Box rest boredom

[Ninarodders]

My 14.2 cob needs 6 weeks box rest and we are on day 3. Yesterday I got him out to muck out and put straight back but he wouldn't go. So I know he's going to get bored and maybe pushy. He's never been in for more than 5 days. I'm going to invest in a chain incase he gets bargey but wondered if anyone had got any ideas for cheap toys? Obviously he'll need a few so can be rotated but can't afford loads of toys. Any help would be great. He's never had any toys as he goes out a lot so I'm not sure what he likes what he don't like. Tia

 

[Kylara]

Stable mirrors are great. And a nut ball or hay ball would be good, if he likes those then you can get jolly balls which are purely for playing with. A stable guard might be a good shout as feels less restrictive than a door.

I'm a big fan of giving them swedes as they are fun to roll around and good for them.

 

[smja]

Most horses do better on box rest than we think they will. The key is routine - always do the same thing when you come down to muck out etc. and they get used to it. Make sure he always has forage, you might need to soak hay if he's a good doer.

I have lots of experience with box rest unfortunately and what I find works is having a bucket of "feed" in his stable whenever I put him back after mucking out. It was often just a handful of stuff like readigrass, but it came in his bucket and he was always keen to go back in!

Don't be tempted to take him for a walk/hand-graze because it's a nice day or you feel sorry for him unless you can do it regularly, otherwise it upsets the routine. Apologies if this sounds harsh, but old pony got very upset that some days he was allowed out to hand graze and others not.

 

[mightymammoth]

have a look at this short video, this is what I'd do https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk4TKoUqgRw

 

[Birker2020]

Lots of ideas, most of which have been covered but:

Leave a radio on for company - talk show or classical radio show.
Leave lots of small nets dotted about the stable.
Swedes/apples/turnips hung from stable.
Snackaball.
Cut up a bit of turf (grass and soil) and place in stable on floor. Horse will love playing with it and shaking it about and will enjoy the minerals in the soil and the grass itself!
Put some apples bobbing in the horses drinking water.
Chuck polos/strong mints around the bed.
Stable mirror
Football
Bit of old towel tied to the stable bars.
Have a grooming session.
Have a stretching session - where allowed.
Have a practice putting bandages on and off. Any additional time spent with the horse will be most welcome.
Just have a coffee sat in the corner of the stable or read a magazine.
Pick some grass.
Pick some fruit.

 

[frostyfingers]

I gave mine a rope & ball dog toy the type that you're meant to throw) hung from the bars, plus a decent size branch well secured that he could chew on. I also gave him a trug full of grass every day.

 

[Chloeap]

Most horses do better on box rest than we think they will.

I agree with this. Thought my boy would be a nightmare but was fantastic. First day he thought he was going out in his field but after that wasn't at all bargey. When he was stabled at the vets he absolutely loved the mirror in that stable, so would consider getting one of these. Otherwise just make sure they have food constantly.

 

[Ninarodders]

Thanks everyone some good ideas. I'm double netting his nets atm as mine are big holed so going to get some small holed ones for him. He's got a treat ball I borrowed off someone and due to his dust allergies I already soak hay for at least 30 mins anyway. No bed means he's dirty so having wash him plus his allergies will mean calming bath every 2-5 days. So I guess he will be getting extra attention.

The apples in water do you cut them? I only ever give him cut apples or hold it tight so he takes a bite. I'm petrified of him chocking. But I think he'll love it.

He needs full box rest so I'm not allowed to take him to grass anyway, vet said no. Think I'll try the cut the soil with grass patch to put in stable. That sounds good! Well I'll try them all really. Thanks for all your ideas. Such a shame as he'll miss the summer!

 

[Birker2020]

The apples in water do you cut them? I only ever give him cut apples or hold it tight so he takes a bite. I'm petrified of him chocking. But I think he'll love it.

Think I'll try the cut the soil with grass patch to put in stable. That sounds good! Well I'll try them all really. Thanks for all your ideas. Such a shame as he'll miss the summer!

