Store bought toys for horses definitely have their place, but DIY toys for your horse can be just as fun – and more budget friendly. This DIY log toy holds treats and creates a puzzle for your horse. It comes together in just a few minutes with a wood log and drill, and you can use it in the stall or pasture. Here’s how to make the DIY treat log for horses, step by step.
What Is a DIY Treat Log for Horses?
This toy for your horse is a solid wood log with holes of different sizes all over. You’ll add treats to the holes for a simple but fun enrichment activity for your horse.
This quick DIY horse toy project uses repurposed material (a wooden log) and works with any type of treat. You’ll use a horse-safe wood species for the log, so it’s safe for your horse to push, lick, and nibble as they work to get the treats.
Why the DIY Treat Log is Great Horse Enrichment
We love horse toys that are easy to make and use. This is a simple DIY project that uses minimal tools – all you’ll need is a drill with a large bit, and a solid piece of log or firewood. Since this project comes together so quickly, it’s easy to make several so that your whole herd can enjoy this toy.
This toy gets your horse to use their mind and get a sensory workout. They’ll use their senses of smell, touch, taste, and vision to snag the treats, and have a great time rolling the treat log around to find all the goodies.
This do it yourself horse toy is durable with no moving parts. And since it’s made of wood, when it finally does wear out, it’s completely biodegradable.
What Behaviors Does the DIY Treat Log Encourage?
Enrichment for horses is all about encouraging your horse’s natural behaviors. The treat log a natural wood item, and promotes food seeking and coordination. When you make a DIY treat log for your horse, you’ll encourage:
- Foraging and food seeking
- Experiencing variety and novelty
- Sensory behaviors
- Coordination and fine motor skills
That’s a lot of variety! The DIY treat log is perfect for horse on stall rest, or those who like to lick and chew objects in their stall or pasture.
How to Make the DIY Treat Log for Horses
This horse enrichment item comes together in just a few steps.
Supplies Needed
- One log, at least 3-4 inches diameter
- Power drill and 1/2″ bit
- Wedge shaped treats like carrots, pretzels, apple sticks
Step 1. Find a Log
To make this toy, you’ll need one or more small logs of a horse-safe species.
Wood from fruit and nut trees is usually a good choice (except for black walnut, which is toxic). Because common tree species vary from region to region, you’ll need to check a local source to make sure that your species is horse-safe. Local colleges and agricultural extensions usually maintain lists of livestock-safe species.
Using a horse-safe tree species for your log ensures that if your horse chews on the log’s bark, there’s no risk of toxicity.
Step 2. Drill the Holes
Using a cordless drill and 1/2″ wood bit (or similar size – some variation is OK), drill holes all over the log.
Your holes should be approximately 3/4″ to 1″ deep (about 2 to 2.5cm). You can make the holes by eye, or use this woodworker’s trick: wrap a piece of tape around the drill bit just above the 1 inch mark. When you reach the tape, your hole is deep enough.
You can make as many holes as you like. This is your DIY horse toy, so there are no rules! The more holes, the more options you have for adding treats.
Brush away all the sawdust and tap the log on the ground to remove wood shavings from the holes.
Step 3. Add the Treats
The DIY treat log is perfect for carrot sticks or baby carrots, but you can use any treat your horse likes. Wand or stick-shaped pieces of food work best. Try these treats for inspiration:
- Pretzel sticks
- Apple wedges
- Cucumber slices
- In-shell peanuts
- Hay twisted into thin spirals
Step 4. Attachment Hardware (Optional)
This step is optional, but if you want to use the DIY treat log as a hanging toy or swinging puzzle, you’ll need to add an eyebolt for clipping on a rope.
You can also drill a hole all the way through the log and slip a rope through.
For safety, use a heavy duty screw-in eyebolt. Don’t use a small eyebolt (if it’s not strong enough for the heavy wood log, it could fail) or a screw-in hook (this is an eye hazard).
Drill a small pilot hole for the eyebolt and thread it in until it’s completely secured in the wood.
Using Your DIY Treat Log
This horse toy is ready to use right away. You can use your DIY treat log in the stall or pasture, either on the ground or hanging up.
If you hang this toy up, remember that it’s solid wood and heavy. Use a strong rope, not baling twine, for best results.
To keep dirt or stall bedding off of the treats, a plastic pan or kiddie pool is a perfect staging ground for this simple but fun toy.
Your horse should have a great time with the DIY treat log. Easy, but entertaining!
Related Enrichment
The treat log is a rolling, food puzzle toy for horses. Try these posts for similar concepts and inspiration:
DIY Rolling Treat Ball – Jolly Ball Upcycle
Megalast Ball – this toy is a perfect online buy if you want the same concept but without the need for a drill.
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