Safe Treats for Laminitic Horses: An Australian Vet-Informed Guide to Low-Sugar Feeding

The safe treats for laminitic horses are low-sugar, low-starch options kept under 10% non-structural carbohydrate (NSC). Think small amounts of celery, parsley, broccoli, the crunchy core of a lettuce, or a sugar-and-molasses-free hay cube, and steer well clear of the worst offenders: carrots and apples in quantity, peppermints, sugar cubes, sweet feed and anything containing molasses.

A laminitis diagnosis can feel like the end of the little rituals you love most: the carrot tucked in your pocket, the apple shared after a ride. The good news is that it does not mean the end of treating your horse. It means treating differently, with a clear eye on sugar and starch, and a plan you build alongside your vet.

This guide pulls together what the published veterinary literature actually says about feeding horses prone to laminitis, and turns it into a practical Australian answer to one simple question: what can you safely hand your horse over the fence? We have cited every figure, and we have been deliberately conservative wherever the evidence was thin.

What is laminitis, and why does diet matter?

Laminitis is painful inflammation and weakening of the laminae, the soft tissue structures that bond the pedal bone to the inside of the hoof wall. When those laminae fail, the bone can rotate or sink within the hoof, which is acutely painful and, in severe cases, life-ending. It is one of the most dreaded diagnoses in the horse world for good reason.

Diet matters because the most common form of laminitis in adult horses is driven by the body's response to sugar and starch, not by a foot injury or a one-off mishap. What goes in the feed bin, and over the fence as treats, directly shapes the risk. That is why a low-sugar approach sits at the centre of managing a laminitis-prone horse.

Three overlapping conditions account for most of the horses on a low-sugar treat plan. It is worth knowing which one (or which combination) applies to your horse, because it changes how strict you need to be.

Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS)

Equine metabolic syndrome is not a single disease so much as a cluster of risk factors that together predispose a horse to laminitis. As the 2019 ECEIM consensus statement puts it, EMS "is not a disease per se but rather a collection of risk factors for endocrinopathic laminitis," and its central, consistent feature is insulin dysregulation. Horses with EMS are often "good doers" that hold weight easily and can carry regional fat pads along the crest and tail head.

Insulin resistance and insulin dysregulation

Insulin resistance describes a state where the body's cells respond poorly to insulin, so the pancreas pumps out more of it to compensate. In horses, the broader term clinicians use is insulin dysregulation, which captures excessive insulin responses to feed. This matters enormously, because high circulating insulin is the trigger that links a sugary meal to a laminitic episode. A horse with severe insulin dysregulation needs the strictest low-sugar diet of all.

Cushing's disease (PPID)

Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), commonly called equine Cushing's disease, is a hormonal condition of older horses. According to Michigan State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, most animals "are over 15 years old when diagnosed," and the centre notes that "insulin dysregulation places horses with PPID at a higher risk of developing laminitis." Insulin dysregulation is detected in roughly 30% of horses with PPID, which is why so many older ponies end up on a low-sugar treat plan.

Why sugar and starch trigger laminitis: the insulin link

High-sugar, high-starch feeds raise blood insulin, and high insulin can directly trigger laminitis in predisposed horses. This is the single most important mechanism for treat-givers to understand, because it explains why a "natural" treat like an apple can still be a problem.

The most common form of the disease has a name that spells out the link: hyperinsulinaemia-associated laminitis. The Equine Endocrinology Group describes it as "the most common form of laminitis in the general horse and pony population (>90% of cases)." The same group is blunt about the role of feed, noting that "a diet high in NSC is a risk factor for the development of ID regardless of genetic predispositions." Even without a genetic loading, a sugary diet can push a horse toward insulin dysregulation.

The research is not soft. Experimental work has shown that raising insulin alone is enough to bring on the disease. As the ECEIM consensus states plainly, "hyperinsulinemia induces laminitis in horses," a finding built on studies in which laminitis was induced by high circulating insulin.

So when you wonder why we are cautious about fruit and relaxed about a stick of celery, the answer is always the same: it comes down to how much that food will lift your horse's insulin.

The NSC rule: keep treats under 10% sugar and starch

NSC, or non-structural carbohydrate, is the sugar plus starch content of a feed, and for an insulin-dysregulated horse the target is under 10% on a dry-matter basis. Learn to read NSC and you can assess almost any treat or feed, whether it comes from us, a competitor or your own kitchen.

