I’m looking for an easy to chew treat for training with the bit in the mouth.
Any suggestions, or things you’ve had luck with?
I want to be careful not to give anything that he may try to swallow whole, isn’t too sugary/bad, and that he may be enthusiastic about getting as a reward.
All suggestions are greatly appreciated.
well, i was going to say “sugar cubes” until you said not too sugary… i’ll offer what works for me, but they’re all sugary!
i also like the soft peppermints, they practically dissolve once theyre in the mouth and horses go crazy for them…
oh and, a carton of lofthouse or anise cookies – delightful for you and steed 
As a kid/teen I used to keep an apple on the fence/gate/wherever convenient, and bite off a small chunk to give to horse, since I figured the soft apple would be masticated quickly and not cause any choke. Of course, the horse will want to stop at that particular location a lot… but our particular fence design made it so I could store it at any location around the ring so the horse didn’t really anticipate a particulate location. I also used to keep a carrot tucked into my boot top, and bite off chunks… never had a horse choke on their carrot bit, but not saying it couldn’t happen.
These days, I keep sugar cubes in my breeches pocket. Sugar cubes are the best for dissolve-ability… and honestly that amount of sugar is probably no problem for all but the most insulin-resistant of horses. There is a ton of sugar in most processed treats, and even in carrots/apples too.
I’m still amazed someone has not invented some dissolve-able, low-sugar training treat!
Thank you so much for your input
Maybe those little butter/pastel mints–about the size of a cube, but turns to mush with moisture!
We use alfalfa based pellets, some call them cubes, but they are small.
Ours are a complete feed and horses like it, are quick to eat them and they are not messy:
https://www.hiprofeeds.com/products/alfa-pro
Horses really like those.
I keep MannPro Apple Wafers around. The bigger pieces I use for putting in grazing muzzles to put them on (nothing like having a horse seeking the muzzle!), and use the smaller pieces for training/treats. You can always break the bigger ones apart as well.
I’d never use them for showing though - makes the saliva look bloody! Stick to sugar cubes for shows.
My mare can eat anything with a snaffle bit in her mouth. Double bridle not so much.
I use peppermints horse’s love them. And no problem eating them with a curb bit. Can get a big bag of them cheap at Wal-Mart.
Small animal crackers chew up quickly. But the do have some sugar involved.
I have also used broken up bits of ginger snaps. Both of those have been a hit here.
I give my horse Buckeye’s No-Sugar Added Peppermint treats She has no problem eating them with the bit in her mouth. http://www.buckeyenutrition.com/products/all-natural-no-sugar-added-peppermint-bits-treats.aspx
I second the Buckeye sugar-free treats. They’re easy to chew and come in peppermint, carrot and apple flavors. My horses love them.
Buckeye treat prices are ridiculous 3.99 for a pound of peppermints. I can get peppermints at walmart for a 1.96 for a pound. Or 7.48 for 4 lbs no shipping either. Pay more if it says horse on it or some big name brand. Won’t buy actual horse treats way to pricey. For the few treats fed don’t think a small peppermint ,is going to add much sugar into a horse’s diet even if you gave 4 peppermints.
Those “horse treats” are not the same as a peppermint candy.
Ingredients for Buckeye peppermint treats:
Steamed Rolled Oats, Wheat Middlings, Ground Wheat, Kibbled Corn, Heat Processed Soybeans, Dried Whey, Brewers Yeast, Dried Molasses, Peppermint Oil, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Phosphate, Salt, Potassium Chlroide, Manganous Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Cobalt Sulfate, Sodium Selenite.
Still doesn’t make it worth the money at 3.99 a lb. :rolleyes: To each their own want pay 3.99 a pound so be it.
For treats I just feed a locally vproduced extruded feed that is low nsc and comes in larger chunks. It is alfalfa and soy hull based and tastes like sawdust to me but the horses love it. And I feel OK about feeding a handful in one training session. I wouldn’t feel OK about feeding candy or sugar regularly plus they are more expensive!
It is about $20 for a $50 lb bag, standard price range for an extruded feed here.
Same thing also gets sold as a treat in small bags at big markup.
Horse can eat it fine with a bit. Besides if a horse can dive for the grass and grab a mouthful with a bit, horse can eat treat just fine.
Dried bananas or apples.
Well, then don’t buy it.
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