They've All Gone Mad

[Brunie]

It is me or have anyone elses horses bored in the fields. How can all these ponies/ horses be stopped from napping at the fences - some nibble some bite, any ideas please!!!! need this to stop or will cost us all fortune.. Is this usual for the winter months!!!:confused:

[nutkin]

Its now that the grass is fast disappearing or rather the goodness in the grass.It maybe that they are needing hay if they don't already have it out in the field.

[elise]

On the weekends we distribute the hay in piles throughout the pasture, or even in one of the other pastures. Change of scenery and "psuedo grazing."

When the horses are looking partiularily bored I bring out the big blue tarp. It's good desensitizing and my horses seem to find it quite exciting to carry the tarp around, scare each other with it, and step on it.

They also have a big rubber race car tire they carry around, as well as sticks and a jolly ball.

If I can get the OH to brandish his hammer I'm going to have him make me a fake bridge for practice stepping up and down. If I leave the mounting block in the paddock the horses take turns standing on it.

We also have another tire tied into a tree (like a tire swing). They bat it back and forth at each other.

Rocks in a covered bucket or jug is also fun.

I'm trying to come up with more things to do to keep them from getting bored in the winter ...