Dying of boredom (horse, not me)

[PolarSkye]

Farrier is coming on Wednesday - finally! Once he's been, GreyDonk can go back out into the field (only for a couple of hours at first) . . . however he is beyond stircrazy now . . . when I left him he was spinning in his box and grinding his teeth, despite having plenty of hay.

I tie him up on the small patch of grass outside his stable while I muck him out - just so he can get some grass/feel the sun on his back/see his fieldmates . . . and while I'm pootling about the yard doing other jobs I leave him in his stable with the door open and the stall chain up so he gets more light, air and can lean out/see more. His treatball lasts him about two minutes (he's far too clever and has sussed exactly how to empty it). I am dampening his hay and feeding it in small-holed haynets to make it last longer, but he's dead bored with hay now. I am also giving him hand-picked browse-type material . . . nettles, cleavers, hawthorne, etc. so he has some variety. But he's now at the end of his tether . . . what can I do to alleviate his boredom/help him stop stressing so much?

Ideas on a postcode please . . . thanks in advance.

P

 

[asommerville]

carrots in the haynets?

 

[Emilieu]

Apples in water bucket / hidden under bedding or a turnip on a rope? If he doesn't have company maybe a mirror or a radio? Book him a shiatsu massage

 

[Enfys]

Is he brave, or will he die of fright if you stuff an empty feed sack with hay, bits of carrot, a bit of grain, treats etc and give it to him to rummage through? (Pack it tight)

A bit like a horsey goody bag really

I often do this for mine in winter when theres nothing on the ground but snow and ice. Even the scaredy cats get brave in the end.

Some of mine also enjoy trashing cardboard boxes (disclaimer - having removed staples etc beforehand)

 

[PolarSkye]

Is he brave, or will he die of fright if you stuff an empty feed sack with hay, bits of carrot, a bit of grain, treats etc and give it to him to rummage through? (Pack it tight)

A bit like a horsey goody bag really

I often do this for mine in winter when theres nothing on the ground but snow and ice. Even the scaredy cats get brave in the end.

Some of mine also enjoy trashing cardboard boxes (disclaimer - having removed staples etc beforehand)

Oh he's exceedingly brave when it comes to food - this sounds like a really fabulous idea . . . will give it a go . . . although suspect he will just turf everything out of the sack onto the floor. Worth a try though.

Also like the cardboard boxes idea . . . we have some from our move last year (no staples).

P