As horse owners, we often want to share a treat with our equine friends, but worry they will get bored with the traditional carrots, apples, and sugar cubes. To change things up and save money (all the more to spend on matching saddle pads and polo wraps) we have compiled 6 of the most popular horse treat recipes. Most just require a couple of cups of grain or oats, molasses, and apples, carrots, or pumpkin. So, find a friend, a large bowl, and a few baking pans and make horse treats.

The Ultimate Horse Cookie Recipe

Combining classic favorites into one natural horse treat, these horse cookies only require a handful of ingredients. You may substitute flaxseed or coconut oil for the vegetable oil and replace part of the molasses with applesauce to reduce sugar and make extra healthy horse treats.

  • 1 large carrot
  • 1 large apple
  • 1/2 cup molasses or honey
  • 2 cups oats
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon water (if needed)

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit (148.89 °C). Shred the carrot and apple into a large bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Shape into balls and set on a greased baking sheet. Bake for about 30 minutes, until golden brown. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to a week.

Peppermint Horse Kisses

Perfect for the holiday season, these festive cookies will have everyone behaving for those Christmas card photos. If you would like to avoid wheat, you may run some oats through the blender or food processor to make oat flour.

  • 1 1/4 cups steel-cut oats
  • 3/4 cups molasses
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup flax seed
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 cup apple pieces
  • 12 hard peppermint candies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176.67 °C) and grease a 12 cup muffin tin. Combine molasses and oats in a mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients, except for the peppermint candies. Fill muffin tins half full and bake for 15 minutes. Press peppermints into the tops of cookies, then remove from the pan and let cool. Store in an airtight container.

Pumpkin Patch Horse Cookies

These pumpkin treats are so sweet you might even take a nibble, but you may want to remove the pumpkin seeds first. Feel free to substitute canned pumpkin if you do not have a fresh pumpkin laying about.

  • 1 small pumpkin, baked
  • 1 18oz container rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon nutmeg

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190.56 °C) and line a cookie sheet with wax paper. Remove pumpkin from the shell and mash in a large mixing bowl. There is no need to remove the seeds and strings. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. If the mixture is still runny, add additional molasses to bind together. Shape into golf ball-sized balls and bake for 12-15 minutes. Store for up to a week in an airtight, refrigerated container.

Peanut Butter Apple DIY Horse Treats

These cute little treats are not only pony approved, but puppy safe too. To make mini ‘doughnuts’ roll sections of dough into a cylinder, then pinch together at the ends in an O shape. To make pony ‘croissants’ roll out the dough and cut into triangle shapes before rolling, starting at the wide end and curling ends in slightly when finished. You may also use cookie cutters, reducing baking time by 5-7 minutes depending on size.

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 apple
  • 3/4 cup peanut butter
  • 3/4 cup water

Preheat the oven to 325 Fahrenheit (162.78 °C). Grate the apple and squeeze out excess moisture. Mix dry ingredients. Add apple, peanut butter, then slowly add enough of the water to form a manageable dough. If the dough becomes too sticky, just add additional flour. Form into desired shapes and bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. If desired you may glaze or frost with icing made from 1 cup powdered sugar and 1-2 tablespoons of milk. Sprinkles are pure sugar and are also safe for decorating horse treats.

Sweet Feed Horse Cookies

This horse cookie recipe makes plenty and is perfect if you have a whole barnful of begging equines. For added fiber substitute whole wheat flour or add a few tablespoons salt to encourage water intake.

  • 4 cups sweet feed
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 3 cups molasses
  • 2 grated carrots
  • 2 grated apples
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • powdered sugar for dusting

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204.44 °C) and grease baking sheets. In a large bowl mix all ingredients but the powdered sugar. Form mixture into small balls and press flat onto a baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes and let cool before dusting with powdered sugar.

Long-Lasting Cinnamon And Oat Treats

These homemade horse cookies hold up to storage as well as the store-bought ones. The recipe makes around 200 1 1/2 inch tasty treats so make sure you have an airtight container to store them in.

  • 4 cups oats
  • 1 cup flour
  • 2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup oil

Grind oats in a food processor until they resemble coarse flour. For a more natural look, just partially grind a portion of the oats so that some oat flakes remain. Mix oat flour and remaining dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add wet ingredients and combine thoroughly to make a stiff dough. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121.11 °C). Roll dough into teaspoon-sized balls and set on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Flatten to make treats about 1 1/2 inches across. Bake for 45 minutes, rotating baking sheets halfway through. Reduce oven temperature to 225 degrees Fahrenheit (107.22 °C) and bake another hour to hour and a half, rotating sheets twice to ensure even drying. Turn off the oven and let treats remain in the oven until they reach room temperature.

No-Bake Homemade Horse Treats

This four-ingredient horse treat recipe is so easy, it doesn’t even require baking. You can trade the peppermint in the center for butterscotch or your horse’s favorite hard candy to make this your own horse treat recipe.

  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • peppermints or other hard candy

Mix oats and water in a mixing bowl. Add molasses slowly until the mixture is sticky. Grease your hands lightly with vegetable or corn oil to prevent sticking and roll into inch and a half balls. Use your thumb to make an imprint in the ball and add peppermint. Chill uncovered in the refrigerator on a greased baking sheet or plate until hardened.

(Recipes adapted from Tanya davenport, horse authority, Pinterest, caseofhorseaddiction, horse manners, and stabletableand crafts.)