Boredom breakers?

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littlemissj

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I have a 7yo very playful Connemara. He gets turnout in a sand pit everyday but I want some toys or ideas for boredom breakers for while he is in the stable.
I'm reluctant to use things like likits because of the sugar content and the fact he is very fiery as it is!
He already has one of those jolly balls and a roller ball that puts out little bits of carrot or feed etc.
Anyone came across any homemade inventions? or seen anything clever in the shops?
Thanks :)
 
stabled, our yard doesnt have winter turnout in the fields unfortunately :( he gets turnout in the sand pit with my other young connie. we call it a sand pit, its an arena, plenty of room for them to run and play in :)
 
instead of likits, why not try a mineral and salt lick? They are all natural and good for your horse as well as keeping them entertained whilst in the stable! you can buy them from most saddlerys i think :)
 
You could make a vegetable kebab with baler twine and hang it somewhere it can't be pushed against the wall. Also have a look at uncle jimmys hanging balls - can get a sugar free version and they last ages if hung away from walls
 
I'm sorry I know you didn't ask for opinions but that is no way to keep a playful pony :( I would be looking at moving somewhere with at least some turnout, I can't imagine anything worse than pushing a ball around all night or something similar.
 
sorry but i'm slightly offended by that. 'nothing worse than pushing a ball around all night' i can think of plenty worse... at least he has a stable which is a lot more than many horses out there. he is in at night as he is fully clipped due to the work he does. No one in our area does winter turnout on the field due to the climate. He gets turnout in a turnout school through the day and is in at night due to the weather. I was simply asking for ideas to keep him occupied when he comes in as i want to make the best of what i have.
 
HI,

I keep mine in a "sand pit" in winter too. It is also a 30 X 30 arena, so also plenty of room to play. Mine does play with his jolly ball, and we have an old barrel he pushed around, plus a huge mirror (made of polished stainless) which he spends hours preening himself in front of.

HOWEVER I find the biggest gift I can give him is daily interaction, as in work or structured play, such as fetching sticks (clicker training), chasing a plastic sack tied to the end of a lunge whip, side passing over poles, anything really that has an aim that he has to puzzle out where we can learn to interact better.
 
What about one of those giant beachball type balls?

Also lickit do a salt lick that fits on their holders, my ponies play with the holder as much as licking the actual salt
 
WelshD said:
What about one of those giant beachball type balls?
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Hi, this was mine playing with his giant ball last night.....

2_zps827a2b2f.jpg


It is great, but because play can get a bit raucous, and also the ball is pneumatic and so liable to burst, the Jay man only gets to play supervised with this bit of kit for safety. He once pounced so hard on it he went right over the top and nearly fell over.
 
Give my horse a dog,,, she will chase them for hours! (P.s. dogs are no longer allowed loose in my fields!)

The Gym/Swiss balls go down well. I haven't ever had one so cannot comment - I have seen some great you tube videos though!
 
never thought on a big mirror (or shiny stainless) must get him one of those. his favourite things are things he isn't meant to have, such as buckets, rugs, towels, grooming brushes and the zips/buttons on your coat! must bring him up a big gym, ball too, no doubt he'll love it :)
 
Red-1 said:
Hi, this was mine playing with his giant ball last night.....

2_zps827a2b2f.jpg


It is great, but because play can get a bit raucous, and also the ball is pneumatic and so liable to burst, the Jay man only gets to play supervised with this bit of kit for safety. He once pounced so hard on it he went right over the top and nearly fell over.
Click to expand...

What a fab pic & what a happy, shiny fun loving horsey. :D
 
WelshD said:
Where did you get it from please Red? Is it one specifically for horses?
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Hi,

yes it is a proper horse one, I just used google, I think it was about £40 or so, and if I bought it again I would also buy the optional cover as it has to be well inflated to prevent teeth attacks.

He also uses a Reebok fitness ball, which is about £10 or so. The big ball is more fun though as we can play football mounted and I can reach and kick it as well as him kicking it.

A video from a couple of years ago.......[video=youtube;eyvx14auM3s]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyvx14auM3s&list=UU0lJP-CVlvm1ywFllb-umLQ[/video]

Camilla's Aunty Em said:
What a fab pic & what a happy, shiny fun loving horsey. :D
Click to expand...

Thank you, he is FAB.
 
littlemissj said:
sorry but i'm slightly offended by that. 'nothing worse than pushing a ball around all night' i can think of plenty worse... at least he has a stable which is a lot more than many horses out there. he is in at night as he is fully clipped due to the work he does. No one in our area does winter turnout on the field due to the climate. He gets turnout in a turnout school through the day and is in at night due to the weather. I was simply asking for ideas to keep him occupied when he comes in as i want to make the best of what i have.
Click to expand...

I don't think having a stable is a particular bonus as such with regard to general basic horse welfare. What's wrong with your climate that nobody does winter turnout? I don't think NI has particularly harsh weather conditions to many other places horses are kept. Personally I would desperately look for somewhere that did offer turnout, even if it was just daily turnout on grass. I also never understood full clipping - a hunter clip yes but never understand why anyone needs to take the leg and face hair off personally. Hunter clipped horses can live out 24/7 perfectly happily (rugged well obviously). I just find it totally bizarre and rather sad that some horses don't get to exercise their basic need to graze, socialise and have space to move about. But anyway, you weren't asking for opinions like you say. Its hard to find many "toys" though as I think a lot of them just make horses frustrated especially the balls or slow feeding type things (depends on the horse though). I guess the most interesting thing you can do is give him loads of hay, and try to have him in a stable that he can at least touch other horses either side to get a degree of socialisation.
 
Guys, not being rude but I'm asking for boredom breakers not people's opinions on how I should keep my horse. You don't know all my reasons for keeping him in and I didn't ask for people to make jabs at my horses welfare. I certainly would not make remarks about how other people keep their horse because that's there decision. Keep to the question. Thanks.
 
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