Loading up on candy is (most) people’s favorite part of Halloween and our animals deserve to be treated, too. Fall, and Halloween in particular, is the perfect time to spoil your horses with sweet treats like apples, pumpkin, and a variety of other healthy, delicious, animal-safe fruits and veggies. Sure, you can head to the store and buy pre-made treats, but making treats with your own hands provides a sense of accomplishment, the ability to customize your recipes, and most of all, the joy you get from seeing your horse indulge in your labor of love!  And don’t worry, if you don’t have your own horse, we’ve included recipes that your precious pooch will love as well. In fact, all these delicious recipes are horse and dog safe apart from the icing for the peanut butter apple treats.  

 

Peanut Butter Banana Biscuits 

These peanut butter banana biscuits are quick, easy, and your four-legged friend is sure to love them! Just be sure to check the ingredients of the peanut butter before using it as some peanut butters can contain ingredients harmful to dogs, such as xylitol. Luckily, there are plenty of peanut butter products made with just the essentials: peanuts and salt.

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe banana, mashed 

• ½ cup dog-safe peanut butter 

• 1 egg 

• 1 ¾ cup whole wheat flour 

Directions: 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit 

• In a bowl, mix mashed banana, peanut butter, and egg 

• Gradually add in the flour until the dough is no longer sticky 

• Roll out the dough and cut into preferred shapes 

• Bake for 10-12 minutes or until done 

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies 

With these pumpkin oatmeal cookies, your animals can enjoy the pumpkin spice season with you! While this recipe originally called for ½ teaspoon of nutmeg, we have omitted that ingredient for dog safety. Although, if you’re making these cookies specifically for your horse, feel free to add it back in!  

Ingredients: 

• 4 cups steel-cut oats 

• 1 can pumpkin puree 

• 2 cups water 

• 1 ¾ cups whole wheat flour 

• 2 teaspoons cinnamon 

• 1 tablespoon honey or molasses (optional) 

Directions: 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees 

• Thoroughly mix the pumpkin puree and water together 

• Add the flour, oats and spices 

• If desired, mix in the honey or molasses 

• Scoop spoonfuls of the mixture onto a greased cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes 

Peanut Butter Apple Treats 

Get creative with these peanut butter apple treats by making them into shapes of donuts, pop tarts, cookies, anything your mind can dream up! These treats are delicious with or without the icing, which can only be used on the treats for horses, as the ingredients are not dog friendly. If you end up taking a nibble of these delicious treats, we won’t hold it against you.  

Treat Ingredients: 

• 2 cups flour 

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

• 1 apple 

• ¾ cup peanut butter 

• ¾ cup water 

Icing Ingredients: (optional) - only use for horses, not safe for dogs  

• 1 cup powdered sugar  

• 2 tablespoons milk 

• Sprinkles 

Directions: 

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit 

• Grate the apple and squeeze out excess moisture 

• Mix dry ingredients 

• Add the apple and peanut butter to dry ingredients 

• Slowly add enough of the water to form a manageable dough (if it becomes too sticky, add more flour) 

• Form into desired shapes (we recommend adorable mini pop tarts) and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown 

• Glaze with icing and top with sprinkles for decoration 

Oat Treats 

Another super simple recipe that your horses and dogs are sure to love are these oat treats with applesauce and carrots. Carrots have many health benefits for both horses and dogs, including dental health, improved immune system, anti-inflammatory properties, digestion, and more. So, while your animals think they are getting a scrumptious treat, they are also snacking healthily!  

Ingredients: 

• ½ cup steel-cut oats 

• ½ cup unsweetened applesauce 

• ½ cup grated carrot 

• ½ cup whole wheat flour 

Directions: 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit 

• Mix all four ingredients in a bowl 

• Form balls with a tablespoon and place on greased baking tray 

• Bake for 20 minutes until treats are set but not entirely dry 

 

For more activties like this, be sure to check out US Equestrian's Kids Club. You can sign your child up here.