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The best Christmas gifts for horses are things they eat, lick or wear in winter: a bag of low-sugar treats, a Likit lick toy for stall days, a slow-feed hay net, a fleece cooler and a heated water bucket that keeps the water from freezing. For the photo on Christmas morning, add a Santa hat made for horse ears and take it off when the picture is done. Shopping for the person who owns the horse? See our Christmas gifts for horse owners.
I grew up on a small farm in the south of France with two horses, a gray mare called Fleur and an old bay gelding who had pulled a cart in his youth. On Christmas Eve my father walked out to the stalls with a quartered apple for each of them and one extra flake of hay. The apple got the attention. The hay was the gift that mattered: digesting fiber is how a horse stays warm on a cold night. Most of the gifts below follow the same logic. They keep a horse eating slowly, drinking enough and comfortable through the coldest weeks of the year, with a few treats and festive extras on top.
Christmas gifts for horses at a glance
| Gift | Best for | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Mrs. Pastures X-Mas Stocking Cookies | The horse’s Christmas stocking | Treat |
| German Horse Muffins | Picky eaters | Treat |
| Buckeye Peppermint Bits, No Sugar Added | Horses that love mint | Treat |
| Manna Pro NutriGood Low-Sugar Treats | Easy keepers and sugar-sensitive horses | Treat |
| Kelcie’s Pumpkin Spice Treats | A seasonal flavor | Treat |
| Likit Holder | Horses stalled through bad weather | Stall toy |
| Likit Granola Refills, 3 Pack | Topping up a Likit Holder | Stall toy refill |
| Horsemen’s Pride Stall Snack | A spinning lick toy | Stall toy |
| Horsemen’s Pride Jolly Ball | Playful young horses | Toy |
| Amazing Graze Treat Ball | Paddock foraging | Toy |
| Himalayan Salt on a Rope | Every stall | Lick |
| Weaver Slow Feed Hay Net | Making hay last all night | Feeder |
| Weaver 7-Piece Grooming Kit | New owners and kids | Grooming |
| SleekEZ Shedding Blade | Thick winter coats | Grooming |
| HandsOn Grooming Gloves | Head-shy horses | Grooming |
| Cowboy Magic Rosewater Shampoo and Conditioner | The first warm bath day | Grooming |
| Absorbine ShowSheen | Tangled manes and tails | Grooming |
| Tough 1 Great Grip Hoof Pick | Stockings | Hoof care |
| Farnam Horseshoer’s Secret | Dry, cracked hooves | Hoof care |
| Absorbine Veterinary Liniment Gel | Older horses and hard workers | Comfort |
| Tough 1 Softfleece Contour Cooler | Drying off after winter rides | Winter |
| Tough 1 Fleece Halter Tubes | Halter rubs | Winter |
| API Heated Flat Back Bucket | Barns where water freezes | Winter |
| HotHands Hand Warmers, 40 Pairs | Warming a cold bit | Winter |
| Leather Halter with Engraved Name Plate | A keepsake gift | Personalized |
| Tough 1 Santa Horse Hat | Christmas photos | Festive |
| Tough 1 Holiday Horse Antlers | Parades and barn parties | Festive |
| Western Horse Christmas Stocking | Hanging on the stall door | Festive |
What a horse actually wants for Christmas
A horse wants three things in winter: forage, unfrozen water and company. Asked on Reddit what their horses were getting for Christmas, owners answered with butt scratches, extra alfalfa, a sprinkle of ground flax and a warm mash. One answer topped the thread: an old gelding getting his retirement paid for, one more year. None of that comes in a box, and all of it beats anything that does.
Hay is the main heat source. Bacteria in the hindgut break down fiber and give off heat as they work. An adult horse eats 1.5 to 2 percent of its body weight in hay a day, so a 1,000-pound horse eats 15 to 20 pounds. Extension specialists estimate that a horse with a heavy winter coat starts to need extra energy once the temperature or wind chill drops below about 30 °F, and for every 10 degrees colder it needs about 2 more pounds of hay a day. On a windy, wet day near freezing that rises to 4 to 8 extra pounds.
