Can horses have a pumpkin as a treat in the stable?

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ben456

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A large hunt is meeting right outside the yard on Sunday - in my mares sight. Is it if if I put a whole pumpkin in there for her to play with an eat to try and distract her as I think she will be would up. Is there anything else I can do to keep her calm.
 
Leaving aside the horrific potential mess that I can foresee of it either being smeared all over the horse or the walls or the legs of the horse while it ignores it and stampedes around the stable cos of the hunt. I can't imagine that giving it to a horse who isn't used to that in its diet could be considered safe. A turnip is one thing (most horses won't be able to eat it dangerously quickly) but a pumpkin. No way!
 
I don't really mind about any mess, I'm going to be there with her anyway so if she was completely ruining it and making a huge mess I would take it out . I didn't really think that her not being used to it would be a huge problem as I wouldn't let her have it all and it would take a while to eat. However I won't risk it if it could harm her
 
Yeah they have to stay in because the gate is open (people have to drive through to get to the field where they park- on a gravel path so won't be any mud luckily ). We only have the one paddock so can't put her in a far away paddock. I dontbthink I can get any calmer this weekend. Hoping that she will be ok anyway
 
ben456 said:
I don't really mind about any mess, I'm going to be there with her anyway so if she was completely ruining it and making a huge mess I would take it out . I didn't really think that her not being used to it would be a huge problem as I wouldn't let her have it all and it would take a while to eat. However I won't risk it if it could harm her
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How about cutting a bit into small cubes and hide in a haynet or around the stable so that there is a treat but not too much of it
 
I think your over thinking this. Yes she will be excited by the whole thing and yes her eyes will be on stalks but generally if she hasnt hunted she is likley to show a bit of self preservation and not doing anything stupid other than circle a few times and look over the stable door at the excitment.

Ive an ex hunt masters horse and he, given half the chance, would go with them but he also knows going over the stable door isnt acceptable so he wouldnt do it!

Speak to YO or hunt secretary... maybe they could leave the hounds on the lorry until the last minute to avoid such an exciting wait to send off. Thats what happened at my old yard and it worked very well. Basically then its just a bunch of horses standing on the yard with owners getting tanked up on booze ;)
 
I'm not sure if she's been hunting before. She should be find by the other horses stables may encourage her. I don't think she'll come over the door and it is quite high- however I know that can't stop them if they want to get out 😂 she's going to have plenty of hay and I'll give her some treats . The thing I'm worries about is that she will be in because of the fireworks and then being in again tomorrow and the hunt is going to May her more agitated. Oh well, I probably am just overthinking anyway;)
 
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