Boredom Buster Tips From Lucy at Horse Factbook
Horses are highly intelligent animals that have evolved over the centuries to survive on their wits and instincts.
This can be great in the wild where there are plenty of possible predators but otherwise, it can sometimes cause problems with boredom which is why it's important to keep horses stimulated and interested.
Horses are inherently inquisitive and if we don't pay attention to this side of their nature it can lead to some seriously bad habits and vices such as cribbing and wind sucking.
The good news though is that it doesn't take much to keep a horse occupied, from changing your routine slightly to introducing some toys and mixing up your lessons a little, there are plenty of options. You can even reuse some of the everyday items you find around the barn to make inexpensive toys.
Stop boredom in the paddock
Horses are less likely to get bored when there are other horses around but that doesn't mean to say they won't and some bad habits, such as weaving, can also be learned from horses watching each other which is why its crucially important to make sure your horse isn't bored while he's turn out with his friends.
Rollers
Horse rollers can be great for keeping a lot of horse occupied at once but they can be quite expensive so why not make your own instead? Simply use a sturdy plastic container and randomly cut a few holes in it, making sure they're big enough for the treats to get out but not so big that they all fall out in one go. If you've got any sharp edges you can use a soft cloth to cover them (if you have a strong enough needle you can sew the cloth to the container, but if not then you can use fabric glue to stick it). All you need to do now is fill it with treats, secure the lid and then put it in the field for the horses to play with. You'll be amazed at just how long it'll keep them busy for.
Iceblocks
During the summer you can freeze fruit in a bucket of water and then hang it from a sturdy tree. This will prove a nice cooling treat when the weather's really hot but because it can freely swing your horse will have to work to get any reward. The fruit will act as an incentive for him to keep 'playing' with it, this, in turn, means he won't get bored.
Grazing
Encouraging grazing is another great way to help reduce boredom in horses. Being natural grazers they like to forage for their food and will spend a lot of time eating small amounts but you can use this to your advantage. Instead of placing any additional hay (or handfuls of pony nuts) in one place, scattering it around the pasture will allow them to graze, this will stop them from getting bored but will also aid good digestion which can’t be a bad thing.
Stop boredom while exercising
Be honest, if you're riding lessons are always the same do you find them a bit boring? If you do then think about how your horse may be feeling too. You don't need to completely change what you're doing just do them slightly differently. Even introducing something as simple as irregular pole work can help to keep your horse's brain active and prevent him from getting bored. Irregular pole work is pretty much the same as regular pole work but instead of keeping the gaps the same, they're random, with some of them being raised too. Your horse will have to pay attention and won't be able to just go through the motions, but as an added bonus it'll also help to strengthen his muscles.
You don’t always need to ride to exercise your horse so why not take him for a walk sometimes too? That might sound like a daft suggestion but it’ll give the two of you a chance to bond as well as allow your horse to explore his surroundings. Like most animals, horses use smell as a way of checking out the environment so going for a walk would keep them from being bored. Depending on where you live and where your horse is kept you could even make a day of it, take a picnic for the two of you.
Why not try a new sport? Learning anything new will help to keep your horse stimulated but why not try something like horse agility? Created back in 2009, horse agility is similar to dog agility except the obstacles are horse-sized! You don't even need to travel anywhere or buy any special equipment but your horse will thoroughly enjoy it.
Stop boredom while in stable
Horses are sociable animals and don't like being on their own for too long, but if you keep them occupied while they're stabled then they won't get bored and therefore won't be stressed.
Simple toys such as Bizzy Bites can be great for this but even better than that install a plastic mirror. It's not that horses are vain and like to look at themselves, they actually don't realize they're looking at their reflection. Instead, they think it's another horse so believe they're not alone, they'll try and interact with the 'other' horse which will not only keep them calm but will also stop them from getting bored.
Extra boredom-busting tips
They say you can't teach a new dog old tricks but that certainly isn't the case for horses - so why not teach your horse a new trick, you never know he may even be able to help you around the yard!!
Keep it fun and use your horse's favorite treat as a reward but with time you can have your horse sweeping up around the barn (okay so maybe that's an exaggeration). Think about what it is you'd like your horse to do and then break it down into smaller steps. Just think about when you first taught your horse to lift his hoof on command, you started by running your hand down his leg and gently lifting the hoof yourself and in time were able to just tap his lower leg to get him to raise his hoof. By using this method you can teach him something new, such as picking up a brush. Just don't teach him how to open the stable door otherwise you'll have a tough time keeping him in there!!
My name’s Lucy and since learning to ride at the age of five I’ve not only owned dozens of horses and ponies (and a few donkeys) but I’ve also run a very successful riding school, teaching both English and Western.
I have a real passion for horses and feel that they can add so much richness and joy to our lives which is why created this blog. I wanted to help other people by passing on some of the things I’d learned. I want the site to become a real factbook for new and experienced owners and riders alike.
A special thank you to Lucy for submitting this blog for our audience. If you like what you have read, you can read more at www.horsefactbook.com
