Palatability plays a critical role in equine nutrition, influencing not only whether a horse becomes interested in or eats a feed, supplement, or treat, but also how consistently they consume it.
While horse owners often associate palatability with “pickiness,” research shows that what a horse chooses to eat—or avoid—is driven by a complex interaction of taste, smell, past experience, and instinct.
Understanding how horses perceive flavor and how those perceptions differ from human assumptions helps explain why some feeds or forages are readily accepted while others are refused—regardless of nutritional quality. Research into equine palatability also shows that what a horse initially approaches or shows interest in does not always reflect what it will consume in significant amounts.
In this article, we’ll explore what palatability really means, how and what horses taste, what research says about what horses find palatable (and what they don’t), and how Tribute Equine Nutrition supports equine palatability through thoughtful formulation.
What Does “Palatability” Mean in Horses?
In simple terms, palatability describes a horse's willingness to eat a feed, supplement, or treat. But palatability goes far beyond whether a horse eventually cleans up their feed bucket. It reflects how appealing that feed is to the horse’s senses and instincts—and whether the horse eats it readily and consistently.
From a scientific perspective, palatability is influenced by several factors, including taste, smell, texture, and familiarity. A feed may smell appealing but taste unpleasant, or it may taste acceptable yet smell unfamiliar enough that a horse approaches it cautiously.
This same response can occur with new water sources, where some horses drink hesitantly until the source becomes familiar. That’s why palatability research often evaluates both what a horse approaches or sniffs first and what—and how much—the horse actually consumes.
Palatability matters because even the most carefully balanced diet cannot support health, performance, or recovery if a horse will not consistently eat it. This challenge often comes up with higher-fiber, lower-sugar feeds or when medications and supplements with naturally bitter flavors are added.
However, it’s essential to recognize that palatability is not the same as suitability. When a horse refuses a feed, that response can serve a protective purpose rooted in an instinct to avoid potentially harmful substances.
A sudden refusal of feed or forage that a horse previously consumed willingly may signal an issue with freshness, or the horse’s underlying health, rather than simple “pickiness.” In some cases, abrupt feed refusal is associated with mycotoxins—toxic compounds produced by fungi that can develop when feed or forage is exposed to warm, damp, or improperly stored conditions.
What—and How Much—Can Horses Taste?
Horses have a highly developed sense of taste. Research shows they have roughly three times as many taste buds as humans.
Taste perception in horses also extends beyond the tongue, with taste buds located in the cheeks and soft palate, supporting selective grazing as they eat. While horses don’t taste the full range of flavors people do, their taste system reflects what matters most for survival and forage selection.
Horses respond most strongly to sweet and salty flavors. Sweet tastes signal energy-dense food sources that support survival, particularly when forage availability is limited. Salt plays a critical role in electrolyte balance and fluid regulation, especially after sweating. The preference for sweet and salty flavors helps explain why feeds and treats with these flavors are more palatable.
Bitter flavors are typically not palatable to horses, which can help them naturally avoid potentially toxic plants. This sensitivity to bitter taste also explains why many medications and supplements can be difficult to mask in feed.
However, unlike humans, horses do not taste “spicy” flavors. Instead, they perceive spicy sensations as heat or irritation via pain receptors rather than via taste buds.
Palatability in Horses: What Research Tells Us About Taste, Smell and Preference
Horses make decisions on what and what not to eat using a combination of taste, smell, experience, and instinct.
However, research on equine palatability reveals some interesting insights—what a horse approaches first does not always match what it ultimately consumes, and what humans assume horses will like does not always reflect true equine preference.
The Welsh Pony Study on Flavored Concentrate
This study examined flavor preferences in Welsh ponies by adding different flavors to a high-fiber concentrate and comparing them to the palatability of an unflavored control.
Researchers tested commonly used flavorings, including apple, caramel, raspberry, and anise (fenugreek). The study also keeps the base concentration and flavor inclusion rates consistent to ensure a fair comparison.
Horses were evaluated based on what they approached first and on total intake of each flavor, which allowed researchers to separate smell-driven interest from true palatability. But in this study, there was little difference between what horses approached first and what they ultimately ate.
Apple-flavored feed was consumed most consistently, while raspberry and the unflavored control were consumed the least, with caramel and anise ranking in the middle.
While apple and other flavors performed well in this study’s context, the findings reflect the specific diet and flavor concentration used (such as whether more or less of certain flavors were used) rather than a universal preference across all horses or feeds.
