safe toys for a bored horse

[old_mare]

can anyone point me in the right direction for safe toys to keep a bored off-work horse a little interested? what do your horses "play" with?

 

[jumper-4-joy]

Some safe toys that I know of are "jolly balls". they are big, thick rubber balls with a handle that can be picked up by the horse or you can hang them.

You can even use other things like rubber cones, or anything rubber with no wires!

 

[anne11]

My horse plays with other horses, but not much. Most of the time he's eating
Is your horse getting bored while you're trainig with him?

 

[Fruit Loop]

I bought my mums horse a snack-a-ball after the reiki lady said he was bored (she came out with some very interesting things, well worth doing). It took him a while to get the idea but now he's a pro and he loves it. Think it was around the 20 pound mark. You just fill in with pony nuts or something like that. Theres those decahedrons as well which kinda work the same.

I've got the likit hanger for my mare but she just bites at it so it doesn't last long. And also in the morning she's got it all over her face and everywhere, which shows up worse on a black horse.

So i'd recommend the snack-a-ball, much cheaper in the long run than the likits. Also seen the decahedron boredom breakers on ebay.

 

[anne11]

@ Fruit loop: If your horse is happy with the snack-a-ball,than you don't need to read this

For a horse a snack-a-ball can cause a lot of stress, since they are not used to take any effort to get their food. It is not naturally for them, since grass is right under their nose.

You might think of something else. Is it possible to get your horse on the meadow day and night? I think that would help a lot. If that isn't possible you can put some branches of a willow tree in his stable(?) for her to nibble on it.

 

[casey]

This pic taken yesterday. Yes they do really play with them

 

[brandysnap]

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[old_mare]

thanks all, i've ordered a jolly ball. he's bored because he's off work with a bad back, and is in a stable during the day (out at night). he doesn't play with other horses as unfortunately he prefers to kick them so he's banned from any close contact and is on solo turn out. he gets very playful and interested in his grooming kit and things in pockets etc, so i think he'll enjoy the ball

 

[cazrider]

RE. the SnakaBall. I have had three horses in total and they've all loved the Snakaball. Sennie took about half an hour to work out there was food in it, then after that there was no stopping him. Now I put a handful of nuts in every night for him, and leave him happily pushing it around the stable. So, old_mare, I'd recommend one for your horse as well.

I've never heard that it can stress a horse Anne11. Who told you that, or where did you read it?

 

[anne11]

Seral people told me. And actually, when you think about it, it does make sense. Horses aren't used to take any efforts to get their foot in nature.
But I can imagine that when your horse has hay and straw in his box (what I mean is if he has always something to knibble on) he won't get any stress of the ball and it can be nice to play with.

 

[laura jeanne]

Casey, I love that picture!

 

[galadriel]

Gatorade comes in really thick plastic durable bottles. When I had a horse on stall rest, I just put part of her grain ration in a Gatorade bottle, and put it in her stall. Provided her lots of entertainment, and she could crush it but not break it (and when she couldn't get any more out of it, she'd throw it out of the stall).

 

[*Sez*]

Mine have turnips on twine, inflatable stall balls and decahedrons.
It was also suggested that Space Hoppers make great field toys.

 

[laura jeanne]

Oh, Casey, I forgot to say I think that's the prettiest rug I've seen.