The figure to anchor to comes from the Equine Endocrinology Group, an international panel of specialists that includes Australian researchers Simon Bailey (University of Melbourne) and Melody de Laat (Queensland University of Technology). Their 2024 recommendations advise owners to "feed hay that has low NSC content (<10%) and that induces a low peak insulin concentration 2 hours after feeding." They also spell out exactly what NSC means: "the NSC content of the diet is calculated by adding water-soluble carbohydrates and starch."

That sub-10% figure is echoed independently. The ECEIM consensus recommends "forage with NSC <10%... To limit postprandial insulin responses in horses with ID," adding that "soaking may be required to achieve this in many instances." Oregon State University Extension gives the same practical rule: "for horses requiring a low-sugar diet, choose forages with less than 10% nonstructural carbohydrates, or as directed by your veterinarian."

How strict you need to be depends on your horse. The Equine Endocrinology Group notes that severely affected horses, broadly those with very high resting insulin, need a strict diet under 10% NSC, while some mildly affected horses can tolerate forage a little higher. This is the kind of line your vet should help you draw, ideally after testing your horse's insulin. The 10% figure is the safe default, not a number to creep past on a hunch.

Safe treats for laminitic horses

The safest treats are low-sugar vegetables and sugar-free, molasses-free options offered in small amounts: celery, parsley, broccoli, the crunchy core of a lettuce, cauliflower, small palmfuls of raw seeds, and hay cubes free of sugar and molasses. None of these will "treat" or prevent laminitis, and no treat ever should. They are simply lower-risk ways to keep a bond going with a horse that has to live on a tight sugar budget.

The most useful, specific guidance we found comes from a veterinary client-education flyer by Foundation Equine, which lists genuinely vet-endorsed snack options for insulin-resistant horses. It names "celery, parsley, broccoli and the crunchy center of lettuce" as safe vegetables, adds that "cauliflower is a favorite," and confirms that "hay cubes are safe... Free of sugar and molasses." It also okays small servings of raw seeds: "raw seeds, such as peanuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds... small palmfuls."

Mad Barn's metabolic-horse guidance lands in the same place, noting that "grass hay pellets or peanuts (in shell) are appropriate and convenient for EMS horses," while warning owners to "avoid any sweet feeds or products that contain molasses."

The printable safe-vs-avoid chart

Here is the heart of this guide: a chart you can screenshot, print and pin to the feed-room door. Stick to the left-hand column, keep portions tiny, and check anything new with your vet first.

A word of honesty on the foods you will see on horse forums. Cucumber, pumpkin flesh and watermelon rind are often listed as "safe" laminitis treats. We have chosen not to put them in the safe column, because we could not verify vet endorsement for them in the sources we trust. If you want to try them, treat them as "ask your vet first" foods rather than confirmed-safe ones. Apple peels in a tiny amount are sometimes tolerated, but given apples are higher in sugar than carrots, we would only offer peel cautiously and with your vet's blessing.

What not to feed a laminitic horse

Avoid anything high in sugar or starch: sweet feed, grain, molasses and molasses-based treats, peppermints and lollies, sugar cubes, bread, applesauce, the flesh of watermelon, and fruit such as apples and pears. This is the mirror image of the safe list, and it is worth committing to memory because the danger foods are so often the "kind" gifts a visitor will try to slip your horse.

The strongest single statement comes from the peer-reviewed ECEIM consensus, which is unusually specific about everyday treats: "in general, grains or cereal-based complementary feeds, fruit, or vegetables such as carrots, apples, or treats should be excluded from the diet because of their high NSC content." Foundation Equine's vet flyer is just as direct, with the simple line: "no carrots, apples or pears!"

One message for visitors and grandkids: the kindest thing anyone can do for a laminitic horse is to ask before they feed it. Keep a small tub of pre-chopped celery near the gate, so there is always a safe alternative when someone wants to say hello.

Can laminitic horses eat carrots and apples?

As a rule, no. Both carrots and apples are too high in NSC for a laminitic or insulin-dysregulated horse, and the 2019 ECEIM consensus specifically lists them among feeds to exclude. This surprises a lot of owners, because carrots and apples feel wholesome and natural. The body does not read marketing, though. It reads sugar.

Here is the counterintuitive part: apples are higher in sugar than carrots. So the fruit many of us reach for as the "treat of treats" is actually the riskier of the two. Neither is appropriate as a routine treat for a laminitic horse, but if you are ranking them, the apple is the bigger problem.