Water is the other half. Horses drink 8 to 12 gallons a day but drink less as water gets colder, and dry hay plus too little water is a common route to impaction colic. Water kept between 45 and 65 °F gets drunk. A horse would have to eat six times as much snow to get the same amount of water.
Our water trough had a skin of ice most January mornings, and my father broke it with a mallet before the sun was up. On the coldest days it froze over again by afternoon and the horses stood beside it without drinking. That is the reason a heated bucket sits on this list: it does the job without anyone standing in the cold with a mallet.
Christmas treats and stocking stuffers for horses
Treats are the easiest horse gift to get right and the easiest to overdo. A handful a day is plenty for most horses. Horses with insulin resistance, Cushing’s disease (PPID) or a history of laminitis need treats low in sugar and starch, and some owners of these horses feed no commercial treats at all. If you are buying for someone else’s horse, ask first. Most owners will be glad you did.
Carrots and apples are fine in small amounts. Cut carrots lengthwise into sticks rather than round coins, which are the right size to lodge in a horse’s throat.
Best Christmas stocking for a horse
1. Mrs. Pastures X-Mas Stocking Horse Cookies
This is a small Christmas stocking already filled with Mrs. Pastures cookies, the round oat and apple treats that have been sold in feed stores for decades. It arrives ready to hang on a stall door, which makes it the simplest gift on this list for a horse you don’t know well. The stocking holds 8 ounces of cookies, enough for a couple of weeks of rewards.
- 8 ounces of Mrs. Pastures cookies in a holiday stocking
- Sold as a seasonal holiday item, so stock runs out before Christmas most years
- Made with grains and molasses
Good: giftable as is, no wrapping needed. Not great: contains molasses, so it is not a pick for sugar-sensitive horses.
Best for picky eaters
2. The German Horse Muffin
German Horse Muffins are soft, dense rounds about an inch and a quarter across, small enough to break in half for training. Owners of fussy horses rate them highly: this 1-pound bag holds a 4.9-star average across more than 700 Amazon ratings, the highest of any horse treat we found with that many reviews. The soft texture also suits older horses with worn teeth.
- 1-pound bag of soft baked treats
- Each treat about 1.25 inches across
- Also sold in a 6-pound resealable pouch
Good: soft enough for seniors, small enough for training. Not great: sweetened, so keep them for healthy horses.
Best peppermint treat
3. Buckeye All-Natural No Sugar Added Peppermint Bits
Plenty of horses go wild for peppermint, and the usual way to feed it is to unwrap a candy cane mint from the barn jar. Buckeye’s Peppermint Bits get their flavor from peppermint oil instead of a sugar candy. The 4-pound bag reseals, so it keeps in a tack trunk through the season.
- Flavored with natural peppermint oil
- No added sugar, no artificial flavors or preservatives
- 4-pound resealable bag
Good: the peppermint horses love without a sugar candy. Not great: no added sugar is not the same as low starch; check the label for a metabolic horse.
Best low-sugar treat
4. Manna Pro NutriGood Low-Sugar Apple Horse Treats
These are the treats to give when you don’t know the horse’s health history. Manna Pro builds them on beet pulp and soybean hulls, two fiber sources common in low-sugar feeds, and says they contain 80 percent less sugar and starch than leading horse treats. They still taste of apple, and the 4-pound bag lasts a long time at a few treats a day.
- Beet pulp and soybean hull base, apple flavored
- Made in the USA, no artificial colors or flavors
- 4-pound bag
Good: the safest default for an unknown horse or an easy keeper. Not great: a firm pellet, less exciting than a soft cookie for a picky horse.
Best seasonal flavor
5. Kelcie’s Pumpkin Spice Horse Treats
Kelcie’s makes small-batch horse treats sold as low in sugar, starch and carbohydrates. The pumpkin spice flavor makes a good stocking filler next to a regular treat bag, and the 8-ounce size suits a gift for a barn friend’s horse.
