The Scoop on Likit Horse Toys

Seriously fun and entertaining, Likit Horse Treats and Toys are a mainstay on the shelves at The Cheshire Horse. This unique line of toys is proven to diminish the boredom and stress that horses experience in a stall, allowing them to stay mentally stimulated. In this blog, we explore the benefits of using Likit Horse Treats and Toys in your barn and pasture, while also discussing the proper toy selection.

More Than A Toy

While many horse owners purchase Likit Toys because they are just plain fun for horses (and highly entertaining for those who watch), they have many additional benefits. “Likit Toys are designed by vets and animal behaviorists to combat stall boredom and stress,” explains Paul Mattas, the North American Representative for Likit Horse Treats and Toys. 

Horses evolved living outside and constantly grazing, so spending extensive time in a stall is contradictory to their natural instincts. By enriching their environment in the stall, you can discourage them from developing stable vices, such as cribbing, chewing, and weaving. In fact, according to a Cornell University study performed by Katherine Houpt, VMD, PhD in 2011 (read a summary here), the Likit Tongue Twister is clinically proven to reduce cribbing in horses.

Likit Horse Toys are easy to use and very economical, making them a practical choice for many horse owners. However, they are particularly useful for nervous horses, cribbers, and especially those that spend any time in a stall as part of their routine or for injury/rehab purposes. They are also a wonderful addition to your horse’s environment during the winter months when your horse may not have as much access to pasture or turnout.

The Likit Tongue Twister is clinically proven to reduce cribbing in horses.

Cornell University study performed by Katherine Houpt, VMD, PhD in 2011

The Right Toy for You

“Likit is the only comprehensive line of horse activity toys in the world,” says Paul. Their line ranges from the most basic, the Likit Holder, to the medium-range toys, the Boredom Breaker and the Tongue Twister, or the more challenging, Boredom Buster. By incorporating treats into the toy, the Likits stimulate your horse’s brain, making them think “how do I access this reward.” The toys vary in difficulty to make them appropriate for horses of all motivation levels.

The Likit Holder is the most simple toy that they offer. This toy consists of a hanging delicious Likit Treat in your horse’s stall and the swinging motion prevents them from biting or eating it… hence making them “lick it” instead. The more your horse plays with the toy, the more it will move, making it more challenging the more that they engage with it.

The Boredom Breaker adds an element of difficulty to the Likit Holder by incorporating a ball below the Likit. The ball holds the Lil Likit treats so you can offer your horse a variety of delicious flavors.

If you are looking for alternatives to hanging toys from the ceiling of the barn, the Tongue Twister attaches directly to the stall wall and spins as your horse licks at the treat. This is a great option for horses who may be wary of something hanging from the ceiling. Additionally, it has been clinically proven to reduce cribbing by 23% by Cornell University.

If your horse needs more of a challenge, try out the Boredom Buster. This advanced-level toy hangs from the ceiling and spins in various directions as your horse plays with it. This is meant for exceptionally playful and mischievous horses… other horses may become frustrated with the difficulty and stop playing with the toy. Generally, it is recommended that you allow your horse to experiment with less difficult toys before they try this challenging one!

The Likit Snak-a-Ball takes the fun outside to the pasture! This durable ball releases tiny nuggets of grain as your horse pushes it around with his or her nose. It encourages a natural grazing behavior and helps them to stretch over their topline and build muscle tone as they nibble the pelleted feed. This makes it an excellent choice for horses with insulin resistance or glucose issues because you can utilize low-starch grains or hay pellets. “The Snak-a-Ball is a brilliant product for weaning foals and young horses as it encourages a slow and steady release of feed which is beneficial to their digestive system and also promotes a natural grazing action,” Paul explains.

“There is a Likit toy to suit every horse personality and it’s important to consider this when choosing a toy for your horse,” continues Paul. “For example, many people start with the Likit Holder as it’s the entry-level product, but for a food-motivated, clever horse, it is better to start with a Boredom Breaker which is much more challenging.  For a horse that is less adventurous, the Tongue Twister would be more appropriate.” If you have questions about which toy would be the most appropriate for your horse, we encourage you to use the handy product selector tool on the Likit website.

Proper Use

In order to safely use the toys in your horse’s stall, run-in shed, or pasture, proper installation is critical. All toys should be used as directed in the instructions, failure to do so could result in excessive consumption or injury.

“Introduce the treat from your hand initially, gently encouraging your horse to lick it,” Paul explains. “Once happily licking from the hand, place the Likit in the toy and again hold for them to lick. Finally, hang the toy as directed (3 feet from the stall wall and at wither height in most instances) and hold it still for them to lick. They will soon get the idea!” By hanging toys about three feet from the stall wall and at wither height, they are unable to push the toy up against the wall and get a hold of the treat, forcing them to lick it (hence the name!).

Provided the Likit treat is hung correctly, it should last anywhere from 2-5 days (oftentimes they will last considerably longer).  If the horse is consuming more quickly than this, they need a more challenging toy such as the Boredom Breaker or Boredom Buster. As with any new foodstuff, make sure that it is introduced to your horse slowly under your supervision and ensure a fresh, clean supply of water is always available.

Flavors Galore!

Just like the toys, the treats have been developed with the health of your horse in mind. All of the treats are made with glucose, the same type of sugar which is found in grass. The treats do not contain any candy type of sugar, such as sucrose. There are so many great flavors to choose from, including molasses, mint, apple, and banana. Some horses with health problems such as Cushing’s, insulin resistance (IR), or glucose issues may not be great candidates for the Likit Treats with glucose, but they can still have fun! The Himalayan Rock Salt Likit is suitable for all horses and ponies and fits into the Likit Holder or the Boredom Breaker.

In addition to the line of Likit Treat Toys, The Cheshire Horse carries the Likit Horse Treats which are conveniently pre-cut to allow for feeding on the go. Many equestrians use these delicious bars for training purposes, or simply to indulge their lucky equine companions.

Consider enriching your horse’s environment with a Likit Horse Toy. More than a toy, they have been proven to have positive effects on your horse’s mental health as well.

These activity toys are seriously fun! If you have any questions regarding the complete line of Likit Horse Toys and Treats that we carry or would like assistance selecting the right toy for your playful pony we encourage you to speak to a member of our friendly, horse-loving sales staff.