Good do-er on box rest/mini paddock rest... advice on feeding?

[Flashbacksj]

Hello
My 18yr old horse has been diagnosed with some inflammation to the suspensory ligament and is therefore on box rest.
Vets have said its mild enough that he can be given a postage stamp size paddock for some of the time to keep him sane.

Please could I have some advice on what I could give a horse to entertain him but not add weight when in the stable...

He is a cob x appy and is a good doer... when in work he is fed on Sarecen Essential Balancer and a small handful of alfa-A oil. Havent currently changed this as don't want to take the nutrients away...
His weight is/was pretty good going into the period of box rest as he was eventing fit, but obviously is likely to creep up while on box rest...

2 weeks in and ive got a horse that has decided he doesn't want to be lame anymore he would like to ping about when on a postage stamp and try and break free from his stable....

He is on ok quality haylege as he has had respiratory issues when on soaked hay before... Hayledge is always double netted...

he inhales any sort of lickit... and although we own a treat ball he knows exactly how to use it and its gone in 30 seconds...

He has had Oat straw before would this work mixed with the haylegde? Tripple netted??

Ive seen Just- fi block http://justfeeds.co.uk/ but not sure if these would be any good??


Sorry for the rambling...

any advice gratefully received!!!

Thank you

 

[Ali27]

My good doer did 6 months box rest for tendon injury. She had adlib soaked hay although in Dec, Jan, changed it to normal hay. This was in a trickle net and then a normal net alongside. I also gave her oat straw mixed in with dried hay. Apple in her water although she usually didn't bother with it. She had her same evening feed with hi fi lite and spillers lite balancer. She loved her snack ball with high fibre pony nuts. Luckily she was a complete angel on box rest You could also try a bucket of low calorie chaff. I also picked her branches of hazel which she loved too! Hope your box rest goes by fast! It is heart breaking seeing them in!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I was going to suggest fibre blocks, although I've only used Halleys. I put oat straw chaff in a big trug for my fattie when she is inside in winter, as I don't want her to have nothing to eat and she certainly can't have that much hay. I would offer a variety of forages to keep him interested and gradually cut out the short feed.