- Pumpkin spice flavor
- Sold as low sugar, low starch
- 8-ounce bag
Good: a festive flavor that is still sold as low sugar. Not great: a small bag for the money compared with the 4-pound bags above.
Stall toys and boredom busters
Winter is when horses spend the most hours in a stall: ice in the paddock, early dark, storms. A horse is built to forage for 14 hours or more a day, and a horse that runs out of hay at midnight has nothing to do until breakfast. Bored stalled horses pick up habits like cribbing, wood chewing and weaving. Lick toys and slow feeders stretch out eating time, which is why they are the most useful gifts in this guide after hay itself.
Best stall toy
6. Likit Holder
The Likit Holder is a hanging plastic cage that holds a hard flavored lick block. It swings on its rope as the horse licks, so the horse has to work for each taste. Likit designed this holder as the easy entry model, with a low level of challenge for horses that have never used one. Hang it away from walls so it moves freely. The holder comes empty: add a refill such as the granola pack below.
- Takes Likit refills, Likit Himalayan salt or Likit Granola (sold separately)
- Rope included for hanging
- Comes in several colors
Good: the best-known horse lick toy, and refills come in many flavors. Not great: refills are the ongoing cost, and a determined horse can finish one fast.
Best Likit refill
7. Likit Granola Multigrain Refills, 3 Pack
Granola blocks are pressed maize, wheat, barley and oats, made to fit the Likit Holder and Likit Boredom Breaker. Likit says each one lasts up to 10 days, so a 3-pack covers most of the cold weeks around Christmas. Pair this with the holder above and you have a complete gift.
- Three 19.4-ounce granola blocks
- Fits the Likit Holder and Boredom Breaker
- Up to 10 days per block, according to Likit
Good: lasts longer than the sugary lick refills. Not great: grain based, so not for horses on a grain-free diet.
Best spinning lick toy
8. Horsemen’s Pride Stall Snack
The Stall Snack works on the same idea as the Likit but spins as well as swings, so the treat block keeps moving away from the horse’s tongue. It comes with one apple block, and refills come in apple, mint and blueberry. The maker says a block lasts about three weeks when used as directed.
- Holder plus one apple treat block
- Spins and swings when hung away from walls
- Refills in apple, mint and blueberry
Good: one of the longest-lasting blocks in this guide. Not great: the treat block is sugar based.
Best toy for playful horses
9. Horsemen’s Pride 10-Inch Jolly Ball, Apple Scented
The Jolly Ball is a solid rubber ball with a handle that a horse can grab with its teeth, toss and drag around the paddock. It needs no air, so it can’t be popped. Young horses and geldings that like to mouth things tend to play with it most; some older horses ignore it. With almost 9,000 ratings, it is by far the most-reviewed horse toy on Amazon.
- 10-inch ball with a molded handle
- Apple scent to get the horse’s interest
- Does not need inflating, does not pop
Good: works in a stall or a paddock, and lasts for years. Not great: not every horse cares for it, and the scent fades.
Best treat-dispensing toy
10. Horsemen’s Pride Amazing Graze
Amazing Graze is a large plastic ball with holes that drop pellets or treats as the horse rolls it with its nose. It turns a few handfuls of food into a slow foraging session, which suits a paddock or a large stall. Use it with the horse’s usual pelleted feed or low-sugar treats.
- Heavy-duty polyethylene, about 20 inches across
- Fill with pellets or small treats
- For paddocks and large stalls
Good: slows down fast eaters and gets the horse moving. Not great: needs a clean, dry floor; pellets lost in mud or deep bedding are wasted.
Best stocking stuffer for any horse
11. Horsemen’s Pride Himalayan Salt Block on Rope, 4.4 Pounds
Every horse needs salt, and salt drives thirst, which matters in winter when horses drink less. A Himalayan block on a rope hangs at head height in a stall and is hard enough to resist biting. Treat it as salt, not as a mineral supplement: the trace minerals in pink salt are present in small amounts. It is cheap, useful and fits in a stocking.
