Best Horse Food & Treats

Updated December 2019
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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.Read more 
Bottom Line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Tribute Equine Nutrition Essential K
Tribute Equine Nutrition
Essential K
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Superior Nutrition
Bottom Line

Essential K is a complete and balanced diet that is nutrient-dense, optimized for gut health, and uses high-end ingredients, making it a worthwhile investment for the long term health of horses of all ages.

Pros

Soybean meal, whole soybeans, alfalfa meal, wheat, flaxseed, and whey are the first 6 ingredients. Formulated with a prebiotic and probiotic. Low-calorie pellet. Includes biotin for strong hooves. Excellent for hyperactive and obese horses.

Cons

A fairly expensive horse diet, but this recipe is made with premium ingredients that drive up the cost.

Standlee Beet Pulp Shreds
Standlee
Beet Pulp Shreds
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Low-sugar Fiber
Bottom Line

An inexpensive 25 lb. bag of pure low-sugar beet pulp features a large amount of calories, making it the perfect food for bulking up horses and providing a bit of dietary variety.

Pros

100% dried sugar beet pulp; low-sugar beet pulp fiber is left over after sugar is removed from beets. Produces minimal waste. Great for picky eaters, underweight horses, and sensitive tummies. High-calorie and low-protein food.

Cons

Shredded beet pulp is not intended to be a horse’s sole source of nutrition, so provide hay, pellets, etc. to supplement their diet.

Best Bang for the Buck
Buckeye Nutrition Treats - Carrot Crunchers
Buckeye Nutrition
Treats - Carrot Crunchers
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Real Carrot Treat
Bottom Line

These carroty cookies are inexpensive, bite-sized, and most importantly, horses will happily go well out of their way for one. Since you get a solid 4 lbs. of Carrot Crunchers per bag, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to treat your horse.

Pros

Ground wheat, carrots, wheat, corn, soybean meal, and dried molasses are the first 6 ingredients. Crunchy cookie treat. High levels of tasty carrots. Long shelf life. Easy to digest. Preservative-free. High in vitamin A. Affordable.

Cons

A 4 lb. bag of Carrot Crunchers is nice, but we wish that this treat was available in even larger bags.

Standlee Alfalfa Cubes
Standlee
Alfalfa Cubes
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High-calorie Cubes
Bottom Line

A huge amount of nutritionally complete food per bag, these premium alfalfa cubes are a cost-effective and all-around healthy horse feed. We recommend soaking these hard cubes in water for 30 minutes before serving.

Pros

Made with naturally sun-cured, premium alfalfa and bentonite. 40lbs of cubed horse food for a relatively low price. High in protein, calories, and fiber. Minimal dust. Great for horses of all ages. Large alfalfa cubes.

Cons

These alfalfa cubes can be a little on the hard side, so you may need to soak them for seniors, or horses with dental issues.

Stud Muffins Peppermint Horse Treats
Stud Muffins
Peppermint Horse Treats
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Healthy Treats
Bottom Line

These soft and flavorful peppermint treats are an excellent way to get a horse’s attention, and once he has his first Stud Muffin, he'll be happy to listen to your commands for the opportunity to earn another one.

Pros

Cane molasses, oats, corn, barley, and whole wheat are the first 5 ingredients. Horses love the tasty peppermint oil flavor. Wholesome ingredients. High in omega-3 fatty acids. Great training treat.

Cons

We wish that these chunky Stud Muffins were available in larger tubs. A pricy treat.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. Read more  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.Read more 
How we decided

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

43 Models Considered
9 Hours Researched
1 Experts Interviewed
542 Consumers Consulted
Zero products received from manufacturers.

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

With so many competing brands and varieties of horse food and treats available, it isn’t easy to find the best option for your horse at first glance. After all, you’ll have to consider your horse’s age, weight, and relative pickiness alongside each type of food’s calorie density, nutritional makeup, and the implementation of premium ingredients when comparing competing brands. Finding a quality horse treat is a little easier, since whether or not your horse will appreciate the taste is easily the highest priority, but it’s a good idea to keep healthful snacking options and overall value for your buck in mind.

The team that worked on this review
  • Arnold
    Arnold
    Writer
  • Melinda
    Melinda
    Web Producer

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