Does this mean a single thin sliver of carrot will founder your horse? Not necessarily, and a stable, mildly affected horse may tolerate the occasional tiny piece with your vet's blessing. But "occasional and tiny, with vet sign-off" is a world away from a daily handful. The safest path is to swap to a genuinely low-sugar treat rather than rationing a high-sugar one.

Sugar-free and low-NSC treats in Australia

Australian owners can buy sugar-free, molasses-free horse treats, but the label matters more than the marketing. A treat that calls itself "natural" or "healthy" is not automatically low in NSC. The skill we taught earlier, adding water-soluble carbohydrate and starch for a working NSC figure, is the one to bring to the tack-shop shelf, whether you are looking at our treats or anyone else's.

In the interest of being upfront: we make horse treats. Huds and Toke is a family-owned Australian business, and our range includes both sugar-containing treats (our Apple, Carrot and Molasses Horse Bix, which are higher in sugar and made for healthy horses without metabolic issues) and a sugar-free, molasses-free option, the Veggie Horse Bix, which carries under 1 gram of sugar per 100 grams.

Here is the honest nuance, and it matters on a fragile horse: low in sugar is not the same as low in NSC. Like almost every baked, biscuit-style treat, the Veggie Horse Bix is grain-based, so alongside its very low sugar it still contains starch, and NSC counts sugar and starch together. That makes it a reasonable lower-sugar choice for a healthy horse, but for a diagnosed laminitic, EMS or PPID horse held to a strict under-10-percent NSC budget, the safest everyday treats remain the low-NSC whole foods listed above, such as a stick of celery or a little parsley. We would rather lose a sale than have you take our word over your vet's on a horse this fragile, so please confirm any packaged treat, ours included, with your own vet before it reaches the feed room.

If your horse is otherwise healthy and you are simply looking to spoil them, you can browse all Huds and Toke horse treats, and there are calming options for anxious horses too. For a laminitic horse, though, keep the focus on low-NSC whole foods, read every label for sugar and starch, and let your vet make the final call.

Homemade low-sugar horse treat ideas

You can make low-sugar treats at home by starting with a forage base and avoiding sugar, molasses, apple and honey as binders. Homemade gives you total control over the ingredients, which is exactly what a laminitic horse needs. The trick is to resist the usual recipe-blog binders, almost all of which are sugary.

A simple, vet-checkable approach looks like this:

1. Base: soak sugar-and-molasses-free hay cubes until soft, or use a small amount of a low-NSC chaff.
2. Flavour: finely chop celery or parsley through the base for taste and crunch.
3. Bind: use only a little water to hold the mixture together. Skip molasses, treacle, apple, banana and honey.
4. Shape and dry: press into very small pieces and air-dry or bake on the lowest oven setting until firm.
5. Portion: store in small daily amounts so it is easy to stick to one small handful.

Because home baking skips the standardised testing a commercial feed goes through, run your recipe past your vet or equine nutritionist before you make a habit of it. They can sanity-check the ingredients against your horse's individual NSC budget.

How much and how often to treat

Keep treats to one small handful a day, counted as part of the overall ration, never on top of it. For a laminitic horse, the question is not just what you feed but how much, because even a low-sugar treat adds up if it is handed out all day.

The simplest mental model is a budget. Picture your horse's daily intake as a bar. The overwhelming majority must come from low-NSC forage. Treats are a thin sliver on the end, and on a strict plan that sliver is small.

Two rules keep you honest. Offer treats in tiny pieces so a single portion stretches across a grooming session, and never use treats to replace the structure of a vet-approved diet. If you are unsure how a treat fits your horse's daily budget, ask your vet or equine nutritionist rather than guess.

The Australian pasture and seasonal angle

In Australia, the biggest dietary laminitis trigger is not the treat jar. It is the paddock, especially in spring and autumn. You can run a perfect treat regime and still see trouble if pasture sugars are left unmanaged, so this section matters as much as anything above.

Why spring and autumn grass makes laminitis worse

Pasture plants build up non-structural carbohydrates, including sugars and fructans, when conditions favour growth and storage. As the Australian feed company Hygain explains, there is an "accumulation of... Non-Structural Carbohydrates (NSC) in pasture forage during the spring, early summer and autumn, particularly after rainfall." The same guidance flags the danger of bright sun after cold nights and notes that pasture NSC levels are "lowest late at night through early morning."

