Here at HorseWorld keeping the minds of our herd healthy is just as important as keeping their bodies healthy.
So our teams are always thinking of fun ways to give the horses a little extra something to think about, explore, taste or sniff. Not only is it great for their day-to-day care, these enrichment activities are also really useful for horses who need to be kept in due to veterinary treatments or illness.
Here is how we make our Lick Trays, but if you want even more fun ideas to help keep your equine friend entertained, click the link to download a pdf full of more suggestions and ‘how to’ guides.
Don’t forget – ALWAYS check that any ingredients or kit you choose to use are safe and appropriate for your horse and their own needs and requirements. If in any doubt always consult your vet before adding anything new to their diet. Never feed someone else’s horses without their permission.
How to make a Lick Tray for your equine friend
What you will need:
- an old coffee tray (or something similar – handles are useful for tying up!)
- a spoon
- wet/sticky ingredients
- dry ingredients
- a piece of rope or baling twine (to hang up)
It’s time to get messy! First of all, smear your wet and sticky ingredients over your tray. For this example we have used strawberry jam, apple sauce, ginger puree and honey. (Not a taste combination we’d recommend for human consumption, but our donkeys seem to love it!
You could choose to just leave it there, but we’ve added some dried ingredients too.
We used dried parsley, cinnamon, mixed herbs and turmeric as our dry ingredients and simply sprinkled them on top of the sticky stuff.
Now use the string or twine to hang it somewhere safe and sturdy for your equine friend to give it a good and thorough licking!
You don’t have to use these specific ingredients but always check that the ingredients you use are safe to be consumed by your horse.
Why not try combinations of these ingredients and see which ones your horse or pony prefers?
Wet Ingredients:
Strawberry jam- Good in small amounts for a sweet treat, boosts immune system and hydration
Apple sauce- Good in small amounts for a sweet treat
Ginger puree- Makes a highly effective digestive aid and support. Has also proven to soothe horses.
Honey- Boost of energy, Antioxidant support
Dry ingredients:
Dried parsley- a digestive tonic can help tone intestines, stimulate gastric function, cleansing of the blood, supports the kidneys and urinary system.
Cinnamon- Regulates insulin levels, digestive aid, balances blood sugar levels
Mixed herbs- Good nutrients, aids digestion, promotes equine general health and well being
Turmeric- muscle recovery, joints function, digestive aid (especially good for horses with arthritis)
Below you can download a sheet of enrichment ideas like this.
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