11 Horse Treats Most Horses Love—and a Few to Leave Out

Last updated: September 6, 2026

By: Miles HenryFact Checked

Giving a horse a favorite treat is one of the small pleasures of owning one. Most have clear opinions about what they like best—carrots and apples are hard to beat—but there are plenty of other snacks that will get their ears up, too.

Below, I’ll cover the treats horses tend to like best, the foods I leave out of the treat bucket, a simple homemade option, and a few common-sense rules for feeding treats safely.

The Treats Most Horses Like

Horses may turn up their noses at one kind of hay and clean up another, but many have a strong taste for sweet treats. That doesn’t make sugary snacks a good everyday choice – fruit, candy, and molasses-based treats should stay small and occasional. If you want the full picture of what belongs in a horse’s everyday diet rather than what to hand him as a snack, see my equine nutrition guide.

Carrots and Apples

Every horse owner I asked put carrots near the top of the list, with apples close behind – individual horses have their own preferences, but those two are hard to beat as classic treats. Horses eat apples whole, halved, or down to the core, and like people, individual horses prefer some varieties over others. Wash both first to remove pesticide residue – I cut my apples into quarters, though my neighbor feeds his whole and has never had an issue.

There’s a persistent claim that carrots are dangerous for horses with laminitis – I looked into it and found a detailed rebuttal of that claim on The Laminitis Site, worth reading if you’ve heard the same warning. That said, carrots and apples still add sugar to the diet. A horse with laminitis, insulin dysregulation, EMS, or another medically managed condition may need a smaller amount, a lower-sugar option, or no treats at all, depending on the veterinarian’s plan.

Watermelon

Watermelon is a genuine favorite – it’s mostly water, so it’s a refreshing treat on a hot day, and most horses will eat the rind along with the flesh. Cut it into manageable pieces, and treat it like any other sweet fruit: fine occasionally, not something to feed by the slice every day.

Strawberries and Bananas

I live ten miles from Ponchatoula, Louisiana – the strawberry capital of the state – so we always have plenty on hand for the horses. Wash them well first, since field-grown strawberries are often sprayed with insecticide, and don’t feed them often since they’re high in sugar.

Most horses love bananas, peel and all – several horse-owner friends told me not to peel one first, since a horse used to a peeled banana may turn its nose up at an unpeeled one afterward. Wash unpeeled bananas before feeding, and keep the portion modest. Like any unfamiliar or sugary treat, too much at once can upset some horses’ digestive systems.

Cantaloupe

We’re surrounded by farms here, and cantaloupe is a favorite local crop, so we end up with plenty of rinds to share with the horses. They eat the flesh and generally leave the thin rind behind. Wash cantaloupe thoroughly first – its rough exterior holds onto pesticide residue more than smoother fruit does – and feed it sparingly since it’s a sweet treat.

Sugar Cubes and Peppermints

My grandparents kept sugar cubes on the kitchen table, and we always slipped a couple into our pockets for the horses – it’s still one of my favorite treats to give, and I’ve found most horses respond to them just as well as any fruit. Sugar cubes and plain peppermint candies are old-fashioned horse treats for a reason. Keep portions small, choose simple products without chocolate, and skip sugar-free candies too – their ingredients vary, and they’re not worth experimenting with as horse treats. Skip sweets entirely for a horse on a restricted-sugar diet.

Can Horses Have Brown Sugar?

Yes, a pinch of brown sugar is basically the same kind of occasional sweet treat as white sugar or a sugar cube for a healthy horse. I wouldn’t make it part of the daily feed bucket, and I’d skip it for horses on a low-sugar diet because of insulin dysregulation, equine metabolic syndrome, a laminitis history, or PPID (still commonly called Cushing’s disease). If your horse is being managed for PSSM or another condition, follow the specific feeding plan your vet or equine nutritionist has set for that individual horse rather than a blanket rule.

