Help with rehabilitation of horse please.....

[cluedo]

My 5yo has just come back to me after 9 weeks box rest and he is now starting his walk work.

Where he has been he has been shut into an indoor barn which is narrow and with very poor light, with a very high door that he can barely get his head over. As a result he is a little agrophobic now to say the least but has improved in the two days he has been back with me.

However, he is pulling up the front of his rubber matting - it is equimat!!! So not the easiest and he moves it around the box!

He has adlib hay, and I have put toys in but no he wants to destroy the matting. Any ideas??

He is starting to walk out in hand but it was reported to me that he was being explosive and dangerous to lead. So far he has been ok with us, albeit worried being out of the box - he shakes like a leaf.

Any ideas welcomed to help him rehabilitate.

 

[hellybelly6]

Could you lead him out with a horse friend of his for comfort?

My horse was fiesty after being on 2 weeks of box rest and I found riding him was safer than leading.

 

[Dobby]

Could it be something to do with his eyesight? Maybe he's jumpy and nervous because he's been in a barn with poor light for a while and his eyesight has been damaged? (Might be a stupid suggestion, sorry)