Stopping them getting bored? (Box rest)

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Stormy123456

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Ballet's is supposed to be on box rest for at 2 monthes, but after 2 days she's already bored out of her mind. She took it out on me by stamping on my foot today, which absolutely kills. She whinneys all day, has started pacing about a bit, so the stable is becoming a tip, she's becoming bargy by the door (she is normally a angel to handle on the ground...)

So what can I do?

So far I have, put a haynet (small holed) inside another, so it takes her longer to eat it, but she still manages to devour it within a couple of hours.

I have also put in a "boredom breaker", one of those tub things that they role around and the nuts fall out, but she just stands against the wall, completely terrified of it.

She used to live in 24/7 with previous owners 3 years ago, but now only comes in at night in winter.....
 
Have you tried a mirror at all?

My mare loves hers, can't quite work out whether she thinks she is so pretty and so keeps looking at herself in it, or whether she thinks it is someone to talk to - have previously found her looking at herself whilst chatting away too.
 
show her how to use her little all with treats in

also, likits, hanging so they can't jam them into the wall and devour them whole
hang carrots from the ceiling, so she really has to stretch for them
also, hang swedes too
raff used to like his little ball thing with a handle on that he could lift up and bounce around

also, you could try putting her bed back for the daytime, opening the door and putting a chain across, so she has a different sort of time during the day compared to night time.

also, with bed back she can play with her treat ball better.

p.s. make sure you're allowing for all these treats when feeding her (eg cutting back feed accordingly)

p.p.s. soak the hay. less calories and they eat it slower cos it's harder to get hold of.
 
p.p.p.s lots of grooming etc. raff used to HATE being groomed but now he's so desperate for attention that he loves it! today i hot clothed him and he loved it SO much i think i'll do it weekly (he still has a minimum of 8 weeks left being cross tied so we're desperately looking for things to stop him getting bored)

good luck!
 
clipcloppop said:
show her how to use her little all with treats in

also, likits, hanging so they can't jam them into the wall and devour them whole
hang carrots from the ceiling, so she really has to stretch for them
also, hang swedes too
raff used to like his little ball thing with a handle on that he could lift up and bounce around

also, you could try putting her bed back for the daytime, opening the door and putting a chain across, so she has a different sort of time during the day compared to night time.

also, with bed back she can play with her treat ball better.

p.s. make sure you're allowing for all these treats when feeding her (eg cutting back feed accordingly)

p.p.s. soak the hay. less calories and they eat it slower cos it's harder to get hold of.
Click to expand...

Thanks, all those ideas are brilliant thanks, I think we'll start with the cheaper ways, although unfortunately our ceiling is a good 20+ foot high (American barn type thing).
The chain things a good idea too.

thank youu. :) Hopefully these will help keep her more amused. :) god knows how I'm going to get on her after all this time, she will literally explode...
 
if she continues to trash her bed, maybe you could hide feed (obviously depending on what your feeding her!) or small treats in it, that way it's at least giving her something to do rather than just trashing it out of boredom!
 
Just made a stable mirror for my pony - bought a sheet of acrylic mirror from ebay for £15 or so and mounted it on a single sheet of exterior ply using grab adhesive

couple of mounting plates and hey presto. Easy, and he loves it. Sings to the little pony on the other side.
 
Use the time for some clicker training!! Pick something that might be useful in future, such as picking up legs for cleaning when you tap them or something.

It means the horse has to use its brain and hopefully makes them more relaxed!

(Very good book by Alexander Kurkland)
 
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