15 Best Treats for Horses: Healthy Horse Treats and Apple Treats for Horses

The best horse treats are low in sugar, made from natural ingredients, and fed in small amounts. Top picks range from low-starch options like Omega Fields Nibblers to classic rewards like Mrs. Pastures cookies and apple treats.

Treats are about so much more than spoiling your horse. The right one rewards good behavior, makes training click, and deepens the bond you share every time you reach into the bag. But not all horse treats are created equal. The best treats for horses depend on your horse's age, health, and dietary needs. To make the choice easy, we've grouped 15 healthy horse treats into four simple categories: low-sugar options, natural horse treats, training rewards, and soft snacks for seniors.

How to Feed Treats Safely

Before you reach for the treat bag, a few ground rules keep snacking safe. Always offer treats in small amounts and introduce new treats gradually to avoid digestive upset. Hand-feed from a flat palm or drop treats in a bucket if your horse gets nippy.

For horses with metabolic conditions like insulin resistance or laminitis, stick to low-sugar, low-starch options. And remember that treats should make up only a tiny fraction of the diet, never replacing forage.

Treats aren't just a nice-to-have; they can actually make your horse a better learner. Research from the University of Rennes found that horses trained with food rewards paid more attention to their handlers and learned tasks more effectively than horses rewarded with a wither scratch, since the anticipation of a treat helps keep them focused. Used thoughtfully, the right treat is a genuine training tool, not just a snack.

Key Highlights

• The best horse treats are low in sugar, made from natural ingredients, and fed in small amounts. Quality and portion control matter more than quantity.
• Match the treat to your horse's needs. Our 15 picks are grouped into four categories: low-sugar/metabolic-friendly, natural & whole-food, training & everyday, and senior & soft-texture.
• Low sugar is essential for metabolic horses with laminitis, insulin resistance, EMS, or PPID; look for under 10% combined sugar and starch.
• Treats are a proven training tool. Research shows horses learn better and stay more focused when rewarded with food.
• Some foods are off-limits: avoid chocolate, onions, avocado, nightshades, and a few others (full list inside).
• Apple-flavored options are a safe, popular favorite, from Omega Fields Nibblers to Manna Pro Nutrigood.

The 15 Best Horse Treats, by Category

We've sorted our top picks into four groups so you can jump straight to what your horse needs.

Low-Sugar & Metabolic-Friendly Treats

Perfect for horses that need to watch their sugar and starch intake, these are some of the safest treats for horses with metabolic concerns such as laminitis, insulin resistance, equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), or PPID (Cushing's).

• Omega Fields Nibblers Low Sugar & Starch – Apple Flavor: Heart-shaped, low-starch apple treats for horses, enriched with omega fatty acids to support a shiny coat and strong hooves. A nutritious horse treat that doubles as a supplement.
• Manna Pro Nutrigood Low-Sugar Apple Snax: Wholesome apple treats for horses with reduced sugar, ideal for everyday rewards without the sugar spike.
• Stud Muffins Slims (50% Less Sugar): All the flavor of the original with half the sugar, so you can keep rewarding your horse guilt-free.
• SmartEquine Peppermint: Low-sugar, high-fiber pellet treats with under 10% combined sugar and starch, formulated with metabolic horses in mind.

Natural & Whole-Food Treats

Made with simple, recognizable ingredients, these natural horse treats are great for owners who want minimal additives.

• Equus Magnificus German Horse Muffin: All-natural, molasses-free muffins with no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Their soft texture suits horses of every age.
• Pastures Sweet Potato Super Cookies: Nutritious horse snacks built around wholesome sweet potatoes, a tasty twist on the classic cookie.
• Manna Pro Tasty Delites Carrot & Oat: Familiar, feed-friendly flavors horses love, combining carrot and oat into a satisfying reward.
• Equus Magnificus German Beet Treats: High-fiber, low-sugar beet treats that support healthy digestion while delivering a peppermint flavor horses nicker for.

