Homemade Horse Treats

 Almost everyone loves to feed their horses treats---lots of them. Horses can be found nibbling at their owner's pockets, searching for a peppermint or a horse biscuit. Have you ever considered the benefits of homemade treats? For people who love to bake, they can be a cheaper, and possibly even healthier, alternative to store-bought biscuits. I've been going through an old horse health magazine that my dad picked up from New Zealand several years ago and found some recipes for homemade herbal biscuits.

Biscuits for a Healthy Coat
2 cups feed(pellets or whatever you usually use)
2 cups rolled oats
1 ounce dried nettle powder
30 grams dried mint leaves, crumbled(brings out dapples)
1 cup flax seeds(fatty acids to make healthy coat)
1 cup molasses
1/4 cup of brown sugar

1. Preheat oven to 356 F(180 C) and lightly grease the cookie sheet you will be using. 
2. Combine all of the ingredients. If it doesn't have a sticky enough consistency, add a little water. 
3. Drop the mixture onto the greased cookie sheet by the spoonful.
4. Bake for an hour, then let them cool for another hour before removing them from the tray. Store in an airtight container. 



Horses love being fed treats. source

5. Feed to your horse!

Nutrition Biscuits
1 cup of old fashioned oats
1/2 cup shredded carrot
1 cup oatmeal(quick oats)
1/4 molasses
1/4 water
1/4 dried rose hip powder
2 tablespoons dried ginger powder
30 grams dried chamomile flowers
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 356 F(180 C) and grease a cookie sheet.
2. Stir ingredients well. It should come out as a sticky mixture.
3. Scoop out a heaping spoonful of the mixture, then roll in your hands until it forms into a ball. Set on the greased cookie sheet and repeat until all the mixture is used.
4. Bake for five to ten minutes or until golden brown. This treat can be stored at room temperature in a jar.
5. Feed to your horse with lots of love!

Herbal Biscuits
3 cups unbleached flour
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup dried parsley
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1/4 barley grass powder
30 grams dried goat milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil

1. Combine the dry ingredients together. Then add the water and oil.
2. Knead the dough on a floured board and roll until it is about one inch(25 millimeters) thick.
3. Let it stand for 30 minutes before cutting into squares. 
4. Place in 356 F(180 C) oven. Check every three minutes; they burn easily.
5. Feed to your horse!

It's fine to experiment with different herbs and other healthy foods. For example, garlic powder and apple cider vinegar work well with bug repellent.

tis post has been linked to the HomeAcre Hop.