Oregon State Extension describes the same physiology from the other hemisphere: "cool-season grasses accumulate NSC under cool, sunny conditions in early spring and late fall," with a caution around frosty mornings. In Australian timing, the high-risk windows are roughly September to November in spring and March to May in autumn, plus any sunny day after a cold or frosty night.

Remember, too, that there is no perfectly safe season. The Animal Health Trust and Rossdales research reported via Phys.org made exactly this point, alongside the finding that laminitis is about as common as colic. Vigilance is a year-round habit.

Paterson's Curse: a separate Australian pasture hazard

While we are in the paddock, it is worth flagging an Australian plant danger that is often confused with sugar-driven problems but works in a completely different way. Paterson's Curse (Echium plantagineum) is a purple-flowering weed found across Australian states. It does not cause laminitis. Instead, it contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that cause cumulative, chronic liver damage.

The Animal Poisons Helpline is clear on the mechanism: "the main toxins of concern in the plant are known as pyrrolizidine alkaloids," and "in severe poisoning, horses can develop liver injury which often results in death." This is a liver toxin, not a sugar or insulin problem, so it sits outside the NSC discussion. We mention it only so an Australian owner walking their paddock knows to identify and manage it as its own separate risk.

How to transition a laminitic horse's diet safely

Change a laminitic horse's diet gradually and under veterinary guidance, never abruptly. Sudden feed changes are their own risk, so the goal is a calm, monitored shift toward a low-NSC ration, with treats reintroduced only once your horse is stable and your vet agrees.

Here is a careful way to bring treats back once the acute danger has passed.

1. Get the green light from your vet. Confirm your horse is stable and out of the acute phase, and agree a treat plan before offering anything.
2. Choose a low-NSC treat. Pick a vet-endorsed option under 10% NSC, such as celery, parsley, or a sugar-and-molasses-free hay cube.
3. Start with a tiny amount. Offer one small piece, and keep total treats to a small handful a day, counted inside the overall ration.
4. Watch for changes. Monitor your horse's feet, digital pulse, stance and appetite over the following days.
5. Adjust with your vet. Review the plan together, and stop treats immediately if you notice any warning signs.

On the forage side, soaking hay is one of the most effective tools you have. The ECEIM consensus reports that "soaking hay for 7-16 hours at ambient temperature decreases nutrients including water-soluble carbohydrates by 24%-43%," and the Equine Endocrinology Group offers a simpler version: "soak hay in cold water for at least 60 minutes before feeding to lower the water-soluble carbohydrate content." Mad Barn cites reductions of up to 50% in optimal conditions. The honest range is roughly 25% to 50%, depending on the hay and the conditions.

When to call your vet

Laminitis is a medical emergency. If you suspect it, call your vet immediately, before you change anything else. Treats and diet are about prevention and long-term management. The signs below are about the here and now, and they warrant an urgent phone call.

None of the dietary advice in this article replaces that phone call. The treats conversation is what happens between episodes, with a stable horse and a vet who knows your situation. When in doubt, ring them. A few minutes of quiet groundwork and time with your pony, as we wrote in our piece on mindfulness with pets and ponies, is always a safer way to bond than a risky treat.

Frequently asked questions

What treats can a laminitic horse have?

Low-sugar, low-starch options under 10% NSC. Vet client-education resources point to celery, parsley, broccoli, the crunchy core of a lettuce and cauliflower, plus small palmfuls of raw pumpkin or sunflower seeds, and sugar-and-molasses-free hay cubes. Keep treats to one small handful a day, and confirm the plan with your own vet.

Can laminitic horses eat carrots?

Not as a routine treat. The 2019 ECEIM consensus recommends excluding carrots, apples and similar treats from the diet of insulin-dysregulated horses because of their high NSC content. An occasional sliver may be tolerated by a stable, mildly affected horse, but only with your vet's sign-off.

Can laminitic horses eat apples?

Apples are named alongside carrots in the 2019 ECEIM consensus as a feed to exclude for insulin-dysregulated horses, and apples are higher in sugar than carrots. They are best avoided for a laminitic horse.

What is a safe NSC % for laminitic horses?

The Equine Endocrinology Group recommends feeding hay with an NSC content below 10% on a dry-matter basis for insulin-dysregulated and EMS horses. NSC is calculated by adding water-soluble carbohydrates and starch. Severely affected horses need a strict sub-10% diet, while some mildly affected horses can tolerate slightly higher forage, as guided by your vet.

