Ideas to keep a horse amused whilst on box rest

[missshell]

My horse is to be kept in for at least a week - 10 days following an accident yesterday, unfortunatley it means keeping his companion in also. Im looking for ideas to keep them amused! Thanks

 

[hellywelly1]

ok here goes
sweedes/carrotts/apples on strings, lick its, treat balls, jolly balls, carrots in small hole hay nets, mirrors.

ok im out of ideas

 

[Ladylina83]

Classic FM worked a treat with my lady and she was in on her own - chilled her right out ! other radio stations can be a bit unsettling for them though I find !

 

[spotty_pony]

Hang up swedes, carrots, apples, pears etc to keep them amused. Or you could try hiding some carrots in a haynet/pile of hay. Some horses like to play with a ball so if your horse is quite playful you could try this. Also, if your horse is in a stable with a nice view, maybe across fields/overlooking a school this will help keep him interested. You could also try putting his feed in a treat ball to make it last longer and keep him occupied.

Hope this helps and I hope your horse gets better soon!

 

[traceyann]

I gave my a traffic cone as well as the above he played with it for hours until he broke my nose with it

 

[Maesfen]

My three year old was in for five weeks and I did wonder about how she'd cope but she was grand as long as her hay was there, had a salt lick, she had company in the next box (I alternated between my lot so they each did a day a week with her) and the radio on (she prefer R.2!) she was fine. She didn't need toys at all and wasn't bolshy at all, I was very pleased at her attitude the whole time.
A week will go quickly, just drop the food right off and allow adlib forage to keep the gut moving.

 

[Ladylina83]

i gave my a traffic cone as well as the above he played with it for hours until he broke my nose with it

pmsl !!!

 

[leflynn]

Could try apple bobbing, spare bucket filled with water with a bag of apples floating in, one horse on the yard we did this for was cunning and just tipped the bucket of water over to get the apples out tho!

 

[missshell]

Thank you for the replies everyone, I shall give them all a try............maybe not the traffic cone one though

 

[maxapple]

My horse is currently on box rest (Week 14!)

He has ....

More hay than he can eat (a net plus lots on the floor with slices of carrots mixed in)
Feed split into 3 a day - just chaff / happy hoof. Cut all the hard feed out.
Nut ball which I put treats / bits of carrot / sweed / a few high fibre nuts and badminton horse treats in. He loves his nut ball!
A sweede on on the floor for him to play with.
Classic fm on the radio all day. (I avoid other stations as phone in's / competitions with people shrieking when they win are something to avoid!)
A pony next door for company in the day, and my other pony in at night.
Lots of attention / grooming / fuss
A salt lick

We sometimes make some vegetable kebabs that we hang from his door - but they take ages to make and mere seconds to demolish!