If you’re like me, you were pretty confused when videos of people eating horse treats started showing up on my feed. Supposedly, this all started when a user named Gracie Lambert posted a video to TikTok of her trying a treat before giving it to her horse. She wasn’t a huge fan of the banana flavor, so when the video blew up, Gracie decided to record herself tasting other flavors. Soon, other creators were intrigued and began to post their own videos.
The main treats being eaten are Likit Horse Treats. These are cylinder-shaped blocks with a hole in the middle so they can be placed on a rope or in the company’s plastic holders.
The main ingredient is glucose, which is a type of sugar. It also contains dextrose monohydrate (another type of glucose), natural flavorings, and potassium sorbate as a preservative. Simply put, it’s like a huge sugar cube. With flavors like apple, blueberry, and mango, who wouldn’t want a taste? According to the website, these treats are even made with human-grade ingredients.
However, this does not automatically mean you should dig right in. The factory and machines used in production, as well as the warehouses where the treats are stored, do not meet the requirements necessary for products safe for human consumption. Furthermore, these treats are created with a horse’s dietary expectations in mind. Health experts and horse owners alike have warned creators that eating these treats isn’t a good idea, due to the high sugar content and risks of cross-contamination. But it seems to some that becoming viral is worth the risks. Other treats being eaten in these videos include seed granola balls and even horse muffins.
Unfortunately, as creators rush to buy these treats to keep up with the trend, horses themselves are having trouble actually getting any. Many owners have come out online, criticizing the trend as the treats have been consistently sold out. It’s not even the first time people have been using products intended for horses. Posts and videos of people using the horse shampoo Mane N’ Tail have been around for years. People have tried horse electrolytes, pellets, and salt licks.
All I can say is that it’s a neigh from me on this trend.
