Special Holiday Gifts for Your Horse
Forget about buying those cutesy Christmas horse hats, antlers, or ties! Give your horse something he or she would love. You guessed it.
F-O-O-D....FOOD!!! Horses love food! Here are my top gift ideas for my favorite horse, Sailor!
Carrots
Carrots are an excellent sources of carotene, which is the precursor to Vitamin A. Vitamin A is usually the only vitamin that horses ever need as a supplement to their diet. A horse may not be getting enough carotene, if he or she is not eating green sun-cured hay.
Oatmeal or some type of hot grain mash
Experiment with different kinds, such as wheat mash, rolled oats, sweet feed, cracked corn, barley, or shredded beet pulp. Be creative! You might add some molasses, a pinch of salt, some oil, and chopped carrots or apples. Check the latest issues of your favorite horse magazines to find good recipes.
Peppermint candy
Just swirl a candy cane in your horse's water pail. It is a good Christmas treat, but also is good for another important reason. Peppermint oil is can be used to disguise water for your horse when he or she is away from home. Sometimes horses don't like to drink water when they are "on the road" or at a horse show. Adding a tasty peppermint in your horse's water while he is at home and away will help keep even the most reluctant drinkers from getting dehydrated.
Homemade Horse Treats
Check out my November 22, 2005 blog post "The Equine Chef" for an easy-to-make recipe.
Molasses Grain Block
A tasty treat that should only be used as an occasional supplement. Horses love them though! Molasses grain blocks are made up of molasses, grain products, and minerals. They usually weigh about 40 to 50 pounds. They have a wonderful smell that horses love. Horses like to lick and chew the blocks. Just make sure your horse has enough water because sometimes the grain blocks have extra salt in them.
Sugar cubes
You don't want to give your horse sugar cubes too often because it is bad for their teeth.
Store-bought treats
Check out your local feed or equine store. They usually stock a variety of horse treats that are sure to please even the fussiest horse!
So, what is on your horse's Christmas wish list this year?
F-O-O-D....FOOD!!! Horses love food! Here are my top gift ideas for my favorite horse, Sailor!
Carrots
Carrots are an excellent sources of carotene, which is the precursor to Vitamin A. Vitamin A is usually the only vitamin that horses ever need as a supplement to their diet. A horse may not be getting enough carotene, if he or she is not eating green sun-cured hay.
Oatmeal or some type of hot grain mash
Experiment with different kinds, such as wheat mash, rolled oats, sweet feed, cracked corn, barley, or shredded beet pulp. Be creative! You might add some molasses, a pinch of salt, some oil, and chopped carrots or apples. Check the latest issues of your favorite horse magazines to find good recipes.
Peppermint candy
Just swirl a candy cane in your horse's water pail. It is a good Christmas treat, but also is good for another important reason. Peppermint oil is can be used to disguise water for your horse when he or she is away from home. Sometimes horses don't like to drink water when they are "on the road" or at a horse show. Adding a tasty peppermint in your horse's water while he is at home and away will help keep even the most reluctant drinkers from getting dehydrated.
Homemade Horse Treats
Check out my November 22, 2005 blog post "The Equine Chef" for an easy-to-make recipe.
Molasses Grain Block
A tasty treat that should only be used as an occasional supplement. Horses love them though! Molasses grain blocks are made up of molasses, grain products, and minerals. They usually weigh about 40 to 50 pounds. They have a wonderful smell that horses love. Horses like to lick and chew the blocks. Just make sure your horse has enough water because sometimes the grain blocks have extra salt in them.
Sugar cubes
You don't want to give your horse sugar cubes too often because it is bad for their teeth.
Store-bought treats
Check out your local feed or equine store. They usually stock a variety of horse treats that are sure to please even the fussiest horse!
So, what is on your horse's Christmas wish list this year?
posted by Elizabeth | 8:00 PM
2 Comments:
I think Sailor would look quite dashing in a Santa hat!
Love,
Mom
Liz,
The Santa Hat is probably not a good idea. Sailor might have an 'identity crisis' and not know for sure if he is a horse or a raindeer. LOL
Steve
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