Horse Treats - Feedback, Please!

[SirGali]

Hello!

I’m constantly trying to come up with new ways to fund my horse addiction. As a newly unemployed college student, this isn’t always the easiest thing. I’m thinking of making some “gourmet” horse treats to sell in personalized "(ex: Gali’s/Max’s/Jude’s/Horsename’s Treat Jar, with the labels done in Photoshop and printed up nicely) and custom labeled (with my “company’s” name and the treat type/flavor) 1 pt Mason Jars. I’m just tossing around the idea now, and before I go all out and buy labels and jars and start cookin’ up treats, I am looking for some feedback.

How often do you buy special treats?
What is your preferred brand?
How much would you expect to pay for a custom, reusable treat jar and ~1lb of shaped, flat cookie-treats?
Would you be more likely to buy the treats if they had something like flax in them, or were sugar free/IR safe?
Have you ever looked for treats on Etsy or eBay?
What would make you choose one gourmet brand over a competing product?

(If you are a dog owner, I’d appreciate you answering for both your dog and your horse - I’m thinking of going canine too :D)

Thank you!!

[Fairview_Horse_Cente]

You need to make sure they have a reasonably long shelf life.

[SirGali]

[QUOTE=Fairview Horse Center;5332141]
You need to make sure they have a reasonably long shelf life.[/QUOTE]

I’m aware. The horse treats I make last a good month or so if stored correctly - airtight (the jar) and in a cool, dark place.

I’d make the batches to-order, also.

[DressageGeek_Ribbon]

I bet there’s a demand for treats that can be fed to IR horses as well as non IR.

[snopbobil]

My horses get carrots and apples and only after being ridden, either 3 carrots or 1 apple. I don’t know why anyone would want to give there horses processed sugar filled treats when there’s real food alternatives out there.

[Lieslot]

How cool you never need treats snopbobil. Good for you & your horse :).
Carrots & apples can be a no-no for metabolic horses btw.

And some of us like to use treats, some horses just come to the gate at the mere sight of their owner (we’d like to think coz they love us), but usually it’s because of what’s in our pockets. Others have well trained horses, that come to the gate for just a kiss and others have horses that you have to chase around the field for half an hour before you catch them.
In my case some low sugar treats work like a charm.

Some of us have horses with issues when having to be shod or when picking out feet. Whilst I call a vet for sedation for every farrier visit, it’s nice I can do routine stuff with the help of some treats rather then some drugs or having to him his dinner midday already, to get his mind thru whatever issue we are dealing with.

Some people like to do groundwork, clicker-training, and a treat comes in handy at that time.

[palominosunite]

We don’t buy fancy, foo-foo treats (except at Christmas). Even so, as fancy as we get is Mrs. Pastures. I do feed carrots/apples more regularly, just because they’re easy to get, not because I’m a crazy health food nut (I’m not, but hubby is, alas).

I agree, make cookies that last. It’s so sad, watching our homemade cookies get moldy…

[Pookah]

I would definitely be interested, especially in “special needs” treats–I have an IR/Cushings horse, as well as a pony with Cushings plus only a few teeth left.

How often do you buy special treats? every few months
What is your preferred brand? varies depending on what I can get that is low sugar
How much would you expect to pay for a custom, reusable treat jar and ~1lb of shaped, flat cookie-treats? $8-12, and I think that is going to be the difficulty in your plan
Would you be more likely to buy the treats if they had something like flax in them, or were sugar free/IR safe? YES
Have you ever looked for treats on Etsy or eBay? no
What would make you choose one gourmet brand over a competing product? price, research, healthy ingredients

What I think you especially need to look into is shipping cost. I have ordered treats online before to get IR-safe ones, and one of the problems is that they are just insanely expensive if you feed a couple of treats a day, plus shipping. I would size your containers to fit into a USPS flat rate box, if possible. I would definitely look into shipping costs as part of your design process, so that you can maximize the size containers you’re using while keeping shipping costs low–because you have to remember that many people can swing by TSC or similar and pick up a big bag of treats cheap. Metabolic and other special treats are definitely in demand, but not enough in demand-you will need some “normal” horses too to have enough demand to support your business. But yes, sign me up as a customer :). I am planning to experiment this weekend with making IR-safe treats that are mushy enough for the old pony–I would much rather just buy them!!

