Trivia Challenge: Do You Know How to ‘Treat’ Your Horse?
Challenge yourself! Have fun and test your knowledge of horse health with Horse&Rider’s Trivia Challenge, featured in The Ride newsletter.

Illustration by Navah Rae Adams

1. True or false: Feeding your horse treats will cause him to become aggressive.

T / F

2. Why is chocolate a less-than-ideal choice as a horse treat?

A) It can cause your horse to develop acne.

B) It can cause your horse to develop cavities.

C) It can cause a positive result in a drug test.

3. True or false: It’s OK to feed your horse a sugar cube or a peppermint as a treat if it’s just one or two and only occasionally.

T / F

4. True or false: Vegetables known to cause gas in humans (such as cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower) don’t make ideal treats for horses.

T / F

HOW’D YOU DO? (Answers below.)

1. F is correct. The right answer is not necessarily. Feeding treats won’t automatically cause your horse to become aggressive. (For details, see the “What Experts Say” link below.)

2. C is correct. Chocolate contains theobromine, which can cause a positive result in a pre-competition drug test.

3. T is correct. Just as it’s not good for you, sugar isn’t great for your horse, but as an occasional treat in a tiny amount, it won’t hurt him. With healthier choices, such bite-size chunks of apple, carrot, or many other fruits and vegetables, you can be more generous. But always follow the recommended guidelines for giving treats.

4. T is correct. Gas + horses = trouble, so this one’s a no-brainer, just to be on the safe side. It’s also best to avoid anything from the nightshade family, which would include eggplant, tomato, potato, bell pepper, and tobacco.

[WHAT EXPERTS SAY about feeding treats to horses.]

[BONUS: Just how motivating *are* treats to horses?]

Hey! Not already receiving H&R’s fun and informative newsletter? Sign up right now for The Ride.

CATEGORIES
TAGS
Related Articles
blood draw on a horse
EIA: The Disease Behind the Coggins Test
Coggins Required: Understanding EIA, the Disease Behind the Test
Osteoarthritis in the Hind Limb: Diagnosis and Management
How to Detect Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis in the Hind Limb
HR_25SPG_Horsekeeping_Parasite-Control_01
Parasites 101
Protect from Parasites
HR_25SPG_Health_wet-weather-skin-issues
Battling Rain-Related Skin Problems
Soggy-Weather Skin Conditions
Newsletter
Receive news and promotions for Horse & Rider and other Equine Network offers.

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
Country*

Additional Offers

Additional Offers
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Horse and Rider
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.