Horse on box rest - What healthy boredom breakers are there?

[Dark Storm]

I think i've spent a small fortune on him this week, vet bills, transport, new rug...
He's got 4 weeks of trying to behave, i've added magnesium into his small feed consisting of supplements and a handful of healthy tummy to see if that takes the edge off his frustration.
I'm going to mend his trickle net after the little sod chewed the rope up (he couldn't damage the net any other way, so that was his next trick), but I could do with other ways to entertain him?
He's got the start of bone spavins, and is in to allow healing during treatment, and to give the treatment time to work effectively.

 

[Jane&Ziggy]

Ziggy ADORED his treat ball to the extent that he nearly went cold turkey when he was let out of his box.

The best time consuming, healthy boredom busters I found were branches for him to forage. It's harder at this time of year, but a good bunch of gorse will keep a horse busy for hours, and they like pine too. Willow branches are great even without leaves.

 

[MrA]

Double net hay. Swede in a haynet, carrots in haynet mixed with hay/straw. Apple chucks in water (messy though haha) Hide things around the stable.

 

[lauren123]

Sox loved his treat ball. Carrots in haynets and swede on the floor.

 

[carthorse]

When either of mine have had long periods of box rest they haven't had toys.

Any form of company you can arrange is good, be it horse or human. If you stop for a cup of coffee then drink it in his box & give him a scratch or cuddle

Most important, ime, is routine. Give them a routine & they'll settle, though the first week or so may be hard work. In Little Un's case I had to dope him for the first couple of weeks, he was fine when Jim was in but when he went out for a few hours I'd have a frantic welsh cob getting front feet over the door & double barrelling the walls - not ideal when he was on rest for a rotation that was nearly through the sole! But after a couple of weeks he settled to his new routine & eventually did 8 months in as a very chilled lad, indeed when he first went out he wanted back in & has turned into a real fairy who doesn't do bad weather at all lol.

Don't panic about it and anticipate problems because in doing so I suspect we create them. And don't let his manners slip, I dread to think how many times I've heard people say that you can't expect a horse to behave on box rest - yes you can, and it makes life better for everyone!

 

[Laura_107]

I hang a swede up, even better if you can hang it up where it's not against a wall. And carrots & polos hidden around the place.

Kev gets too frustrated with a treat ball, it just makes him violent!

I use halleys blox in a mini haynet, you can get the ad lib ones which are just fibre really. Sadly after buying 3 bags if them Kev has turned his nose up and will now only entertain the more expensive greengold blox!

 

[Jessey]

Bo loved apple bobbing in his water bucket, but its not the most healthy. We also found a milk bottle with a few stones in it hung from the celing gave him hours of entertainment annoying the hell out of everyone with the noise
If he struggles with being in, I found chamomile tea very useful, at one point Bo was getting something silly like 30 acp twice a day (he really didn't do being in) but 2 tea bags stewed and poured over his feed had almost the same effect but much kinder on the body.

 

[mystiquemalaika]

Yep agree with carthorse re routine, helps alot to keep them settled.
I have always hung a few smaller nets around the stable, a treat ball helps too, you can just cut up carrots to put in instead of buying feed specially for it. Hanging a Swede from the roof if possible doesn't let them put it against a wall so it swings and keeps them entertained for hours. Also vegetable kebab sticks I've seen people make are great.
But routine and plenty fibre I find works well and company when possible. Hope he is soon on his way to feeling better DS I do have a soft spot for him

 

[Jessey]

Could you arrange a stable sized elec fence paddock he could go out to? so he can nibble a little grass while you muck out, it will help when it comes to the first turnouts to not make it so exciting.

 

[Trewsers]

Sorry to hear he has spavins. Storm had them but no box rest - not sure why? She had Cartrophen injections and only had to stay quietly about the yard for a couple of days then it was business as usual. Maybe Shadows are more advanced or just require different treatment. Do hope its all a success. How old is he now?
As for boredom breakers - well, I found just spending time around Joe helped him. We used to sit outside his box for hours, just reading or talking which he seemed to enjoy. He was allowed out for a roll twice a day though which he loved.

 

[Dark Storm]

He's having tildren treatment as well, and the decision to box rest is partly down to the state of the fields, it wouldn't take much to undo the good work. The fields are really slippy. The vets going at it from two different approaches to give Shadow the best chance of healing well.
He has a trickle net which is made from fishing nets, with tiny holes, he got so frustrated with it, he chewed the actual rope up, as he couldn't sink his teeth into the net itself. He also has a snack ball, which he gets a handful of fibre nuts in, so he'll be getting it during the day instead of at night. He loves his snack ball, which is great for his back apparently
He's on full livery, so pretty much in a routine, as i'm working continental shifts (4 12 hour days, then 4 off, then 4 12 hour days, then 4 off and so on).
I have a sharer, who knows he's on box rest, she was really good with him last year when he was poorly. He's allowed to stretch his legs, i've told them best with his bridle on as he's got a love of the green stuff, and give an inch, he'll take a mile..
I'm going up to see him this afternoon.

 

[Trewsers]

Hope he's healing well. I can see what you mean about the fields at this time of year, it might undo all the good work if they are slippery. Sounds like he's got plenty of things for distraction and that is good he can have walks too.