Do horses eat apples? The answer is yes!
Apples are favorite snacks that most horses can’t resist. If you want to create a strong bond with your horse, give him some apple treats. While you can buy these treats, many horse owners prefer homemade horse treat recipes with apples.
This is the reason!
Most commercial horse treats have too much sugar or other harmful ingredients unsuitable for your horse. You can make healthy, nutritious, and high-quality treats for your horse with simple ingredients in less than 20 minutes.
Keep reading to find homemade apple horse treat recipes you can try. Let’s dive in!
Are apples a good treat for horses?
Absolutely! They make a good snack for your horse. Apples are all-natural healthy treats, and that is why many horse owners give their horses. 1- 2 per day make a healthy snack for your horse.
Horses have a fragile digestive system so you should avoid feeding them excess because it can cause stomach problems or colic. (Do you know horses eat chicks?)
Should you feed your horse whole apples? I’m sure you have seen many horse owners feed their horses whole fruits. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean it is the right method to use.
It is good to cut the fruit into pieces to prevent choking from horses that swallow whole fruits quickly.
Apples as a healthy ingredient for horse treats
Apples make healthy treats for horses because they are rich in potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and fiber. The potassium in them promotes the effective working of the horse’s muscles and the fibers aid in the digestive system.
They are also rich in antioxidants that help to destroy damaged body molecules that lead to inflammation. You can feed your horse apples in different ways like baked treats, frozen treats, or mixing them with bran mash.
I know you are wondering, what kinds of apples should I feed my horse?
You can give your horse different varieties like green, red, and yellow which are all safe for horses. Here are some healthy types you can feed your horse:
- Fuji
- Suncrisp
- Gala
- McIntosh
- Honeycrisp
- Granny Smith
- Cortland
- Red delicious
- Pink lady
- Golden delicious and much more
Related: Treat your horse to the delicious, healthy snack they deserve! Try our all-natural, peppermint-flavored horse treats for a tasty reward.
5 Best apple horse treat recipes
Looking for good treat recipes for your horse? Here are some easy-to-make apple treat recipes that your horse will love!
#1. Apple cinnamon horse treat cookies
Ingredients
- 1 apple
- 1 cup oats
- ¼ cup molasses
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 cup wheat flour
- A pinch of salt
- A dash of ground cinnamon
- Water
- Oil
Instructions
- Preheat your oven up to 350 degrees
- Cut the apple into small pieces and put them in a bowl
- In another large bowl, put the oats, flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon
- Add the fruit slices to the mixture and add molasses
- Add flour and water and mix all the ingredients
- Spray your pan with oil and put the cookies in portions
- Put in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown
#2. Horsey apple and carrot treat cookies
Ingredients
- 1 apple
- 1 carrot
- 1 cup of molasses
- Oats
- 2-3 cups vegetable oil or coconut oil
Instructions
- Grate the carrot and the apple
- Add oats and molasses and mix
- Oil your Dutch oven and spoon the cookies into small pieces, each an inch or two apart
- Put the lid of the Dutch oven on and put the Dutch oven on the fire heat
- Add coals on top of the lid to create an oven
- Wait for 30-40 minutes until they turn golden brown
#3. Easy apple horse treats without an oven
Ingredients
- 2 sliced apples
- 1 cup of oats
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoon margarine
Instructions
- Put the margarine in a saucepan and heat on medium temperature
- Add brown sugar, stir until it boils, and then let it simmer
- Put the fruit slices in the sugar, roll in oats, and let it cool
#4. Apple oatmeal horse treats
Ingredients
- 1 cup applesauce
- 3 cups uncooked instant oatmeal
- ½ cup flour
- ¼ cup molasses
Instructions
- Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl and then add applesauce and molasses
- Mix well to form a thick butter and form small balls on the cooking tray or baking sheet
- Bake for 15-20 minutes and 350 degrees F
- Remove from the oven and let the treats cool for about 5 minutes to harden
#5. Easy frozen apple horse treats
Ingredients
- Water
- Fresh cubed apple
- Applesauce
- Bowl
- Ice cube tray
Instructions
- Mixt water applesauce and fruit cubes in a bowl
- Put the mixture in an ice cube tray and freeze for about 4 hours
- Remove the cubes from the freezer, and they are ready to give your horse
Tips for making and storing horse treats with apples
Making most treats for horses is easy and requires just a few ingredients like apples, oats, flour, molasses, brown sugar, and much more. You can substitute molasses for honey although molasses contains more minerals and vitamins hence good for nutrition.
Be sure to clean the apples first to remove any pesticide residue and ensure there are no toxins.
Either choose to make baked treats or frozen treats depending on your liking. For baked treats, cool and store them in a sealed container and they will stay fresh in the fridge for up to one week.
FAQs
Why can’t horses eat apples?
Horses do eat green apples, but you should not give them whole fruit because it can be a choking hazard. Cut the fruit into slices and give it to your horse.
How many apples can I give my horse?
Apples are horses’ traditional favorite treat. However, it is good to give your horse in moderation. 1-2 per day is great. Avoid giving your horse too many apples because it can cause colic and stomach upset.
Conclusion
There are different types of treats you can spoil your horse with. It could be bananas, carrots, apples, watermelons, and much more. Have some fun in your kitchen by making homemade horse treats, and your horse will go crazy.
I hope you have enjoyed and grasped a few ideas for making healthy snacks for your horses. Be sure to try the above horse treat recipes with apples, and your equine partner will thank you!