- 4.4-pound natural Himalayan rock salt
- Adjustable rope included
- Also sold in a 2.2-pound size
Good: nearly every horse uses it. Not great: it can drip in a humid barn, so hang it over a bucket or a mat.
Most useful gift for winter
12. Weaver Equine Slow Feed Hay Net
A slow-feed hay net has small holes, here 1 to 1.5 inches, that make the horse pull out a few strands at a time. The same flake of hay that disappears in an hour off the floor can last most of the night in a net. That keeps the gut working and the horse warmer and less bored between meals. Weaver’s 36-inch synthetic rope net is the most-reviewed slow feeder on Amazon. Hang it high enough that a shod hoof can’t reach it once the net is empty and sags.
- 36-inch synthetic rope net
- Small 1 to 1.5-inch holes
- Comes in several colors
Good: the cheapest way to make hay last longer. Not great: slow to fill, and some horses get frustrated with small holes for the first few days.
Grooming and hoof care gifts
Grooming is how a horse and its person spend time together in winter, even on days too icy to ride. A good brush session lifts dirt and loose hair, spreads skin oils through the coat and gives the owner a close look at legs and hooves. Most horses love it, especially a long scratch along the withers.
Best grooming kit
13. Weaver Equine 7-Piece Grooming Kit
This kit covers every brush a horse needs: a palm curry comb, a dandy brush for mud, a face brush, a mane and tail brush, a comb, a hoof pick and a sweat scraper with a coarse curry on the back. It all fits in a nylon tote with six outer pockets and plastic feet that keep the bottom off a wet barn floor. It makes a strong first gift for a new owner or a child starting lessons, and comes in 12 colors.
- Seven tools plus a pocketed tote
- Plastic feet on the tote base
- Comes in 12 colors
Good: everything in one bag, with over 3,500 ratings at 4.7 stars. Not great: experienced owners already have most of these.
Best for winter coats
14. SleekEZ 10-Inch Shedding Blade
The SleekEZ is a wooden handle with a wavy stainless steel blade that pulls loose hair and dried mud out of a thick coat without cutting it. Horse owners keep one in the grooming box for the heavy shed in spring, but it also lifts caked mud off a winter coat between baths. It is made in the USA and has close to 6,000 ratings.
- 10-inch patented wave blade
- Poplar wood handle
- Made in the USA
Good: fast on thick coats and dried mud. Not great: too rough for the face and bony legs.
Best for sensitive horses
15. HandsOn Grooming Gloves
These gloves have rubber nodules on the palms and fingers, so grooming feels like a massage. They suit horses that dislike stiff brushes, and they reach the face, ears and legs where a curry comb can’t go. They work wet in the wash rack too. Pick the size for the owner’s hand, not the horse.
- One pair, sized for the person
- Rubber nodules on palms and fingers
- Usable dry or during a bath
Good: gentle enough for the face and legs. Not great: slower than a curry comb on a muddy body.
Best shampoo gift
16. Cowboy Magic Rosewater Shampoo and Conditioner
Few horses get a full bath in December, so this is a gift for the first warm day of spring or for a heated wash stall. The rosewater shampoo is sulfate free and the conditioner uses silk protein and panthenol to soften the coat. Two 32-ounce bottles last a full season of baths.
- 32-ounce shampoo and 32-ounce conditioner
- Sulfate free
- Rose scent
Good: a crowd favorite among show owners. Not great: not much use until bath weather returns.
Best detangler
17. Absorbine ShowSheen Hair Polish and Detangler
Winter manes and tails knot up with burrs and hay. ShowSheen coats each hair so a brush slides through without tearing hair out, and it leaves a shine. Spray the tail, let it dry and then pick it out by hand or with a wide brush. Keep it off the saddle area, as it makes the coat slippery.
- 32-ounce spray bottle
- Detangles and adds shine
- Gallon refill also sold
Good: a tack-room standard for good reason. Not great: slippery where a saddle sits.
