Box Walker

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HillTopper

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We have a horrendous box walker, I'd forgotten how bad he was until I've just brought in for the winter again. He is stabled between two other horses, has an extra 'half door' opening so can see one horse. The thought of mucking him out every morning for the next 5-6 months is weighing me down!!!

Would a mirror make a big difference? He can be a nappy ******. Any other suggestions?!

For other info, he is on straw as that is included in our livery, and rubber matting. I also have him on V-calm to try and aid it.
 
When I ran a yard many years ago we had a horrendous box walker every morning he would have a track around the edge of his stable and it was awful to muck out.

He was in a stable that was opposite other stables that was his only view just by chance a stable came empty around the other side and these looked out onto the fields, and he really improved literally overnight so I really think the stable can make a huge difference to some horses.
 
Pinkvboots said:
When I ran a yard many years ago we had a horrendous box walker every morning he would have a track around the edge of his stable and it was awful to muck out.

He was in a stable that was opposite other stables that was his only view just by chance a stable came empty around the other side and these looked out onto the fields, and he really improved literally overnight so I really think the stable can make a huge difference to some horses.
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Thank you - I have tried him in different stables, and he has been on different yards all with the same result :(
 
Haynet outside the door so he can eat while looking out? An extra net in the opposite corner to the usual one (or a trug of chaff) to help "pause" him mid-circuit? It's definitely worth trying a mirror.
 
Our box walker is happily living out now but she used to be tied up with a long rope tie up log which at least prevented the circling and she could still lie down etc
 
I'm familiar with the ties - really dangerous imo (and not great muscle use encouragement) although they used to be more popular.
 
GirlFriday said:
I'm familiar with the ties - really dangerous imo (and not great muscle use encouragement) although they used to be more popular.
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What do you think endless box walking does to muscle mass ? especially given that most prolific walkers always go the same way round the box. Box walking is a vice, just the same as cribber's and WS.

Done properly in an appropriate stall and environment with a horse that is working hard and cannot for whatever reason, do that level of work from pasture, it is a safe way to keep a horse. Centuries of cavalry blacks have been and still are kept stalled. It is just a method of horse keeping that is rarely seen now. There are many horses stood in 12 x 12 or less, loose boxes at this very moment who are leading a very boring and stifled life because they do so little work.

The biggest issue with all stabled horses is ventilation and so many people forget this preferring to have airless and too warm boxes.
 
I've known horses to have a sheep, goat or mini shetland companion live in the stable with them which has completely eliminated the box walking. Obviously in a box plenty big enough for them both!
 
Surely the most logical course of action here is to turn him out permanently or at least far more often? How much turnout does he get? Sorry but for me the horse is literally screaming he is unhappy about being in. Im rather horrified that nobody has suggested this and are talking about tying him to a log! WOW!
 
MagicMelon said:
Surely the most logical course of action here is to turn him out permanently or at least far more often? How much turnout does he get? Sorry but for me the horse is literally screaming he is unhappy about being in. Im rather horrified that nobody has suggested this and are talking about tying him to a log! WOW!
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I did start with 'Our box walker is now happily living out'. This is also the far preferable option for me but there are occasional times in a horse's life when it needs to be in a stable part of the time for whatever reason
 
TheMule said:
How so? The block we use is made of cork- very light but enough to keep the rope under light tension
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By dangerous I meant the danger of entanglement - getting a front foot over etc

Cork would probably make that even more likely, but least tension not as bad with the wood ones.

FYI - didn't see anything like these last time I went round Knightsbridge Barracks - although would tend to agree facilities are not ideal.
 
As a teenager all the horses I looked after lived in stalls with noggin and chain. The weight of the chain and the noggin keeps chain under tension and the chain is long enough for them to get and down but never has any loops.
The stalls for the working farm horses were wider with swinging bale or partition. Its seems so strange now that a loose box was regarded as a luxury and only for the posh.
I wonder what would happen if he was given a stable with a half wall about 4feet, mine have open stabling and the pony I had with separation anxiety was far better when he could see others.
 
My box walker was OK with a patio, she had a stable sized pen out the front that she stood on, she rarely went in the stable. 24/7 turnout best, but so rarely possible nowadays.
 
My horse box walked when we moved house. Once the physio treated him it stopped. I think he had some sore areas from the journey and was trying to get away from them, but ended up creating new tight spots.He hasn't done it since.
It is worth considering pain as a reason for the box walking and once you have eliminated that then look for a better option for him, preferably turnout if he is so unsettled being in. I don't think being kept tied up in stalls is acceptable for more than a few hours at a time,personally.
 
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