When I first heard about TheSnufflePasture, I was immediately intrigued. It’s not every day that a new product comes along that aligns so well with my philosophy of horse care—prioritizing their physical, mental, and emotional well-being through environmental enrichment. After speaking with the creator, Marlow Morrison, and learning more about her journey in developing this product, I knew I had to share both the product and her story with you.
What is TheSnufflePasture?
TheSnufflePasture is a unique enrichment tool designed to mimic the natural grazing experience, even in environments where true grazing isn’t possible. It encourages horses to engage in natural foraging behavior, promoting relaxation and supporting digestive health by increasing saliva production—an important factor in reducing the risk of ulcers. Unlike many other enrichment products, TheSnufflePasture never loses its novelty. The more a horse uses it, the more benefits they gain. You can add hay pellets, treats, or any other hard feed that is suitable for your horse. If you’re already wondering where to get your own, you can head to their website Enriched Acres and use my code “NANTUCKET” to save 10% on your order! I recommend the Trainer’s bundle so you can swap them out to keep them clean. You can either brush, rinse or machine wash depending on how clean you’re aiming for!
The Inspiration Behind the Product
Marlow Morrison, a professional equestrian with experience as an FEI groom, hunter/jumper trainer, and managing an equine rehabilitation center, created TheSnufflePasture out of necessity. Her horse, Luca,, was living at a facility where his ability to exhibit natural behaviors was severely limited. This led to stress behaviors that even affected his training sessions—he became fixated on work and lost interest in food rewards because his daily routine wasn’t meeting his basic needs.
Marlow’s career has given her deep insight into both traditional and positive reinforcement training methods. In searching for enrichment options, she found that most existing solutions weren’t durable enough for a horse’s strength and habits. Inspired by the success of snuffle mats used for dogs but frustrated by their short lifespan, she began designing a version specifically for horses. Through trial and error—guided by her own horse’s responses—she developed TheSnufflePasture.
Why it Works
- Encourages Natural Grazing Behaviors: Horses are designed to graze for up to 17 hours a day. TheSnufflePasture taps into this instinct, providing a slow and engaging way for them to eat pelleted feeds.
- Supports Digestive Health: By promoting longer chewing time and increased saliva production, TheSnufflePasture helps buffer stomach acid, reducing ulcer risk.
- Reduces Stress and Anxiety: The grazing motion naturally shifts horses from a sympathetic nervous system response (stress) to a parasympathetic response (relaxation and digestion).
- Prevents Choke: By slowing down the intake of pelleted feed, it minimizes the risk of choke.
- Built for Durability: Designed with high-quality materials to withstand rough outdoor use, TheSnufflePasture is made to last.
- Never Loses Its Appeal: Unlike many toys and enrichment items, which become less interesting over time, TheSnufflePasture continues to provide lasting benefits by offering an engaging way to eat.
A Game Changer for Training Sessions
One of the most interesting insights Marlow shared was how TheSnufflePasture transformed her horse’s training experience. Luca had become so dependent on his time with Marlow, that their training sessions themselves had too much value. While it was cool to see how eager her horse was to train at first, it quickly became apparent that there was a problem when he could never seem to relax. Her horse was so fixated on their time together, she told me that she “couldn’t even get him to eat grass most of the time. The focus on my one hour there was too much for him, he was trying to get all his needs met in that single hour.”
After she started using her SnufflePasture daily, the change was obvious. She would see him go into an almost hypnotic state while “grazing” on a single cup of hay pellets while she got ready for their session. He went from refusing high value rewards like apples and carrots to eagerly engaging with his SnufflePasture filled with simple grass hay pellets. She even started using it as the jackpot reward, and it became so effective that all his stress behaviors that had developed were eliminated. He can always choose between continuing a session or engaging with the Snuffle—and will remain at his Snuffle while Marlow preps things in the arena.
Luca uses his SnufflePasture everyday, and the benefits have continued! His experience is not uncommon, and personally I think every horse that lives in a stall or solo environment deserves a SnufflePasture.
Real Results: Horses Love TheSnufflePasture
Since using TheSnufflePasture, I’ve implemented its use in two scenarios. One way I utilize it is to soothe a horse that is left behind, and the other is to occupy a horse during their hoof trimming sessions. Trubee & Adee both can be a little fidgety with trims, but with the Snuffle I can keep them happy the whole time without going through a ton of pellets. Both scenarios have shown me that the value of the feed placed in the Snuffle needs to somewhat correlate with the stress of the situation! So for being left behind, if the horse is particularly nervous I will need to ensure the feed in the Snuffle is slightly higher-value than if they’re having a calmer day. Same applies during hoof trims!
I like to break up our Omega Nibblers (a low sugar, healthy treat) and mix those into the Snuffle with both bermuda and alfalfa pellets. Adee, my mustang mare, developed her own communication system within one trim session with the Snuffle, making it her own “start” button without any prior training about start buttons. It was pretty cool, and she was a perfect pony the whole session. Since my horses have 24/7 access to hay already, as well as other enrichment options, space, and live together, their need for TheSnufflePasture is not as great as they would be in a less stimulating environment. If anyone ever needs to be on stall rest, these would be an essential part of recovery!
Bonus – my dogs love snuffle mats, and these are so strong and durable that my bully breed dogs haven’t yet destroyed them either. They will use them after the horses to get what they missed, and I actually have two in the house now for them to use on days when we can’t go on a hike or trail ride with them! They work just as great for the dogs.
Final Thoughts
TheSnufflePasture is more than just an enrichment tool—it’s a way to give horses access to one of their most essential needs, no matter their living situation. Whether your horse is stalled, in a dry lot, or simply needs more engagement in their daily routine, this product offers a simple yet highly effective solution. It is also machine-washable, if needed!
Enriched Acres, the company behind TheSnufflePasture, is dedicated to advancing horse welfare through environmental enrichment and science-based education. Their innovative product is more than just a slow feeder—it’s a thoughtfully designed animal welfare tool that supports both physical and emotional well-being. By encouraging the natural grazing motion and posture, TheSnufflePasture promotes saliva production, which helps buffer stomach acid and reduces the risk of ulcers. This simple yet effective approach not only aids digestion but also helps horses transition from stress responses (sympathetic nervous system activation) to a state of relaxation and recovery (parasympathetic nervous system activation). As a woman-owned, environmentally conscious small business, Enriched Acres prioritizes sustainability by sourcing materials from U.S. companies. They also produce TheSnufflePasture in their own New Mexico-based workshop! If you’d like to order your own SnufflePasture & support Marlow’s efforts, you can use the code “NANTUCKET” to save 10% on your own!