Best small stocking stuffer
18. Tough 1 Great Grip Hoof Pick with Brush
A horse person can never own too many hoof picks: they get dropped in shavings, left in a trailer and borrowed. This one has a cushioned handle that is easier on cold fingers, a strong metal pick and a stiff brush. In winter a pick clears packed snow and ice balls from shod hooves before the horse goes out. It comes in six colors, so it’s easy to buy one per horse.
- Metal pick and stiff brush
- Soft cushioned handle
- Comes in six colors
Good: cheap, useful and stocking-sized. Not great: the brush wears out before the pick does.
Best hoof care gift
19. Farnam Horseshoer’s Secret Hoof Conditioner
Winter swings hooves between wet snow and dry, cold air, and dry hooves can crack. Horseshoer’s Secret is a conditioner with avocado oil, glycerin and mineral oil, brushed on at the coronary band and sole. Ask the owner’s farrier first: some prefer hooves left alone, and they know that horse’s feet best.
- 32-ounce tub with brush-on application
- Avocado oil, glycerin and mineral oil
- Pine tar free
Good: a top-rated conditioner with almost 1,500 ratings. Not great: not needed on a horse with healthy, moist feet.
Best gift for an older horse
20. Absorbine Veterinary Liniment Gel
Absorbine liniment is a menthol and herbal gel rubbed into sore muscles and stiff joints after work. Older horses often move stiffly on cold mornings, and owners rub it into legs and backs as part of their routine. This gel has more than 34,000 ratings, the most of any product in this guide, and it is show-safe for USEF competition when used as directed on the label. Never use it on broken skin or under a wrap.
- 12-ounce gel with spearmint scent
- Natural menthol and herbal extracts
- Show-safe for USEF when used as labeled
Good: a barn staple that every owner uses up. Not great: it eases soreness; it does not treat lameness. A lame horse needs a vet.
Winter comfort gifts
A healthy horse with a full winter coat, shelter from wind and enough hay handles cold better than most owners expect. Penn State Extension notes that a horse’s lower critical temperature ranges from about 5 to 40 °F depending on coat, body condition and shelter, compared with about 70 °F for a person. A thick coat traps air when the hair stands up, and a blanket flattens that coat. The winter gifts below are for the times a horse really needs help: drying off after a ride, staying warm while old or thin, and having water that isn’t frozen.
Best winter gift for any barn
21. API 5-Gallon Heated Flat Back Bucket
This bucket has a 115-watt heater built into the base with a thermostat, so it keeps water above freezing without making it warm. The flat back hangs flush against a stall wall or fence. The cord is wrapped in a chew-resistant sheath, and the bucket is CSA and UL listed. Hang it where the horse can’t reach the plug, and check the outlet is on a GFCI circuit.
- 20 quarts (5 gallons)
- 115-watt thermostatic heater with overheat protection
- Chew-resistant cord, CSA and UL listed
Good: no more breaking ice, and horses keep drinking. Not great: needs a safe outlet near the stall, which many older barns lack.
Best cooler
22. Tough 1 Softfleece Contour Cooler
A cooler is a fleece sheet put on a sweaty horse after a winter ride. It wicks moisture off the coat so the horse dries without getting chilled, which is the main winter risk for a horse that works. It also works as a light layer on a cold, dry day. You will need the horse’s blanket size, measured from the center of the chest around to the tail; this one comes in Medium, Large and X-Large.
- Moisture-wicking fleece
- Contoured fit with Quick Grip front closures
- Sizes Medium, Large and X-Large, in nine colors
Good: the right tool for drying a horse in cold weather. Not great: not waterproof or warm enough for turnout in rain or snow.
Best small comfort gift
23. Tough 1 Fleece Halter Set
These are four fleece tubes that close over the straps of a nylon halter with Quick Grip fasteners. They stop the rubbing and hair loss a halter can cause on the nose and behind the ears, which is worse when a thick winter coat gets trapped under the straps. They come in 11 colors and fit most standard halters.
