How to make Horse Treats, an easy and frugal recipe that the horses, donkeys and other animals on your homestead will enjoy.
Homemade Horse Treats can be made with just a few items from your fridge and pantry such as oats and apples. There is no need to go to the store and buy expensive treats for your pets!
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How to Make Horse Treats
A few years ago, we had a major issue with coyotes and with all the livestock around our little farmstead, I worried about my creatures and what might happen to them. My poor little goats and piggies couldn’t do much to protect themselves! After looking into the various livestock guardians, I decided to choose something a little unusual…
Meet Charlie! Charlie is a donkey. He was a big furry teddy bear and he certainly knew what his job was on our farmstead from the day we brought him home. On his first week, he took care of one scary jackrabbit that was harassing the goats. I was so glad we found him and he was a great addition to our farmstead while we lived there and now he’s a wonderful help to another hobby farm.
Charlie was pretty happy eating whatever the goats and cows eat, with a bit of hay mixed in, but in the winter, but I also wanted to be able to give him some little treats, especially when we were working with him to become halter broke. But treats at the local feed store didn’t fit very well into my budget and we didn’t go to town often in the winter so I decided to make him a little something using some food that I already had on hand. These DIY horse treats are perfect for horses or any other kind of equine, as well!
FAQs About Horse Treats
What can I use instead of molasses in horse treats?
Honey can be substituted for molasses in this recipe and in other recipes for horses. Molasses does contain more vitamins and minerals than honey though, so for nutrition, you should consider using it if you can.
Is flour ok for horses?
Yes, flour is safe for horses in moderation. Wheat flour is best since it contains the highest amount of nutrients for your pet.
What sweets do horses like?
Each horse may be different in their likes and dislikes but some sweet favorites include: apples, sugar cubes, strawberries, bananas, melons, and peppermints.
Homemade Equine Treats Recipe
What You Need:
- 1 large Carrot
- 1 large Apple
- 1 cup Molasses
- 2 1/2 cups old-fashioned Oats
- 2 Tablespoons Oil
Shred the carrot and the apple into a large bowl. You can use a food processor to shred if you don’t want to do it by hand.
Tip: Save your scraps! Find Uses for Apple Peels andCarrot Scraps.
Add in the oil, oats, and molasses to your mixing bowl. Stir to combine well so that all the oats are covered in the molasses.
Tip: Save money by buying your oats in bulk – Read more about What to Order From a Bulk Foods Coop.
Pour the mixture into a 9×13 greased baking sheet. You can use a cookie sheet if you have one with sides on it. Pat the treats down with a spoon or with your fingers so they are flattened into the pan.
If you don’t want to grease the pan or if it hasn’t worked for you in the past with this recipe, use a wax paper lined baking sheet instead.
Bake at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes or until they begin to get crispy.
DO NOT OVER COOK THEM! A common comment is that readers are burning their treats. It’s very important to watch the treats as they cook in the oven (no matter what time my recipe is for) and watch for doneness. Your oven might cook much slower or faster than mine and this is a particularly picky recipe.
Remove the treats from the oven when they are golden brown (NOT BURNT!) and let them cool for a while. The treats will harden slightly as they cool. Once they are hardened you can score them into pieces.
Variations for Homemade Horse Treats
- If you are having a hard time getting these to stick together, add in a little bit of whole wheat flour (and a little more moisture like vegetable oil or coconut oil) to give them something more to help them stick.
- Replace some of the molasses with 1/2 cup peanut butter to give it a different flavor for your pet.
- You can use quick oats if you don’t have old fashioned oats. That may also help them stick together better. You could even use steel-cut oats if that’s all you have.
- Replace the oats with oat flour.
- Replace the shredded apple with applesauce. (This variation will work even better if you are using flour in your recipe as well.)
- Add in a bit of flaxseed (whole or ground) for added nutrition.
Print this Homemade Horse Treat recipe below:
3 from 2 votes
Homemade Equine Treats
Ingredients
- 1large Carrot
- 1large Apple
- 1cupMolasses
- 2 1/2cupsold fashioned Oats
- 2TablespoonsOil
Instructions
Shred the carrot and the apple into a large bowl.
Add in the oil, oats, and molasses. Stir to combine well so that all the oats are covered in the molasses.
Pour the mixture into a greased 9x13 baking dish. Pat the treats down with a spoon or with your fingers so they are flattened into the pan.
Bake at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes or until they begin to get crispy.
Remove the treats from the oven and let them cool for a while. The treats will harden slightly as they cool. Once they are hardened you can score into pieces.
Charlie loved this homemade donkey treats recipe! (The goats happen to love them too! I mean really love them…they will follow you everywhere until they get more!)
Store any treats that aren’t used right away in a sealed container. If it may take a while for you to use them, store them in the fridge, otherwise they are ok in the container on the countertop.
More Homestead Helpful Articles
- Home Made Fly Spray
- Chicken Egg Production; What To Do When Your Chickens Stop Laying
- DIY Chicken Feeder
- Why You Should Raise Goats
- How to Start Homesteading Wherever You Are
Find more posts about Homestead Living on Little House Living.
Do you make treats for your farm animals?
This post on How to Make Horse Treats was originally published on Little House Living in December 2014. It has been updated as of September 2022.
