Tackling Stable Boredom?

[l3048]

Hi all,

I have a 14 yr TB who will be coming back into his stable from Monday.

he however does not like being stabkes for long periods, I work 9-5 so in the morning I go over at 7 and let him out for a half hour, then he is in to 5 when he is ridden or turned out for a couple of hours. Also three days a week he will have access to turn out during the day for 3 hours.

is there anything to help with stabke boredom? I have a salt likck, bucket lick and also a swinging lick. Use of a haynet so takes him longer to eat, plus hay on the ground, he also get a forage ball every few days.
I tried treat ball however he hated it.

many advice would be appreciative

 

[Lipglosspukka]

So if you want to ride then he might only get 30 minutes of turnout that day?

Poor sod.

Can't you get a freelance to take him out for an hour at lunch time to have some grass in hand and stretch his legs?

 

[Goldenstar]

Why can’t he stay out for longer ?

 

[paddy555]

not being familiar with your horse I looked back for more info. When I read your post above and earlier ones where wind sucking and cribbing get mentioned then the answer appears to be pretty clear. I am afraid it is either move him or get him more turn out.

from above he gets around 3 hrs max a day. that is 21 hours a day in a stable. Unfortunately, IMHO, that is not acceptable.

The horse did not evolve to play with lickits. His natural world is freedom, companions and continual movement. Remove those and you have stress.

I expect you will reply that you cannot give him more turn out but I am afraid in that case the horse keeping is just not suitable for your horse.

Your horse may be the one who is a total saint but I would expect many horses if kept in for that length of time would start to play up when ridden before too long.

 

[scats]

Can you move to somewhere that at least offers 4-6 hours turnout a day? That combined with riding would be far better than this arrangement.

 

[l3048]

not being familiar with your horse I looked back for more info. When I read your post above and earlier ones where wind sucking and cribbing get mentioned then the answer appears to be pretty clear. I am afraid it is either move him or get him more turn out.

from above he gets around 3 hrs max a day. that is 21 hours a day in a stable. Unfortunately, IMHO, that is not acceptable.

The horse did not evolve to play with lickits. His natural world is freedom, companions and continual movement. Remove those and you have stress.

I expect you will reply that you cannot give him more turn out but I am afraid in that case the horse keeping is just not suitable for your horse.

Your horse may be the one who is a total saint but I would expect many horses if kept in for that length of time would start to play up when ridden before too long.

Yes I know, it’s awful but no other stabkes within 50 mins of my house. Will ask can I get even turn out for him during the day whilst I’m working as I’m a teacher and work 40 mins from yard

 

[l3048]

Why can’t he stay out for longer ?

due to other horses needing turned out. However going to ask if I can pay more for extra turnout hours

 

[l3048]

Update:

I have rang yard and for a little extra weekly he will be able to be turned out from 9-1:30 during the day (I’ll have him out for 8 so probably 8-12:30) then I will be out by five and can turn out him out again and ride.

 

[l3048]

not being familiar with your horse I looked back for more info. When I read your post above and earlier ones where wind sucking and cribbing get mentioned then the answer appears to be pretty clear. I am afraid it is either move him or get him more turn out.

from above he gets around 3 hrs max a day. that is 21 hours a day in a stable. Unfortunately, IMHO, that is not acceptable.

The horse did not evolve to play with lickits. His natural world is freedom, companions and continual movement. Remove those and you have stress.

I expect you will reply that you cannot give him more turn out but I am afraid in that case the horse keeping is just not suitable for your horse.

Your horse may be the one who is a total saint but I would expect many horses if kept in for that length of time would start to play up when ridden before too long.

no I definitely want more turn out, and have contacted the yard so will be paying extra as I know he is unhappy. However no yards within 50 mins offer turnout and although it would be great if I could get out on lunch I work 40 mins from yard.
But he will be out now from 8-12 at the shortest, then I will be out at 5 to turnout for an hour while I sort the stable and feed, then ridden

 

[Gallop_Away]

That doesn't sound like a great set up :/ definitely try and arrange for more turnout or if you're short on time see if you can get someone to ride him on the days that you can't.

With regard to stable boredom, when I had my big lad on box rest the knob went on hunger strike ? had to hide carrots in his hay net to get him to eat it ?‍

 

[Red-1]

Update:

I have rang yard and for a little extra weekly he will be able to be turned out from 9-1:30 during the day (I’ll have him out for 8 so probably 8-12:30) then I will be out by five and can turn out him out again and ride.

That sounds a lot more suitable.

 

[Gallop_Away]

Update:

I have rang yard and for a little extra weekly he will be able to be turned out from 9-1:30 during the day (I’ll have him out for 8 so probably 8-12:30) then I will be out by five and can turn out him out again and ride.

That sounds much better

 

[Arzada]

Yes I know, it’s awful but no other stabkes within 50 mins of my house. Will ask can I get even turn out for him during the day whilst I’m working as I’m a teacher and work 40 mins from yard

There may be other yards. It's a matter of finding them. My friend never advertises her yard. She may answer a card in the local shops. She also will take people word of mouth or who drop in having seen horses in the fields or noticed the manege on Google. I know of a retirement livery with 24/7 turnout who would take a ridden horse. The stability of a retirement herd can suit many an individual working horse who learns that the herd is largely unchanging and is always there when you get back from a ride. However facilities are sometimes limited.

 

[Goldenstar]

Good call to pay extra for more turn out .

 

[l3048]

Thanks for all your help everyone! I also ride five days a week so he will be getting roughly 6 hours a day at least out, but hoping to get more

 

[paddy555]

no I definitely want more turn out, and have contacted the yard so will be paying extra as I know he is unhappy. However no yards within 50 mins offer turnout and although it would be great if I could get out on lunch I work 40 mins from yard.
But he will be out now from 8-12 at the shortest, then I will be out at 5 to turnout for an hour while I sort the stable and feed, then ridden

that's good, it sounds a lot better.
Post 13 has some good ideas and also consider if there is a track system livery near you which can provide a nice way of living for horses who prefer to spend time out.

 

[bouncing_ball]

I have a horse doing 6 weeks of box rest. (He’s normally in field for 16 hours over night.)

There are lots of things you can do to improve quality of life if horses has to be in, (none better than time in field with friends).

mirror
Hanging root vegetables
Hand grazing and hand walking both ends of the day
Grooming
Tying up next to suitable horse to groom
Massage pads
Making sure always have forage available
Adding variety to diet - blended herbs / herbal and grass variety chaffs other succulents etc
Stretches and lots of grooming
Picking edible branches eg willow / ash / beech / hazel etc
Picking hedgerow plants
Taking to browse for hedgerow plant
Water treadmill
Horse walker

but they all cost time or money!