Training & Everyday Rewards

When you need a quick, crowd-pleasing snack for groundwork or just because, these horse rewards deliver.

• Pastures Original Horse Cookies: One of the most beloved horse treats around, these crunchy cookies are a barn-favorite reward that almost every horse recognizes.
• SmartEquine Apple-Banana: A fruity flavor combo that makes feeding treats during training sessions easy and motivating.
• Stud Muffins Original: Soft, chewy, and irresistible, these are go-to horse snacks for catching, loading, and rewarding.
• Durvet PopperMints: Classic peppermint-flavored treats in a big value tub, perfect for the horse with a sweet tooth.

Senior & Soft-Texture Treats

Older horses often need softer treats that are easy to chew. These picks keep seniors happy and rewarded.

• Manna Pro Nutrigood Senior Snax (Apple): Apple-flavored treats designed for aging horses, with a texture that's gentle on older teeth.
• Renew Gold Bisquits: Nutrient-focused biscuits that make a wholesome reward for senior horses and hard keepers alike.
• Omega Fields Nibblers Peppermint: The same low-sugar, omega-enriched recipe in a peppermint flavor, soft enough for everyday senior snacking.

Quick Tips for Treating Your Horse

• Keep portions small; a few treats per day are sufficient for most horses.
• Choose low-sugar treats if your horse has metabolic concerns.
• Introduce new treats gradually over several days.
• Hand-feed from a flat palm or use a bucket for nippy horses.
• Use treats to reinforce good behavior during training.
• Treats are a supplement to forage, never a replacement.

Treats and Foods to Avoid

Not all foods are safe for your horse. Some can cause digestive issues or are toxic. Steer clear of these:

• Chocolate, candy, and other sugary human snacks: high in sugar and can contain compounds harmful to horses.
• Onions, garlic, leeks, and chives: can damage red blood cells in large amounts.
• Avocado: toxic to horses in all its parts.
• Tomatoes, potatoes, and other nightshades: can cause digestive and nervous-system issues.
• Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts: tend to cause uncomfortable gas.
• Stone fruits with pits left in: choking and cyanide risk; always remove pits from peaches, apricots, and similar fruit.
• Lawn clippings: ferment quickly and can lead to colic or laminitis.

When in doubt, introduce any new food slowly and check with your vet, especially for horses with metabolic conditions.

Reward Your Horse the Right Way

The best treats for horses are the ones that fit your horse's needs, whether that's a low-sugar snack, a natural reward, or a soft treat for a senior. Explore the full range of healthy horse treats at HardyPaw and find the perfect way to reward your horse today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How many treats can I give my horse per day?

Ans: Treats should only make up a small fraction of your horse's diet. A handful of treats spread across the day is plenty for most horses. Always feed in small amounts and adjust based on your horse's size and activity level.

Q2: Are apple treats for horses safe?

Ans: Yes, apple treats for horses are generally safe and a firm favorite. Choose low-sugar commercial options for metabolic horses, and if feeding fresh apples, do so in moderation and remove the core.

Q3: What are the best treats for horses with metabolic issues?

Ans: Look for low-sugar, low-starch treats with less than 10% combined sugar and starch, such as SmartEquine Peppermint or Omega Fields Nibblers. Always introduce them gradually.

Q4: What treats work best for a picky horse?

Ans: Strong, familiar flavors like peppermint, apple, and carrot tend to win over fussy eaters. Soft-textured options such as Stud Muffins or the German Horse Muffin are also easy crowd-pleasers.

Q5: What are good treats for senior horses?

Ans: Senior horses do best with soft, easy-to-chew treats. Manna Pro Nutrigood Senior Snax and Omega Fields Nibblers are formulated to be gentle on aging teeth while still tasting great.

Q6: Do horse treats help with training?

Ans: Absolutely. Used as positive reinforcement, treats make excellent training rewards. Small, soft treats that horses can chew quickly are ideal for keeping a session moving.