Hot Summer Treats
Frozen Treat Ideas That Are Great
& Safe For Your Horse
By Georgia Andrews
    Once again summer has arrived and with it comes sizzling temperatures.  Often the height of the summer will send us barn folks inside to enjoy our air conditioned homes and cool treats rather then spending long hours in the hot barn.  In the heat of the summer who among us hasn’t enjoyed a popsicle after a brutal turnout.  But like most horse people we also want to be able to give our beloved equine the comforts we enjoy.  We hang fans all over to cool them down, bring them in the barn during the heat of the day, and give them cool bathes.  But what of the popsicles and ice cream?  What cool summer treats can we give our favorite friends?  Well I scoured the internet and here are some things I found.

 

Horse Popsicles 

For this recipe, you can use whatever horse-friendly fruits and veggies you have on hand. 

Examples include: apples, celery, carrots, bananas, watermelon, grapes, lettuce, or squash. 

 

Directions: Thoroughly wash all your fruits and veggies. Dice them up into small pieces (the smaller the better) or alternatively, you can put them in the blender. Using plastic cups or popsicle molds, add your fruits and veggies, then fill with diluted apple juice, unsweetened applesauce, or water. Freeze overnight and feed the next day be sure to take them out of the cup!  You can insert popsicle sticks if you want to hold them or just dump them in a feed pan.

 

Frozen Lick Treat 

For a little larger treat which several horses can share, use a bundt cake pan and follow the same directions as above for the Horse Popsicles. I think a two liter soda bottle cut in half would  

also work great for this.  You can also add a spoonful of molasses 

to sweeten it up if you prefer. If you’d like to hang this frozen treat from the fence, simply insert some of that baling twine you have hung on a hook somewhere on each edge before you freeze it. 

This frozen lick treat is sure to keep your horses entertained 

for a while!

 

Melon Ice Pops

Another great idea is to just puree watermelon or any melon and freeze it overnight in a plastic mold or disposable cups.  You can add some fresh mint which is apparently a cooling herb.  This can also be done in large

containers to be shared amongst several horses.  

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Fruit

In a pinch just chop up some fruit and throw it in their feed pans. Great summer fruits and veggies for horses include:

Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Beets, Blackberries, Blueberries, Carrots, Celery, Cherries, Coconut, Corn, Dates, Figs, Grapes, Grapefruit, Lettuce, Mango, Orange, Peach, Pear, Pineapple, Plums, Pumpkins, Raisins & Watermelon (rind and all)

 

You can also chop these veggies up and add water and freeze to make a frozen treat just like above and then just let them enjoy it from the bucket. 

Be careful not to offer your horse any vegetables that are known for causing intestinal gas like cabbage or brussel sprouts.  Also steer clear of onions, potatoes, and tomatoes.  

As with anything in life moderation is key.  Treats are just that a treat and should not be fed in large quantities.  Always offer your horses plenty of cool water to help them beat the heat all summer long!