Vegetables Horses Like Eating

Celery, lettuce, cucumber, zucchini, and squash are common low-sugar options for a healthy horse when fed in small, manageable pieces. They’re not a substitute for hay or pasture, but they’re a handy choice when you want to avoid a sugary treat. Wash produce first, introduce anything new in a small amount, and remember that some horses simply won’t care for every vegetable.

Can Horses Eat Spinach?

A horse that steals a leaf of spinach is unlikely to have a problem, but spinach wouldn’t be on my treat list. It contains oxalates, and there’s no practical reason to make it a regular snack when horses can have simpler options like a little celery, cucumber, or lettuce instead. If your horse has a medical condition or a carefully managed diet, ask the veterinarian or equine nutritionist handling that horse before adding new foods.

Foods I’d Leave Out of the Treat Bucket

Tomatoes

I wouldn’t deliberately feed tomatoes to a horse. In my experience, most horses aren’t interested in them anyway – I once watched my horse standing right over our tomato plants without taking a single bite – but lack of interest isn’t the reason to rely on. Tomatoes are members of the nightshade family, and a horse has no nutritional need for them. Keep tomatoes and the plant itself out of the treat bucket and offer a known horse-safe option instead.

Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Brussels Sprouts

I’d leave these out of the treat bucket. They’re not necessary horse foods, and they can be hard on some horses’ digestive systems – excess gas and discomfort aren’t worth the risk when there are plenty of easier treats to choose from.

Onions and Garlic

Onions and garlic are a separate “do not feed” category from the vegetables above – they’re not cruciferous, they’re alliums, and that matters. The MSD Veterinary Manual lists Allium species, including onions and garlic, among food hazards for animals. Ingestion can damage red blood cells and lead to hemolytic anemia, especially when enough is eaten – susceptibility varies by species, but there’s no reason to test it with a horse. Keep onions and garlic out of a horse’s diet entirely.

Avocados

Never deliberately feed avocado to a horse or leave avocado scraps where one could reach them. According to the MSD Veterinary Manual, avocado fruit, leaves, stems, and seeds have all been associated with toxicosis in animals, with the leaves reported as the most toxic part, and horses are among the susceptible species. Affected horses can develop swelling of the head, tongue, and chest region. Keep horses away from avocado trees and clear any fallen fruit or leaves from turnout areas.

Horse Treats: What Is Fine, What to Limit, and What to Avoid

Watch the video below for a quick look at feeding carrots safely.

Homemade Horse Treats

Making treats at home lets you control exactly what goes in them – see my full homemade horse treats guide for a variety of recipes. One simple option: mix 2 cups old-fashioned oats, 1 grated apple (skin on), 1/4 cup molasses, and 1/4 cup water, then roll into small balls. Because these contain fresh apple, keep them refrigerated and discard any that smell off, soften excessively, or show mold – don’t leave them sitting in a warm tack room.

Feeding Treats Safely

• Keep treats small. Treats should be an extra, not a meaningful part of a horse’s daily diet. Horses with metabolic problems, laminitis risk, or other dietary restrictions may need a much stricter approach.
• Introduce new treats slowly. Start with a small amount and watch for any reaction before making it a regular thing – this gives you a chance to catch a sensitivity and lets the horse’s gut adjust.
• Watch for reactions. Discomfort, swelling, itching, or digestive upset after a new treat means stop and call your vet.
• Check with a professional for health conditions. Horses with metabolic issues, laminitis history, or other health concerns need treats chosen more carefully – ask your vet or an equine nutritionist if you’re unsure.
• Feed in a way that suits your horse. Cut large, round, or hard pieces into manageable sizes, and be careful about hand-feeding if your horse gets pushy or nippy around treats.

Treats are a nice way to bond with a horse, but they’re an extra, not the foundation – a good diet built on forage is what actually keeps a horse healthy. Keep the sweet stuff occasional, know which foods to leave out, and check with your vet before feeding anything new to a horse with a health condition.

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