roll_along
Well-Known Member
Any ideas how to keep a very active (in mind and body
) horse entertained whilst on box rest?
Box rest
- Thread starter roll_along
- Start date
charlie55
Well-Known Member
My tips are...
Treat balls are fab
Lickit balls hanging are brillient, my boy goes through the licks like theres no tomorrow but its keeping him sane so i dont mind
Get a swede, make a hole through the middle and hang it from the roof bars or similar
Small holes haynet stuffed with loose hay and hidden carrots, this keep them busy for hours!
A radio on during the day, in my opinion is essential! Keeps them flipping out and thinking they are alone! Also helps them from being spooked by sudden noises
A lunch time snack, my boy looks forward to this all morning and keeps him happy, just a few treats and a sliced up carrot
Apples in the water bowl helps boredom
A good groom everyday to stop them getting itchy from the missed roll in the field. They will get very itchy indoors, with rugs on 24-7.
Keep them supple with carrot stretches and leg stretches etc.
Instead of the little square likits you put on the floor, get a field likit, its huge and it cost the same as the dengie small ones. Lasts for weeks.
Can you tell Jack had 3 months of box rest?
I think that might be all of mine, good luck. x
Treat balls are fab
Lickit balls hanging are brillient, my boy goes through the licks like theres no tomorrow but its keeping him sane so i dont mind
Get a swede, make a hole through the middle and hang it from the roof bars or similar
Small holes haynet stuffed with loose hay and hidden carrots, this keep them busy for hours!
A radio on during the day, in my opinion is essential! Keeps them flipping out and thinking they are alone! Also helps them from being spooked by sudden noises
A lunch time snack, my boy looks forward to this all morning and keeps him happy, just a few treats and a sliced up carrot
Apples in the water bowl helps boredom
A good groom everyday to stop them getting itchy from the missed roll in the field. They will get very itchy indoors, with rugs on 24-7.
Keep them supple with carrot stretches and leg stretches etc.
Instead of the little square likits you put on the floor, get a field likit, its huge and it cost the same as the dengie small ones. Lasts for weeks.
Can you tell Jack had 3 months of box rest?
I think that might be all of mine, good luck. x
vicky86
Well-Known Member
I've heard horse mirrors are ment to be good but have never tried them first hand.
Porkie
Well-Known Member
hanging haynets from the roof so they swing rather than up against a wall is meant to work well for some horses, they have to chase they haynets round - sort of like a boredom breaker.
Horslyx
I spent ages the other day playing in the stable with my boy - I had a pocket of pony nuts and just threw one or two on the floor - he heard them drop and spent ages foraging for them,bless him!! Then he'd come back to nuzzle around my pocket so I'd throw out a couple more - kept him busy for ages.
Takes a lot of patience and willingness to spend time with them not doing much on your behalf, but your company alone and lots of little things to amuse him will help keep him entertained.
Good luck xx
Horslyx
I spent ages the other day playing in the stable with my boy - I had a pocket of pony nuts and just threw one or two on the floor - he heard them drop and spent ages foraging for them,bless him!! Then he'd come back to nuzzle around my pocket so I'd throw out a couple more - kept him busy for ages.
Takes a lot of patience and willingness to spend time with them not doing much on your behalf, but your company alone and lots of little things to amuse him will help keep him entertained.
Good luck xx
angela_l_b
Well-Known Member
give him a massage (or use a pad if you have access to one)
carrot stretches - hold little bits of carrot between his front legs, round his flanks as far as he can reach, and down on the floor. he has to reach for them without moving his feet.
grooming and tidying up - it's a good time to make a fuss of him and get him smartened up
carrot stretches - hold little bits of carrot between his front legs, round his flanks as far as he can reach, and down on the floor. he has to reach for them without moving his feet.
grooming and tidying up - it's a good time to make a fuss of him and get him smartened up
soloequestrian
Well-Known Member
My mare is on box rest at the moment after a foot operation. She is on ACP to help with the aftermath of the operation and it's a godsend - I think she would be going mental without it. It might be worth chatting to your vet about using it for yours - as far as I know it doesn't have any nasty effects and it certainly reduces stress which can only be good. She does also have a view of her pals in the field and ad lib hay which helps too, but the ACP is just taking the edge off.