- Four fleece tubes
- Quick Grip closures fit over most halters
- Comes in 11 colors
Good: a cheap fix for a common problem. Not great: fleece collects hay and burrs and needs regular washing.
Best bit warmer
24. HotHands Hand Warmers, 40 Pairs
A metal bit on a freezing morning is like licking a cold flagpole. Riders on Reddit say dedicated bit warmers are hard to find and that plain hand warmers do the job: wrap one around the bit inside the bridle bag on the way to the barn. My father did the same thing with no gadget at all, tucking Fleur’s bridle inside his coat on the walk to the barn. These air-activated warmers last up to 10 hours, and the 40-pair box covers a whole winter of rides and cold hands.
- 40 pairs of air-activated warmers
- Up to 10 hours of heat each
- No preparation, open the packet and wait a few minutes
Good: warms the bit and the rider. Not great: single-use; never leave a warmer where a horse can eat it.
Best personalized gift
25. Leaders Leather Halter with Engraved Name Plate
A leather halter with the horse’s name on a brass plate is the keepsake on this list. Leather also breaks under enough force, which makes it a safer choice than nylon for a horse tied or turned out. This one has a solid brass name plate engraved to order and solid brass hardware. Sizes run from Mini and Yearling to Pony, Cob, Horse, Oversize and Draft; this link opens on the Horse size. Order early, since engraving adds days to delivery.
- 3/4-inch brown leather with solid brass hardware
- Thick engraved brass name plate
- Nine sizes from Mini to Draft
Good: a gift that lasts for years and is personal. Not great: you need the horse’s name spelled right and the right size.
Festive extras for Christmas photos
A Santa hat or antlers makes the best Christmas card photo of the year, and some horses take them in stride. Introduce the hat slowly, let the horse sniff it first, and keep a person at the horse’s head the whole time. Take it off as soon as the photos are done: a horse left alone in a hat can catch the ties on a fence or panic when it slips over an eye.
Best Santa hat for a horse
26. Tough 1 Santa Horse Hat
This red felt hat is cut with two ear openings so it sits between the horse’s ears, and it closes with Quick Grip fasteners instead of an elastic strap. It is light, at about 3 ounces, which most horses ignore after a minute. It is made for holiday photos and parades, the two places it belongs.
- Red felt with white trim
- Two ear openings
- Quick Grip closures
Good: fits horse ears properly, unlike a human Santa hat. Not great: felt gets damp in snow.
Best for barn parties
27. Tough 1 Holiday Horse Antlers
These soft cotton antlers slip onto the crownpiece of a halter or headstall instead of resting on the horse’s head. That makes them more secure than a hat for a walk in a Christmas parade or a costume class at a holiday show.
- Soft cotton antlers
- Slip onto most halters and headstalls
- About 5 ounces
Good: attaches to tack, so it stays put. Not great: cotton stuffing flattens after a few seasons.
Best stocking to fill yourself
28. Western Horse Christmas Stocking
If you’d rather choose the treats, start with an empty stocking. This one is 17.7 inches long, big enough for a bag of treats, a hoof pick and a salt block on a rope, with a hanging loop for the stall door. It comes in 14 designs. Hang it on the outside of the stall, out of the horse’s reach.
- 17.7 by 11 inches
- Polyester with a hanging loop
- 14 designs
Good: holds a full set of stocking stuffers from this guide. Not great: a horse will chew it if it hangs within reach.
Christmas gifts to skip for horses
- Chocolate and Christmas cookies. Chocolate contains theobromine, which is toxic to horses in quantity and a banned substance at horse shows.
- Beer. Some owners on Reddit give their horse a Christmas beer. A sip won’t hurt a healthy horse, but it adds nothing a horse needs.
- Big bags of sugary treats for a metabolic horse. For a horse with insulin resistance, PPID or past laminitis, sugar and starch are a real risk. Choose a low-sugar treat or a grooming gift instead.
