how to entertain a horse?????

charlimouse

charlimouse

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My horse is recovering from very bad colic. The vet says she has to stay in for another week, as her digestive system needs time to sort itself out, so she is only allowed adlib hay and nothing else. She is already bored and now spends all day windsucking (a habit she has done a few times upto now, but is now windsucking most of the day). She doesn't have gastric ulcers, she is doing it purely because she is bored. Normally with a horse stuck i the stable I would give them feedballs, hide carrots etc, but I can't do that. I cant turn her out in the arena as it isn't fenced, nor can I take her out for a walk as she has no shoes on, and can't walk on the stony tracks around us. I am trying to spend as much time with her as poss, but I know she getting really bored and angry. Has anyone any ideas on how to keep her entertained for the rest of the week (i've a feeling it could be a long one
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Have you got a muddy 'patch' you can turn her out on. That way she'll have no grass, but you can supply adlib hay and a friend???
 
Sorry your mare has not been well.

When my boy was in horsepital recovering from colic surgery, they used to spread the hay ration round the bed on top of the shavings so he had to search for his food. Only had a small amount in a pile and then had to move round the stable looking for the rest of it. This mimics what a horse would have to do eating out in a field and also meant that he took longer to eat the hay he was allowed as he had to search for it.

Although not everyone's preference to spread hay around the bed, it did work at keeping him occupied for longer.

Hope your girl is better soon.
 
How about a jolly ball? or just a normal football? my horse loves these and also the little ball pool balls-in theory I use them for bomb proofing, but mainly she just likes to chase them if you kick them...I think she may be a little bovine... :S
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