Stable Eyes
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Sweets and Treats
Do you pull out a nice big carrot when you want to say, “I Love
You” or “Good Job!” to your horse or pony?
There’s nothing wrong with giving a treat once in a while, but too many
treats can cause problems. Pushy or
aggressive behavior and biting are often the result of being fed treats
incorrectly. Here are some Dos and
Don’ts for keeping you safe and your horse sweet when feeding treats. · Do watch your fingers! The best way to feed treats is in a bucket or other container that is big enough for your horse’s muzzle and strong enough that he can’t bite through it. We all love to hand feed animals. But did you ever wonder why petting zoos are filled mostly with sheep and goats? It is because they have no top teeth to bite you. Not only does feeding treats in a bucket protect your fingers, but it also gives the horse a very clear signal that it is time for treats. If you do hand-feed treats, be sure to keep your hand flat. Any fingers that are curled up may become part of the treat. · Don’t feed treats to horses when they are loose in a group unless you are on the other side of a fence. If you walk into a pasture with a treat, all the horses and ponies will want some. They will crowd around you and then try to chase each other away to get the treats for themselves. This is a very dangerous situation! It is very easy for you to get caught in between the horses and get kicked or stepped on. A kick from a horse can be deadly. · Do choose the right treats. Apples and carrots are always a favorite. Sugar cubes often cause problems. Sure the horses love them; they sometimes love them too much! This treat is the one most likely to cause biting and aggressive behaviors. Not only do some horses go nuts for them, but also their small size makes it hard for the horse to tell when you are offering it, especially if you hand feed your treats. Hard candy, like peppermints, often cause these problems too. Cavities are not a problem for horses because their teeth keep growing throughout their life, but sugar has no benefits for the horse. In fact, many trainers have found that very high strung and nervous horses will become much calmer when they remove all sugar (feeds often contain molasses, which is a type of sugar) from their diet. · Don’t play cute games like “Find the Carrot.” It may seem like harmless fun to hide a carrot in your pocket and let your horse or pony sniff and poke around you to find it, but it teaches your horse to be demanding and pushy for his treats. You should always be in a dominant position and clearly offering your horse or pony their treats. When you play “Find the Carrot” you are teaching your horse to be disrespectful—something you never want to do with an animal that outweighs you by several hundred pounds. · Do use treats when introducing a horse to a scary object for the first time. Treats can work wonders when teaching a horse to load in a trailer. You can also use it to teach your horse to step onto a tarp or mock bridge for a trail class. Instead of pulling and pushing and hitting to make your horse step up on the obstacle, try putting a small amount of grain or other treat on it and wait--eventually his desire for the treat will probably win over his fear of the obstacle. The lowering of his head and chewing will also help him relax. · Don’t feed treats too often. How often is too often? This will depend on your horse or pony’s personality and appetite. If your horse or pony is looking for and expecting treats from you, you are feeding them too often. Treats should always be a welcomed surprise. · Do remember that while horses and ponies always love to eat -- the feelings of love and the concept of a reward is better understood by your horse in other ways. Consistent handling, knowing what is expected of him, working without physical discomfort, petting, stroking and soothing voice tones are the rewards your horse or pony will understand the best. Occasional treats can strengthen the bond between you, but too many treats can weaken your relationship.
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