[tabula_rashah]

While I don’t think I’d splurge on something like this for my own horses they sound like they would make great gifts

[jumpytoo]

sounds like an interesting idea

I would add to the line by adding some treats for riders like:

Bob’s Can O’Courage filled with something involving chocolate, like mini smores and maybe a picture of a horse and rider balking at a jump or spooking

Airborne fall of treats for those people to bring who “owe” a fall off item at the barn. We usually do a cake or some kind of alcohol but some easy hand-manageable treat item would be handy and easy to pass out.

just some thoughts… we are all about quirkiness at my barn

[Pookah]

@jumpytoo;5334932

Airborne fall of treats for those people to bring who “owe” a fall off item at the barn. We usually do a cake or some kind of alcohol but some easy hand-manageable treat item would be handy and easy to pass out.

Please share about the “fall off item” idea–sounds like a fun tradition!

[Go_Fish]

My horses get carrots and apples plus whatever I’m eating. My gelding thinks that if I’m eating it, he wants some, too.

I don’t buy special horse treats because they are just too expensive when compared to fresh carrots and apples. None of my horses care WHAT I give them…just that I give them something.

[KateKat]

you definitely have to find a niche market if you’re going to do this. There are quite a few “gourmet” brands out there right now (Paddock Cakes, Nickerbait, and there’s another new one I’m forgetting. Paddock Cakes is the largest, though). Or, if you can figure out how to do the same thing for significantly less, you’ll probably have a winner on your hands as well because for a 1lb jar, Paddock Cakes run about $15. Too expensive to do as an everday thing, when a bag of carrots cost me $5! Plus, if my horse is getting anything sugary, I can just head to the Dollar Store for $1 Ginger Snaps

[2DogsFarm]

@Lieslot;5332771

Carrots & apples can be a no-no for metabolic horses btw.

Good & Valid point, Lieslot!
Both carrots & apples are high in fructose - hardly the thing for a horse with problems metabolizing sugars.

OP:
A month of shelf life is not so good for a horse treat unless you are talking very small quantities in that Mason jar.
And would that then be cost effective/profitable for you?

My fave cheap treat is dry pasta.
I know - not for the IR horse since starches metabolize as sugar.
But you can’t beat 2# for $1 at the Dollar Store & they LOFF the crunchiness & (?)flavor.
Shape does not seem to matter.
Spaghetti is good for little kids as they can hold the strands and not get too near to horsey grabby lips & teeth.

[IronwoodFarm]

Product liability insurance is not easy to find nor is it cheap. It would be very risky to make and market product that is ingested by horses without insurance.

[Fairview_Horse_Cente]

@2DogsFarm;5336113

My fave cheap treat is dry pasta.

My favorite cheap treat is the same for horses as myself - Oatmeal Squares Cereal. 24 ounces at Superwalmart for $2.99 I love the maple, but the brown sugar flavor is good too. :yes:

[SirGali]

[QUOTE=IronwoodFarm;5336450]
Product liability insurance is not easy to find nor is it cheap. It would be very risky to make and market product that is ingested by horses without insurance.[/QUOTE]

I didn’t think of that, but now that you mention it I guess treats are off the table for now.

Maybe I’ll just make customizable treat jars and include a treat recipe card

[jumpytoo]

Pookah
Please share about the “fall off item” idea–sounds like a fun tradition!

most every barn I have been at (starting as a wee child) has the same program…
pretty simple, if you fall off you owe something
for kids it’s usually bake a cake or cupcakes
for adults its champagne or some other adult sharaable beverage.

There can be very very long “dry spells” then a windy day in spring and BOOM, allotta cakes show up at the barn. It’s fun and keeps the moment light hearted.

and “near misses” usually are followed by "Ha, no CAKE for you ! " (lately,in lame eastern europeon accents lie the soup nazi guy,lol)

[Samakifish]

Hi. I just joined! We have racing and polo in Kenya where i live and lots of horseback riding safaris. Very exciting in the bush with the lions and tigers! Everyone welcome… i just want to say that i am starting to make pure natural baked coconut chips for horses. And dogs! Its vegan superfood. I am also asking for feedback. I know shelflife is critical so i am onto that. Any other thoughts? Please.

[Write_amp_Ride]

SirGali, the number of horse treat varieties has grown tremendously. There are several that target IR horses and those with restricted diets. I work at a large tack store and our buyer gets samples and vendor inquiries on a regular basis. The hot variety now is treats with hemp/CBD. Lots of competition out there. You are smart to ask for advice before just jumping in!
Having said that, if you have something unique, you can always start very local (I love your idea of treat jars) and donate to events to get exposure. There are always horse shows, polo tournaments, equine rescue fundraisers that would welcome a donation for prizes or silent auction. You then benefit from the exposure and horses trying your treats and wanting more.