Beat the Heat with Easy Pony Popsicles!

When the summer sun is blazing and you feel like you’re swimming through the humid air, cool down and re-hydrate your equine friends with super easy-to-make pony popsicles!

Last week, I surprised Pilot with this treat, and he LOVED it! When I arrived, he was standing in the run-in, sheltering from the sun and hiding from the horseflies. But as soon as he licked the popsicle, he marched right outside and followed me back to the barn. I attempted to lure him into the shade behind the barn, but he thought it would be best to enjoy his icy treat with with the warm sun on his back with the occasional nibble of green grass. Silly boy!

I love making popsicles for Pilot, not only because he pays more attention to me when I have food, but also because it helps him stay hydrated and cool. My recipe is a conglomeration of ideas from other pony popsicle creators on the internet, and I’d encourage you to make the recipe your own!

RECIPE

1. Cut a string of bailing twine to about 2 feet long and lay the middle of the twine on the bottom of a plastic cup (I like to use big 16 oz ones). The twine will act as the popsicle “stick” for you to hold or hang up in the stall. Each end of the bailing twine should stick out of the cup.

2. Fill the cup about halfway with chunks of your pony’s favorite healthy snacks – carrots, apples, bananas, applesauce, watermelon, etc. The below image from Horsemart outlines what should and should not be fed to horses. I made Pilot’s popsicle with apple chunks and applesauce, but his favorite is banana!

3. Optional: Depending on your horse’s unique needs, you may want to add a small handful of your horse’s regular grain or even a scoop of an electrolyte supplement. Gatorade may be added, though it is better used as a flavoring agent as it is a poor source of electrolytes for horses.

4. Finally, fill the cup to the top with water and find a safe spot for it in your freezer! Let it sit for 4+ hours.

5. When you’re ready for pony popsicle day, gently pull on the ends of the bailing twine to release the popsicle from the cup. Visit your pony in the paddock and hand feed the icy treat or hang it up in your pony’s stall for fun indoors. If you are hanging the treat, I’d recommend putting a feed pan below to catch any icy chunks that break away.

If you want to double the fun, bring people popsicles for your barn friends and barn crew. Everyone needs to stay cool and hydrated on hot days!