Hands-On Horse Research: What Fruit Flavors Do Horses Favor?

One Kentucky Equine Research study tested four flavors to determine preference: apple, cherry, teaberry, and citrus. Flavors were mixed with oats at an inclusion rate typical of horse feeds, and plain oats served as the control.

Can you guess which flavor horses preferred? Do you think horses liked plain oats more than any of the flavors?

If you guessed apple as the runaway winner, we don’t blame you. Based on rate of intake, though, the horses in this trial preferred cherry-flavored oats to all others, including plain oats. In fact, horses preferred all four flavors to plain oats.

What flavor finished in second place, you ask? Turns out, there was a three-way tie between apple, teaberry, and citrus.

Learn more about KER’s research program here.