What should you never feed a laminitic horse?

Avoid sweet feed, grain-based feeds, molasses and molasses-based treats, peppermints and other lollies, sugar cubes, bread, and fruit such as apples and pears. The 2019 ECEIM consensus also lists carrots and treats among feeds to exclude because of their high NSC content.

Are there sugar-free horse treats in Australia?

Yes. Some Australian brands make sugar-free, molasses-free horse treats, including the sugar-free Veggie Horse Bix from Huds and Toke. Always check the sugar and starch content on the label, and ask your vet whether any treat suits your horse's individual condition.

Can I give treats to an insulin-resistant or EMS horse?

Yes, in small amounts, provided they are low in sugar and starch. Insulin resistance is the central feature of equine metabolic syndrome, so keep treats well under 10% NSC, offer only a small handful a day, and set the overall diet with your vet or an equine nutritionist.

What treats are safe for a Cushing's or PPID horse?

Roughly 30% of horses with PPID (Cushing's disease) also have insulin dysregulation, which raises their laminitis risk, so the same low-NSC rules apply. Stick to the safe, low-sugar options under 10% NSC, and confirm the plan with your vet, who will manage PPID medically as well as through diet.

What are good treats for an overweight pony?

Low-calorie, low-sugar choices such as celery, the core of a lettuce, or a small piece of soaked hay cube. Good doers and overweight ponies are more likely to be insulin-dysregulated, so keep portions tiny and prioritise weight loss with your vet's guidance.

Can laminitic horses have peppermints?

No. Peppermints and horse mints are essentially sugar lollies, and they are not suitable for a laminitic or insulin-dysregulated horse. Choose a low-sugar vegetable or a sugar-free treat instead.

How do I make homemade low-sugar horse treats?

Start with a low-sugar base such as soaked, sugar-and-molasses-free hay cubes or a small amount of low-NSC chaff, add chopped celery or parsley, and bind with only a little water rather than molasses, apple or honey. Keep portions tiny, and have your vet or equine nutritionist check the ingredients.

Why does spring and autumn grass make laminitis worse?

Pasture accumulates non-structural carbohydrates (sugars and fructans) during spring, early summer and autumn, particularly after rainfall and on bright, sunny days following cold nights. Higher pasture sugar raises insulin, which can trigger laminitis in predisposed horses. Pasture sugar is typically lowest from late at night through to early morning.

References

1. Equine Endocrinology Group (2024). Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Management of Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Dysregulation (revised June 2024). Panel includes Simon Bailey (University of Melbourne) and Melody de Laat (Queensland University of Technology). idppid.com PDF.
2. Durham AE, Frank N, McGowan CM, Menzies-Gow NJ, Roelfsema E, Vervuert I, Feige K, Fey K (2019). ECEIM consensus statement on equine metabolic syndrome. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 33(2):335-349. Open-access link.
3. Oregon State University Extension (EM 9415). Understanding Sugar and Nonstructural Carbohydrates in Equine Pasture and Hay. PDF.
4. de Laat MA, Sillence MN, McGowan CM, Pollitt CC (2012). Continuous intravenous infusion of glucose induces endogenous hyperinsulinaemia and lamellar histopathology in Standardbred horses. The Veterinary Journal, 191(3):317-322. PMID 21873088. PubMed.
5. Foundation Equine (2021). Snacks for the Insulin Resistant Horse, client-education flyer. PDF.
6. Mad Barn. How to Feed a Metabolic Horse. madbarn.com.
7. Pollard D, Wylie CE, Newton JR, Verheyen KLP (2019). Incidence and clinical signs of owner-reported equine laminitis in a cohort of horses and ponies in Great Britain (incidence 9.6 episodes per 100 horse-years at risk). Equine Veterinary Journal, 51(5):587-594. PMID 30516850. Research conducted by the Animal Health Trust and Rossdales, funded by World Horse Welfare among others. PubMed.
8. Phys.org (23 January 2019). Equine study reveals that laminitis is as common as colic (Animal Health Trust and Rossdales research). phys.org.
9. Hygain (Australia). Preventing Laminitis. hygain.com.au.
10. Animal Poisons Helpline (Australia). Paterson's Curse. animalpoisons.com.au.
11. Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Equine Endocrinology: Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID). cvm.msu.edu.