- A blanket bought without measuring. A blanket that’s the wrong size rubs the shoulders and withers raw. Buy a cooler or blanket only when you know the horse’s size, or give a gift card to the owner’s tack shop.
- Ornaments, tinsel or ribbon inside the stall. Horses taste everything. Keep decorations on the outside of the stall door.
- A surprise horse. A horse lives 25 to 30 years or more and needs board, hay, a farrier and a vet for all of them. Use our horse years calculator to see how long that is in human terms.
How to choose a Christmas gift for a horse
- Ask about diet first. If the horse has insulin resistance, PPID or a history of laminitis, skip sugary treats and lick blocks.
- Think about where the horse lives. A stalled horse benefits most from a hay net and a lick toy. A horse at pasture gets more from a salt block, grooming tools and a heated bucket.
- Get sizes before buying tack. Coolers, blankets and halters all need the horse’s size. Treats, picks, gloves and salt don’t.
- Buy for the barn rules. Boarding barns often limit what can hang in a stall or plug into an outlet. Ask before buying a heated bucket or a hanging toy.
- Give time, too. A long grooming session, a hand walk on a sunny afternoon and an extra flake of hay on Christmas Eve are what a horse notices most.
Buying for the rider as well? Our Christmas gifts for horse owners guide covers barn tools, tack care, winter gloves and books for the people. For the other animals in the family, see our Christmas gifts for dogs and Christmas gifts for cats, or browse every guide on our buying guides page. If you are curious about a horse’s relatives, read the differences between donkeys and mules.
FAQ
What can I give my horse for Christmas?
Good Christmas gifts for a horse are low-sugar treats, a lick toy like the Likit Holder, a slow-feed hay net, a Himalayan salt block on a rope, grooming tools and a heated water bucket. An extra flake of hay and a long grooming session are free and just as welcome.
What is a good stocking stuffer for a horse?
A hoof pick, a small bag of horse treats, a salt block on a rope, a Likit refill or a pair of grooming gloves all fit in a stocking. The Mrs. Pastures X-Mas Stocking comes already filled with horse cookies.
Can horses eat candy canes or peppermints?
Many horses love peppermint, and an occasional peppermint candy won’t harm a healthy horse. Candy canes are almost pure sugar, so feed only a small piece and none to horses with insulin resistance or laminitis. Peppermint horse treats with no added sugar are a better choice.
What Christmas foods are bad for horses?
Avoid chocolate, which contains theobromine, along with human cookies, cakes and anything with onion or garlic. Large amounts of fruit, bread or sweets can upset a horse’s gut. Carrots and apples are safe in small amounts, cut into sticks or slices.
How many treats can I give my horse a day?
For most healthy horses, a handful of treats a day is enough. Treats should never replace hay or feed. Horses on a low-sugar diet should get only treats sold as low sugar and starch, and only with the owner’s or vet’s approval.
Do horses need a blanket for Christmas?
Most healthy horses with a full winter coat, shelter and enough hay don’t need a blanket. Penn State Extension recommends one when there’s no shelter and temperatures or wind chill drop below 5 °F, and for horses that are clipped, thin, old or sick. A fleece cooler is the better gift for a horse that’s ridden in winter.
Is a Likit toy safe for horses?
Likit toys are safe for most horses when hung at head height away from walls and refilled as the block wears down. The lick blocks are sugary, so limit them for horses with insulin resistance or choose the granola refills.
What do horses like for Christmas?
Horses like food, company and scratches. Owners on Reddit list extra alfalfa, warm mashes, new treats and long butt scratches as the gifts their horses enjoy most. A toy that makes hay or treats last longer adds to that.
Sources
- eXtension Horses. Winter Care for Horses.
- Penn State Extension. Equine Winter Wellness Tips.
- Penn State Extension. When to Blanket a Horse.
- r/Horses. What are you getting your horses for Christmas?
- r/Equestrian. Stocking stuffer gift recommendation: bit warmers?
- r/Equestrian. Christmas Gift Ideas.