The apples are whole. Like we do the apple bobbing at fairs and stuff horses will do the same thing but not out of enjoyment, just out of being hungry! But it will keep them entertained for hours allegedly! http://www.bing.com/images/search?q...33aa01a1850c4d474ce3f5a24b2b5a5ao0&ajaxhist=0

And the grass, you need a shovel and dig up a clod of earth (think that is the right phrase). Can you imagine how palatable this would be to a horse! http://www.cydecosse.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/dirt1.jpg

 

[Tyssandi]

My 14.2 cob needs 6 weeks box rest and we are on day 3. Yesterday I got him out to muck out and put straight back but he wouldn't go. So I know he's going to get bored and maybe pushy. He's never been in for more than 5 days. I'm going to invest in a chain incase he gets bargey but wondered if anyone had got any ideas for cheap toys? Obviously he'll need a few so can be rotated but can't afford loads of toys. Any help would be great. He's never had any toys as he goes out a lot so I'm not sure what he likes what he don't like. Tia

I found this helpful with my horse who is on box rest at the moment.http://horse-care-and-advice.weebly.com/horses-on-box-rest.html

 

[JustMeThen]

I agree in that they get used to it; my big mare was on box rest for four months and she was unhappy but well behaved and knew what was what. I found a mirror helped; I got a really cheap one from eBay, and I sliced the apples thinly in the water, plus hung swedes from the beams, although she used to eat a whole one in about 20 minutes! If it had been summer, I'd have put her in a stable-sized field pen; is that an option with yours? Hope he's ok and recovers fully.

 

[JustMeThen]

Also, just remembered, when my thoroughbred was on box rest years ago, I got big Coke bottles, hung them on string and painted molasses on for him to lick off, kept him amused

 

[supsup]

If your horse isn't shod, you could make "hay pillows" by taking out the string on a haynet, and replacing it with a big trigger snap, and hide interesting things in the hay (carrots, veg peel). Or take two washing baskets, put hay in the middle and tie them together with cable ties, for a cheap, rigid hay "cage".
Depending on what your horse is on box rest for, I'd be cautious with anything that will encourage the horse to dig or paw with the front legs. Mine was on rest for a broken splint, and he kicked at the treat ball so violently that it completely defeated the purpose. Mine ended up doing part of his "box rest" stint in a small (and I mean large stable sized) pen outside in the field, in sight of the other horses. I think it helped with the boredom being able so see the world all around. Obviously depends on the injury, horse's temperament and facilities, but maybe another alternative to discuss with the vet.

 

[Birker2020]

Depending on time of year you can give the horse gorse as well, I think a previous poster mentioned a branch to chew on. Horses usually like gorse; the racehorse trainer who used to be on our yard sometimes gave her racehorses it.

 

[Nasicus]

I hid a scoop of fiber nuggets in my fillys haybucket when she was in for 7 days following surgery. I had a round scoop of nuggets with me whilst I filled her hay bucket, and would sprinkle them in as I went. She absolutely loved that! I'm sure you do the same with a net, pushing them in to hide them, or using carrot or apple sticks maybe?

 

[laura_nash]

The apples are whole. Like we do the apple bobbing at fairs and stuff horses will do the same thing but not out of enjoyment, just out of being hungry! But it will keep them entertained for hours allegedly!

Be a bit careful with this, we had one figured out he could eat the apple if he drank the entire trug of water (and gave himself mild colic).

Someone mentioned gorse, which works great as they have to pick the flowers off very carefully, mine also loves hazel branches to strip the bark off.

 

[Ninarodders]

Thanks for everyone's replies, they're great. What time of day would you guys normally give them these things? I've giving giving them at lunch. I only go once a day in the morning but stay all morning so give them before I go at lunch. But my sharer goes in the eve and gives him something then. Should I ask someone else to give him something either in the morning or at lunch? Silly question. I've never had to deal with box rest before.

 

[JustMeThen]

On weekdays I was only there morning and evening so I would put the things in morning, as that's when the others went out. I didn't do anything in the evenings as she'd be settled for the night then like normal... I'd say good at lunchtime when you go as that's when he'll be on his own...?

 

[Ninarodders]

Yea it is. When I go he's then the only horse left in on his block. And during the week it's quiet so not many people about for him to watch. Also his block is quite contained so not much to watch anyway. I'll keep to me giving him toys etc when I leave and I'll ask others to stick something in for him morning/lunch instead of Eve when it's my sharer. I only thought about this today. As if he was out he'd be settling down for a night in the stable not the other way round. Thanks for replying.