How can I keep him happy?
QYard rules dictate my horse has to live in for much of winter. How can I help him cope?
Harley Denham, Essex
Justine says: Yards that offer limited turnout are unfortunately something many horse owners have to cope with, but however difficult it is for us, for a horse to be confined for long periods in winter will be stressful for them. For days or even weeks on end they are trapped inside four walls with little to do, no freedom of choice and often without the option of grooming or touching another equine friend. It is no wonder they can try to barge out of the stable when the door is opened or start to become aggressive to passers-by.
However, there are plenty of things you can do to keep your horse entertained over the winter months: Ensure he has equine company Horses rely on other equines for friendship, shared vigilance and security, so make sure your horse has equine company at all times. Ideally put him in a stable where he can touch, interact and mutually groom another horse over the wall. At the very least he must be able to see another horse. Change his environment
If there’s a spare stable on the yard then arrange for him to swap stables for part of his day to give him a change of scene. In addition, tie him up on different parts of the yard with a carrot-studded haynet or a forage box (see below). Ensure he is relaxed in his new environment and has equine or human company at all times. Buy or make stable toys
Horses love to play and toys that make them think can help alleviate their boredom. There is a huge range on the market, including moulded rubber balls with handles, treat-dispensing devices and edible toys on ropes.
Remember, often the toys are designed to move to make your horse work harder for his reward, but watch your horse initially to check he’s not becoming frustrated as the game is too difficult.
You can also get creative and make your own. Hide treats inside towels or staple-free cardboard boxes (loosely fold or wrap the towel at first, until your horse works out how to access the treats). Try packing a traffic cone with hay — leave some poking out of the top and hide treats inside — and knock up some root vegetable kebabs by threading carrots, parsnips and turnips on to a strong cord or rope and hanging it from your stable ceiling.
Part of a horse’s diet would naturally be bark and branches. So put horse-safe logs and suitable branches — such as willow or hazel — around the stable for your horse to browse on, but of course check they’re not poisonous first. Suitable, non-poisonous shrubs can also be cut and placed among your horse’s forage ration. Horses love cow parsley (but beware other similar-looking plants that are poisonous), cleavers, mint and dandelions. Make a forage box
Half fill a large, strong bucket or crate with horse-safe toys. Scatter grass nuts, vegetable strips or high fibre treats in the bottom of the bucket and pour a little diluted apple or carrot juice over the top. Watch to make sure your horse doesn’t become frustrated or swallow anything he shouldn’t, and take the box off him as soon as he loses interest. Forage boxes can become a real treat and are useful to keep your horse occupied when tied up on the yard, or during difficult vet and farrier visits. Flavour his hay
To give your horse some variety in the form of different flavours, you could steam or soak his hay in herbal tea. Some horses love the taste of berries, raspberry leaf, nettle, rosehip, chamomile or mint. Soak hay in a bucket and do a taste test to see which he prefers. You could put different flavours in different buckets, but always give him a choice in case he doesn’t like it.