Are Fruit Flavors More Appealing to Horses Than Plain Grains?

This study was conducted to evaluate if rate of intake of oats could be influenced by the addition of fruit flavors.

Eight mature Thoroughbred geldings were used in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square two-choice preference test using apple, cherry, teaberry, and citrus flavors in a carrier of wheat midds. Two horses per period were offered each treatment along with a control (no flavoring). After five minutes, the amount of oats remaining in each bucket was measured.

There was a trend toward consumption of the flavored oats as compared to the control. Cherry was the most favored flavor. There was little difference in appeal of the other three flavors.

Read the entire research paper, titled The Influence of Fruit Flavors on Feed Preference in Thoroughbred Horses.