How to keep a foal occupied?

[buzzles]

Ok, my poor mare has fractured 2 bones in her hock and is looking at at least 3 months box rest. Basil, her foal is 7 weeks old and has been out everyday all day since the day he was born. They've been in the vet hospital since last friday and are coming home tomorrow. Although they're in a large stable poor Basil is feeling very cooped up, luckily they have padded walls because he is literally bouncing off them! I know mum will cope fine on box rest but what about him? When they come home they're going into a pen in a lean-to which is 15ftx16ft and where they can see everything, she can see the arena and a little paddock where I'm hoping Basil will be able to be turned out for a few times a day (the minature pony is on standby as babysitter!) They will be on ad lib hay and I'll have to get some toys in as he has already chewed mums bandage. Anyone any ideas on how to make this as easy as possible for him?

 

[seansheep]

you can get (maybe hire) round pens that have hooped entrances so the foal can go in and get feed but the mare can't

If you could hire one of those you could use it in reverse - keep the mare in the pen and leave the foal to roam the field and come thru the hooped entrance to get to mum for feed and company

don't know who makes them but a stud near me had one for years

space inside is about the same as a 4 horse horse-walker

 

[buzzles]

Thanks, good idea! I was thinking of doing something similar by fencing out a pen with white tape which mum will respect (she knows it might be electric!) but which the foal can fit under. Hopefully in a few weeks she'll stable enough to leave the stable so will try it then.