Tack Box

Purchase: Horse toys

• #ONSIDERATIONS Stall toys are designed to provide mental stimulation, but horses may have their own ideas about what’s fun. Some are content to simply bat a hanging ball back and forth, others might need the motivation of a treat to interact with a toy. Durability is important: Even the most engaging toy will be useless if it breaks within a few days of use. Be sure to regularly inspect toys for safety. • /PTIONS Rubber molded balls, which hang from the ceiling or are left loose to be nudged around, were some of the first stall toys for horses and continue to be a favorite. Larger, inflatable balls more suitable for use in paddocks have also become popular. Another option is lickable toys that incorporate a hard, replaceable “sucker” that entices horses to interact for long periods of time. Finally, many horses enjoy treat-dispensing toys that dribble out grain or other edibles.

• 0RICING from about $15 for a simple stall ball to nearly $40 for a lickable mobile or treat-dispensing toy