Many owners like to feed their horses treats but the overload of starch and sugar as found in some treats, particular molassed treats and licks can have a negative effect on the horses digestive system and are also best avoided if you have a horse or pony that is susceptible  to Laminitis, Cushing's, Insulin Resistance and EPSM.

Instead, to reward your horse for good behaviour it is recommended that healthy treats are fed such as vegetables and fruits.  It is important though to only feed a small volume, for an average horse 1 or 2 carrots is sufficient.

Rowen Barbary Treats contain a range of healthy flavours - Beetroot, Banana, Carrot Mash and Herbal Health Mash.

These are specifically designed to help ensure a healthy hindgut by providing the horse with high fibre levels necessary whilst ensuring starch and sugars are kept to a minimum.  Fed soaked as a soft textured mash they have a  “water holding” capacity which will help improve fluid intake, and are also much more palatable for horses that struggle to chew and digest due to old age or illness.

As the vegetables and fruits that they contain are also dehydrated they store and travel better.

Although many horses regularly enjoy Carrots and we all know that Bananas are an excellent source of potassium it is seen that Beetroot also offers many nutritional benefits.  The vegetable contains a number of antioxidant pigments including polyphenols, such as resvertrol and quercetin.  The main red pigment is known to be a betanin, a natural antioxidant.  However, the most interesting and exciting effect lies in its naturally high nitrate content.  Research on beetroot has reported a beneficial effect on blood pressure and also on exercise intolerance.

By feeding healthy treats that taste good to your horse will help ensure that positive behaviour is rewarded without any detrimental effects.  However, it is important to feed treats sparingly and to not get into the habit of feeding treats on a regular basis as if your horse begins to expect a treat at a certain time and doesn't get it you may be asking for misbehaviour.