Boredom - How can you deal with it?

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Pablo349

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My horse is currently 1 month through his 3 month field/stable rest and is getting very boisterous and nipping at people and other horses.

I have no wall space for a mirror as he is stables in a Dutch Barn with integral stables. The only wall available has a window in the middle of it!
He did like salt/flavoured licks, but he has recently not taken to any of them.

Have any of you found good distractions?

All comments would be gratefully received. Thanks.
 
When mine was on box rest I gave him the following to keep him occuppied:

carrots hidden in haynets
layering haynets with grass then hay, then grass etc
treat ball
the hanging licks (can't remember what they're called)
taking him buckets of hand picked grass in addition to the layered haynet
swedes! (kick around or eat!)
and regular sports massages which he loved

hope that helps a bit :)
 
try different types of fibre in different buckets/trugs. eg Hifi lite in one , Baileys straw&honey in another, long hay in another.
 
Treat ball already suggested. Hiding carrots in the haynet already suggested.

Can you hang several haynets in the stable which will give him a chance to stand in a different spot with a different view.
 
Feed ball as others have said. My boy loves it. Can you hand anything from above. I would put apples on string and hang them all around. Also i put a whole turnip into mine he loves it he kicks it round like a ball and has a wee munch too
 
To add to the above:
- swede hanging off a rope away from a wall.
- bobbing apples in water bucket
- football in a haynet
- football in stable
- if playful stuff like wellies, footballs in a bucket etc.
Just be careful that you don't leave him alone with anything he could chew.
 
Pablo349 said:
My horse is currently 1 month through his 3 month field/stable rest and is getting very boisterous and nipping at people and other horses.

I have no wall space for a mirror as he is stables in a Dutch Barn with integral stables. The only wall available has a window in the middle of it!
He did like salt/flavoured licks, but he has recently not taken to any of them.

Have any of you found good distractions?

All comments would be gratefully received. Thanks.
Click to expand...

You have some great ideas there Pablo349 :)

about the mirror, I have seen " equestrian mirrors" on a roll ,for sale on e-bay. They can be cut to shape for anywhere in the stable, to reflect light or shapes.

When I have to have a horse on boxrest, I spend as much time with them as possible and have a radio on nearby. During this time we do extra grooming, stretchy exercizes, joint massages, walks in hand, all sorts which may take him/her out of the stable for a little while.

Hope your horse is soon improved .
Teg :)
 
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