The Pony Study on Hay Flavoring, Temperament, and Feeding Behavior
In another study, researchers evaluated ponies’ preferences for different flavors added directly to hay. Flavored additives to the hay included carrot, vanilla, milk protein, and milk protein with added sugar. They studied not only what the horses consumed but also what they smelled and approached first.
The research team also examined how temperament and feeding behavior influenced feed intake by categorizing horses as reactive or non-reactive and assessing, and whether left- versus right-side bucket preference affected feeding choices.
Horses tended to approach the right-sided bucket more frequently. Still, this lateral preference did not significantly affect overall intake or study outcomes, and the researchers accounted for it by rotating bucket placement across repeated trials.
Reactive horses were more easily distracted during feeding, although this did not significantly affect total consumption. While flavored hay was approached before unflavored hay regardless of temperament, vanilla and milk protein with sugar were consumed the most overall. This preference is likely because they were the sweeter flavor options introduced.
Interestingly, the study’s findings show that what smells appealing does not always taste appealing to horses. Milk protein alone attracted the most interest by smell but was consumed the least, demonstrating that initial attraction does not always translate to feed intake.
However, it is essential to remember that refusal to eat or feed hay can also reflect concerns about forage quality rather than palatability. Masking poor-quality or moldy hay with flavors is not recommended, as hesitation may serve a protective response rather than simple pickiness.
The Horses vs. Humans Study—Who Really Decides What’s “Appealing”?
Another study conducted in 2020 at Southern Illinois University evaluated palatability by separating how horses sniffed treats from how they actually consumed them. It also compares equine responses to human perceptions of those same treats.
Researchers examined two commercially available options—a cinnamon-flavored flax-based treat and an apple-flavored oat-based treat—and assessed horses' responses to the smells and their intake of the treats. Meanwhile, humans rated the treats on appearance, texture, and likelihood of purchase.
The horses showed no strong preference for either treat and readily consumed both. However, humans rated the apple-flavored oat treat significantly higher. These human ratings in favor of the apple-oat treat were driven considerably by visual appeal (the apple-oat was significantly more visually appealing) and perceived flavor strength rather than the horse’s actual response.
Why Horses (and Their Owners) Love Wholesome Blends Treats—And How You Can Use Them
The research discussed above shows that giving your horse a treat is an experience for both the horse and the human. For owners, how a treat looks, smells, and feels matters almost as much as whether the horse enjoys it—it either creates that warm, fuzzy moment or it doesn’t. Fortunately, Wholesome Blends treats deliver on both sides.
Wholesome Blends Horse Treats are intentionally designed for palatability. These treats feature a soft texture (even suitable for most horses with poor dentition), whole seeds, vegeatables or fruit and are 100% soy-free, with molasses used as a binder to enhance palatability.
These treats are a great way to enhance training sessions and daily handling, such as:
- Carrot stretches and in-hand mobility exercises
- Trailer loading and reinforcing self-loading behavior
- Hiding pills or other medication
- Positive reinforcement during groundwork or rehab work
- Rewarding calm behavior during grooming, clipping, or vet visits
Wholesome Blends Treat flavor options include:
- Original
- Banana
- Peppermint
- Seasonal favorites such as caramel apple and carrot cake
- Holiday editions like Lumps of Coal (made especially for the mischievous members of your barn)
How Tribute Approaches Palatability—Without Compromising Nutrition
Tribute Equine Nutrition approaches palatability through science-driven formulation—not by masking feeds with excess sugar or flavors. The Tribute team uses research, ingredient evaluation, and real-world feeding trials to ensure feeds are willingly consumed while still supporting digestive health, metabolic balance, and performance.
Tribute focuses on whole, high-quality ingredients, appropriate levels of non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs), and carefully selected flavor profiles that encourage feed intake without overriding nutritional intent.
Because every horse is unique in both health status and palatability needs, Tribute also offers free, personalized feeding plans, giving owners access to expert nutritional guidance tailored to their horse’s age, workload, forage, and health considerations.
References
- Barton, A. K., Hemsworth, P. H., & Doyle, R. E. (2021). Feed concentrate palatability in Welsh ponies: Acceptance and preference of flavors. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 236, 105258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105258
- Destrez, A., Deiss, V., Lévy, F., & Calandreau, L. (2020). Palatability assessment in horses in relation to lateralization and temperament. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 230, 105073. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105073
- Rambeau, N., Smith, B., & Urschel, K. L. (2021). Palatability of horse treats: Comparing the preferences of horses and humans. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 100, 103471. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103471