22hrs stabled :(

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Rupert-the-bear

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Anyone got any idea's on how to keep active and on the ball horses mentally stimulated when stabled for long periods of time? My poor boy is mentally going crazy being stood in 22-23hrs a day without being ridden :/
 
Can't go out anymore as we are covered in snow :( As it is, he is having more turnout that is really suitable/possible as he comes in not being able to walk, and YO only supplied 20mx30m turnout in 2ft snow that MUST NOT be used for more than 1hr a day!
 
I sometimes make a sort of mobile (think child's mobile that would hang over a cot) made of veg on a string and hang that in the stable, keeps them occupied.

But tbh, this weather can't last forever (it's beginning to melt here now) so you may just have to live with it for a bit longer. Don't mean that to sound harsh but it won't be forever. I wouldn't put my horse out in 2ft of snow anyway... that's what you said you have!
 
Mines in too - has eggbars on and have tried everything but still ends up on stilts and is going to injure herself- today went out for an hour Vaseline mixed with salt in feet - was ok I kept sticking head round and watching - only had to rescue her twice with the hoof pick.
 
I've just found why one of my oldies can't go out in the snow:( Silly old sausage had a lovely roll, flattened a huge amount of snow into ice and then couldn't get himself up. I was on the point of moving all the bedding out of the stables to give him some grip when he finally managed it.
 
Starzaan said:
This. Mine and all my liveries are out all day as normal. They have hay or haylage, and are very happy playing in the snow. It's just snow, it won't make their legs drop off.
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Tell that to my none horsey yard owner! It was a miricle she let us out the other day! She seems to think they cant see the electric tape. Now just got a text saying rest of yard not turning out tomorrow so I cant either...*sigh*
 
Rosie'smum said:
Tell that to my none horsey yard owner! It was a miricle she let us out the other day! She seems to think they cant see the electric tape. Now just got a text saying rest of yard not turning out tomorrow so I cant either...*sigh*
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Oh you poor thing, people are mad. I have no idea why yard owners ban turn out in snow. I would rather my liveries were happy playing in their fields, and I don't want to push any more wheelbarrows through the snow drifts than I absolutely have to!
 
Well ours were stranded in the stable for a day but only because our farm is on a hill and was just too dangerous but now we have dug a path through, they were out as normal. Your YO is mad. We have white tape but horses do have eyes... And excellent depth perception.
 
Mine is in, have been allowed to turnout a few hours a day if you want. Today is her first full day in as its too dangerous to get to the field. Fingers crossed they can go out at the end if the week.
 
Not allowed out any more because slightly nutty yard owner won't let us, also he is not one to run about so gets huge snowballs in his feet (have tried various things to stop it, but doesn't work!)

Also not keen for him to go out any more without me there as a friends horse had to be PTS yesterday after he was calmly walking around his field and fell over due to the snowballs in his feet :'(
 
Ours are in too. The ground was very muddy just before the cold came so now the fields are just full of dangerous frozen ruts which are covered in snow. The walkway to the fields is also extremely slippy with ice under the snow so for me, its not worth the risk for the sake of a few days in (mines happy in anyway :) )
 
Mine has been out for an hour or two every snowy day but with no hay in the field he and his mates have just been hooning around and doing sliding stops at the gate - where it is deep frozen ruts. Yowswers!

So, I have been doing flexing exercises using the bridle and encouraging him to take the contact and flex. I have been doing move over practice, move backwards practice and carrot stretches.

Last by not least I have been desensitising him to the clippers. When I bought him I was told he had to be vet sedated to clip. Now only after just a few days I can run them over his body when they are turned on! Since he isnt in work theres no point clippping him - but I think I could do most of him if I wanted to.
 
tinap said:
Ours are in too. The ground was very muddy just before the cold came so now the fields are just full of dangerous frozen ruts which are covered in snow. The walkway to the fields is also extremely slippy with ice under the snow so for me, its not worth the risk for the sake of a few days in (mines happy in anyway :) )
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We've got the same. Just isn't worth the risk. Roll on the thaw!
 
Rupert-the-bear said:
Also not keen for him to go out any more without me there as a friends horse had to be PTS yesterday after he was calmly walking around his field and fell over due to the snowballs in his feet :'(
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Horses don't generally fall over and have to be euthenised because they have snow in their feet.

Turn him out or/and ride him.
 
Rupert-the-bear said:
Also not keen for him to go out any more without me there as a friends horse had to be PTS yesterday after he was calmly walking around his field and fell over due to the snowballs in his feet :'(
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Its is scary with horses as so many things could go wrong at any time, but horses die every day having heart attacks whilst being ridden too - risks are everywhere. Mine would go nuts stuck in because of snow, he loves wuffling his nose through it, and atm I struggle to get him in at night the little sod :mad: :rolleyes:
 
Mine was the only one out today I think - madness! Though I did feel slightly guilty when I went to get him in and he was up to his belly in a drift (tho he didn't have to be standing there!)
 
amymay said:
Horses don't generally fall over and have to be euthenised because they have snow in their feet.

Turn him out or/and ride him.
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Love it! How have they survived all these years / survive in snowy countries even now....?But I do realise that liveries are at the mercy of the YO's opinions so my sympathy to you if that's the case :(
 
My horse seems to like being in her stable in this weather,as long as she has ad lib hay,her swede on a rope,and an apple to bob in her water she is content, if I put her out she waits by the gate to come in again and gets really excited about coming in!! she does like her food though so going out to a field of ice cubes is not her idea of fun.
 
Mine is out as usual, 8 till 4! She'd literally kill me if I kept her stabled! There is a girl at our yard who insists on keeping hers in even though they are going crazy and its stupid because our fields are in the best shape around considering the weather. And the snow might be deep today but its soft still. Yes my mare came in with stilts but she was happy!
 
amymay said:
Horses don't generally fall over and have to be euthenised because they have snow in their feet.

Turn him out or/and ride him.
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The horse fell over because of the snow in his feet, and because my horse has had previous lameness and back issues I don't want to risk it.

Also, not sure if you've read my previous posts, but YO won't let me turn out any more, OR ride!!!
 
Look, this temporary. LOTS of horses around the world never go out at all and they cope. Cut all the hard feed, walk them out in hand if possible or just let them be in with plenty of forage; they will survive.
 
Cortez said:
Look, this temporary. LOTS of horses around the world never go out at all and they cope. Cut all the hard feed, walk them out in hand if possible or just let them be in with plenty of forage; they will survive.
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I know its temporary, but if people (not just you i must add) would read the whole post I have said that he is MENTALLY going nuts, physically he is just his usual calm self! I was asking for idea's on things to keep him thinking and help prevent boredom, not for people to criticize and ridicule my practices and thoughts. That is all.
 
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