - so yes, he does get the occasional carrot or apple as a reward (he doesn't like mints or sweet stuff).

But tbh he's the least food-motivated horse I've ever met; he'll take a treat politely if it's offered, but he'd much rather have a kiss or cuddle or neck-scratch.

He's been known to decline an apple and nuzzle my face asking for a kiss instead - with the apple sitting there rejected on the manger!

He'll always abandon his feed to come and say hello at the door, as well. He just loves people, and craves attention much more than food.

All rather endearing!
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Ours get an extra strong mint immeadiately after work so they associate it with a treat! It defies the point if its 10 mins after when you've untacked and faffed about. Apart from that no, they get treats put in there feed occasionally though.
 
Yes. I think they need to learn how to accept titbits politely without barging or snatching or expecting them all the time; its just part of their relationship with humans.
 
Never. I dislike people giving their horses treats over the stable door and then wondering why the horse starts banging the door when they arrive.
 
Yes, and no.
My old mare has always had perfect manners, would never consider mugging you, and can be trusted to take a treat from a childs hand, carefully avoiding sticky up fingers etc.
She now gets treats for 'being beautiful' from my OH.
My two youngsters have to work for treats - and gradually the work increases, and the treats decrease whilst verbal praise continues.
They never nip, aren't too 'in your face' and enjoy working for rewards (by working I mean in hand walks, backing, over, having boots on etc as they're both unbroken as yet).
But every horse is different and if I had a nippy colt - no way!
S
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