When your horse can’t come out and play because he’s temporarily confined to his stall due to sickness or injury, he can get really bored. Think about how you felt as a child when you were ill and confined to your bedroom while your friends frolicked outside without you. Here, we’ll cover top signs that your horse is bored, plus effective ways to help alleviate this boredom inside the stall. Some are super easy!
Signs of Boredom
Horses are used to running around and getting regular exercise. Recognizing when your horse is feeling bored in his stall is important. Bored horses can become depressed, develop undesirable behaviors, and can even hurt themselves. The following are common signs to watch for that may indicate your horse is feeling bored in his stall confinement.
Weaving
If your horse is constantly rocking his body back and forth while standing in place, it could be a sign of stress and boredom. He may also bob his head up and down while weaving to provide more stimulation. Excessive weaving over a long time could cause damage to your horse’s joints and hooves.
Stall Walking
Walking in circles or back and forth in the stall may indicate restlessness and boredom in horses. Short-term pacing may not cause any long-term harm to your horse, but prolonged pacing could impact his hooves.
Cribbing
Some horses may develop the habit of cribbing, which makes them feel good. Cribbing is when a horse bites onto an object with its front teeth, like stall doors, and pulls back or sucks in air. This behavior can be destructive to the object the horse is biting, but it can also do serious harm to your horse’s teeth.
Other common signs of boredom that can be harmful include pawing the ground, abundant neighing, kicking the stall, self-biting, and aggression.
Keep Boredom Away
The best cure for stall boredom is turning your horse out into a pasture with other horses for exercise and socializing. But if an injury or illness prevents you from allowing him out of his stall, you’ll need to find different ways to prevent boredom from being cooped up all day.
You can help your horse from becoming bored with a little extra attention. Here are three ideas to give your equine friend the extra mental and physical stimulation needed to stay entertained and happy during confinement.
1. Introduce Stall Boredom Toys
Nothing keeps boredom away better than a new toy. Even something as simple as a sturdy rubber ball your horse can knock around the stall can provide much-needed entertainment—just be sure to choose one that’s too big to bite and strong enough that your horse can’t destroy it quickly. You can buy balls specifically made for horses, too, which will withstand rough horseplay.
You can also purchase stall toys like a Likit Boredom Breaker to provide entertainment and mental stimulation.Â
2. Use Puzzle and Slow Feeders
Puzzle feeders (such as Likit Snak-a-Ball, see photo) stimulate your horse’s brain by making him work for his food, making mealtime more engaging.Â
Slow feeders are another way to prolong meals and keep a horse occupied longer. Slow feed hay nets are one simple option that slows down eating to help mimic the grazing experience, keeping your horse’s digestive system healthy with continuous intake.
3. Increase Bonding Time
If your horse’s injury or illness prevents you from riding, you lose this special time with him. But that doesn’t mean you can’t spend quality time together through regular grooming sessions!
Grooming is a great bonding experience that provides a nice diversion for a horse stuck in his stall for a prolonged period. Use this time to really connect with your horse by fully grooming his coat, brushing his mane, detangling his tail, and carefully picking out his feet. You’ll both feel good after each session!
Other things to try include enrichment activities like hiding treats in the stall for your horse to find or environmental enrichment, such as hanging an unbreakable mirror in the stall for visual stimulation or changing out the bedding to provide a different texture to explore.
You might even consider introducing a companion animal, such as a goat, inside your horse’s stall or another horse in the stall next door.
Also, stop by as often as possible to say hi and give your horse some extra attention.
Be Creative
By paying attention to your horse’s behavior, you’ll know if your efforts to prevent stall boredom are successful. If these tips aren’t helping keep your stall-bound horse entertained, don’t be afraid to ask a local trainer for additional ideas.
Remember, a mentally engaged horse is healthier and happier, even when he can’t roam freely. With a little creativity and effort, you can make your equine friend’s stall-bound days more enjoyable until he can return to his usual activities.
This article about how to relieve a horse’s stall boredom appeared in the July/August 2024 issue of Young Rider magazine. Click here to subscribe!
