I am visiting a friend with horses and would like to take them a small gift - help!

[HopeForTheBest]

She also has dogs, and I will be taking them homemade dog biscuits. I have a dog too, so regularly make various dog treats which my ds then fights the dog for and ends up eating most of she really enjoys and appreciates :o

Is there a horse-biscuit equivalent? Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I have absolutely no idea about horses whatsoever!

Would be really grateful for any suggestions!
Thanks :)

[Callisto]

You can buy horse treats in saddlers and agricultural stores, or a bag of carrots or apples would be nice.

[HopeForTheBest]

Thanks, but I would like to make them something...you know, don't want to encourage any inter-pet jealousy! :o

I have found this page with recipes.

Quite a few contain sugar or molasses - is that really ok to give horses? I would avoid anything with sugar for my dog.

[HopeForTheBest]

Oh, and another (possibly stupid) question: how many treats would be acceptable?
What I mean is, if I make a trayful of biscuits and bag them up, would that be laughabley too little for a horse?

[HopeForTheBest]

laughably?
laughabley?

actually both of those look wrong!

[Disasterpiece]

Omg just take a bag of Granny Smiths!

Seriously its not worth the faff. Have you never seen a horse eat?

You can pick up bags of horse treats like these for a few quid at a farm/tack shop. One bag is enough for a few horses.

[Pixel]

Agree with Disasterpiece, your lovingly made snacks will be hoovered up in 2 seconds! Carrots, apples, parsnips always appreciated. Or if you want to really spoil them, Polos.

[kayb123]

my boy hates polo's weird how some LOVE and other HATE something.

flapjacks - home made, that horses will love, or is that just mine:) and you can also share these with your friend.

hmm.. i think i might make some during the week now.

[HopeForTheBest]

Thanks for replies.

Not a faff as I am making dog biscuits anyway (as gift and for my own too). I actually wouldn't even know where to go to get good quality horse treats, and as they live on a farm I assume they get lots of fruit and veg anyway.

Oh, and by "visiting" I actually meant going to stay for the weekend, hence taking a gift. I would not be baking pet treats if I was just popping in! I am not that weird :o

[fairieswearboots]

You sound lovely (if ever so slightly wacky!) and my horse would love you to come and visit! He would adore some peppermint creams , or indeed the flapjacks suggested earlier- the treaclier the better.

[HopeForTheBest]

:o

So horses really do like peppermint? I sort of thought that might just be a myth. I'm now thinking a bag of peppermint creams or similar might be the best bet (and if her horses don't like them, well, she can have them!).

Dogs are getting biscuits though. I'm not swaying on that :o

[Abbicob]

Mine eats most things so make extra dog biscuits and you will be fine

[marge2]

My horse wouldn't like anything creamy or sticky like flapjacks or peppermint creams. She'd shake her head, flap her lips and spit them out again. Don't spend hours making anything for the horse/s. You do sound lovely - make something for your friends to eat, but for the animals. Seriously??

For the horse - apples, carrots, or my horse's fave. Trebor Extra Strong Mints. Yes, most horses do like mints. She hates anything savoury, although one pony I used to have, liked swiping burgers off me at shows.

[Disasterpiece]

Swedes or Turnips are also good, you can hang them up in their stables and they can spend hours trying to chomp them.

Unless of course you are daft enough to hang it where they can pin it up against a wall and then they can eat it in two big mouth fulls!

[Saggyoldclothcatpuss]

You sound lovely, and a great guest, but I'd be in a really akward position if you were my guest! I don't allow my ponies treats as a rule, and I'd have to break that if you brought them. Take carrots or apples, don't take sugar filled stuff.

[Pixel]

My old pony used to adore fruit pastilles. He always got them for his birthday and Christmas.

[LordOfTheFlies]

Treacle sandwiches (brown bread of course and unrefined molasses) was the favourite of the mare I used 'pony mind' for.

[Pixel]

Syrup sandwiches were reserved for giving him medicines.