When the weather forecast is predicting three-digit temps with no end in sight and even a short ride leaves you exhausted, dehydrated and drenched in sweat, there’s nothing better than a savory, frozen concoction to help you cool down. Your horse just might appreciate the same indulgence.
These tasty horse-approved, fruit-and-veggie popsicles not only provide your horse with a cool, refreshing treat in the brutal heat, they can also help him stay hydrated, replenish electrolytes lost from sweat and keep him entertained during the dog days of summer.
Horse, Rider and PH Editor-Approved Recipe
When I first found this recipe based off a reader tip from years ago, I was a bit skeptical on palatability—would my horse actually enjoy a carrot-popsicle, thumb his muzzle at it or be peeved he couldn’t get to all the good stuff at once? So, I decided to try two varieties—apple and carrot—and put them to the test at my barn last weekend.
To my surprise, 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding Balou was thrilled with his frozen Honeycrisp apple-pop, gobbled it within a few bites and looked disappointed when he’d finished. Portia, a 19-year-old Thoroughbred mare with many strong opinions about all things, was equally pleased with her carrot popsicle, although with a higher ice-to-vegetable ratio in this version, it proved more challenging on the edibility side. (More tips on this below.)
Supplies
- Reusable or disposable plastic cups; or paper cups
- Fruits and veggies
- Toothpicks
- Water
- Knife
- Cutting board
Optional Add-Ons
- Popsicle sticks
- Ice-cube tray
- Bundt-cake pan
- Baling twine
- Electrolytes (powder of liquid form)
Ingredients
Depending on your horse’s taste palate, the following fruits and vegetables are safe (in moderation) to include in his frozen treats:
- Apples
- Apricots
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Carrots
- Celery
- Cucumbers
- Grapes
- Green beans
- Oranges
- Peaches
- Pears
- Plums
- Pumpkin
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
Absolutely Avoid:
The following are not safe for you horse to consume:
- Avocados
- Cherries
- Cruciferous vegetables or plants from the cabbage family (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussel sprouts)
- Onions
- Potatoes
- Rhubarb
- Tomatoes
Instructions
Solo-Carrot Popsicles
- Position a large carrot, preferably one with a leafy stem (unlike my stem-less guy here), vertically in the center of a plastic cup.
- Use toothpicks (see photo) to keep the carrot centered.
- Use a watering can or add water to the cup directly from the tap.
- Freeze overnight.
Tips:
If you don’t live close to your barn, throw your popsicles in a cooler or an insulated cup/thermos like those made by Yeti to keep them frozen. (I live about 45 minutes from my barn and my pops stayed frozen in a cooler.)
To avoid the higher ice-to-veggie ratio I mentioned above, you can chop additional pieces of carrot (or other fruits or veggies) and add them to the bottom of the cup around the base of your carrot before you add water. This will make it easier for your horse to break the popsicle down into bite-sized pieces. You can also put the carrot-pop in your horse’s water tank/bucket or his grain bin to lick on.
Chopped Fruit-and-Veggie Popsicles
- Select your horse’s favorite variety of fruits and veggies.
- Chop as needed (blueberries, grapes and strawberries may not need to be cut).
- Add fruit and veggie medley to cup.
- Fill cup with water.
- Freeze overnight.
Tips:
In order to offer these popsicles to your horse without getting freeze-burn on your hands, add a popsicle stick to the center before freezing. As long as your fruit and veggie mixture is dense enough, you can easily position the stick so that it’s semi-centered.
If your horse is active throughout the summer and tends to lose vitamins and minerals through heavy sweating, consider adding liquid or powdered electrolytes, as well as water to your recipe. (See product instructions for dosage recommendations.)
Additional Frozen Edibles—Based on the Same Recipe
Mini-Frozen Horse Treats
- Chop fruits and veggies in smaller/finer pieces.
- Place them in an ice-cube tray (or muffin tin).
- Add water.
- Freeze.
Bring the trays out to the barn in a cooler to dispense at will. (You can even use these tiny versions for training treats on steamy days.)
Frozen Stall Lick
- Throw your fruit and veggie mix into a Bundt-cake pan (or any baking pan with a hole in the middle). You can add as many layers and different flavor combinations as you want.
- Add water (and electrolyte mix, if desired).
- Freeze.
Once you get to the barn, remove the frozen concoction from the pan, run baling twine through the center and hang in your horse’s stall or paddock to encourage delicious hydration while also keeping him entertained.
We hope your horse enjoys these frozen treats as much as Balou and Portia did!
