Boredom Busters for Stabled Horses: How to Keep Your Horse Happy in the Stable this Winter

The UK has experienced particularly wet winters in recent years, making turnout for horses more difficult. When daily turnout isn't possible, due to inclement weather or the need for box rest after an injury, keeping your horse entertained and content can be challenging. In these situations, providing sufficient mental and physical enrichment becomes essential to keep stabled horses happy and healthy, especially during the winter months. Here’s a guide to the best toys, treats, and activities to prevent boredom in the stable and keep your horse entertained this winter.

Keeping Stabled Horses Happy

While some horses are content in a warm stable rug with a large hay net, others may become agitated, and extended time in the stable can negatively affect their mental and physical well-being. This restlessness can lead to issues like stress-related injuries or even gastric ulcers caused by frustration and anxiety. To prevent boredom, offer your horse enriching toys, feeding accessories, and activities that mimic their natural behaviours.

Stable Toys, Treats & Feeding Accessories for Horses

We’ve put together a handy list of products that will make stabling your horse more enjoyable and less stressful for you both:

LeMieux Horse Toys:Cute & Fun for Playful Horses

LeMieux Horse Toys are designed to bring out your horse’s playful side while keeping them entertained. Made from durable materials, these toys are perfect for tugging, pulling, and biting, ensuring long-lasting fun. Whether your horse loves to play solo or interact with you, these adorable and sturdy toys will provide hours of enjoyment and seeing your horse play with them is sure to bring a smile to your face.

Likit Treats & Toys: A Fun and Delicious Horse

Treat Likit has been a trusted brand in the horse community for over 20 years, offering tasty treats and engaging toys that provide hours of entertainment for your horse. Their Likit licks and fun toy holders are designed to keep horses occupied and satisfied. However, it’s important to note that Likit Treats are high in sugar, so usage should be monitored, especially for horses with laminitis or insulin-related conditions like Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS).

Jolly Ball: The Ultimate Durable Horse Toy

The Jolly Ball is a versatile, durable toy designed to keep your horse entertained for hours. Perfect for biting, tossing, and flinging, this ball is tough enough to withstand rough play without deflating, as it doesn’t require air to inflate. For smaller horses, such as foals and miniature breeds, the Jolly Pets Dual Jolly Ball is an ideal choice. Larger horses will enjoy the bigger Jolly Ball Toys for more interactive fun. As with any horse toy, it’s important to use it under supervision to prevent potential injury.

Red Gorilla Dripfeed Treat Ball: An Excellent Aid to Relieve Boredom

The Red Gorilla Ball Feeder is a must-have toy for many horse owners. Simply fill the ball with your horse’s favourite treats and place it on the stable floor. As your horse kicks and nudges the ball, treats are gradually released, promoting a slower eating pattern and rewarding their efforts with a tasty snack. This feeder is an excellent choice for horses with specific dietary needs, as you can control both the type and quantity of treats placed inside.

Silvermoor Swingers: The Healthy Horse Treat

This forage block is suspended on a string in your horse’s stable and provides hours of entertaining feeding. Made entirely from natural ingredients and with no added sugar, the Silvermoor Swingers treats are perfect for laminitics, good doers, insulin resistant horses and EMS sufferers. This is also a great to prevent gastric ulcers because it promotes saliva which buffers stomach acids.

Bizzy Bites : A Long-Lasting Horse Treat

Which flavour will your horse love? Available in apple, garlic, mint or original, the Bizzy Bites horse lick is an ideal choice for horses that are food orientated. This delicious treat can be hung via a string, placed on the floor or wall mounted to keep your equine friend occupied for hours. This is an excellent treat to reduce stable vices and boredom and prevent stress. Bizzy Bites do have a high sugar content, so be sure to consider your horse’s dietary needs before use.

ProStable Hay Balls: A Fun Slow-Feeder for Horses

The hayball is an excellent slow feeder for hay that will keep your horse moving whilst in the stable. The ball is left on the floor of the stable encouraging a natural grazing position, promoting healthier digestion compared to traditional hay nets. This feeder not only supports better digestion but also helps reduce boredom by keep your horse busy.

Make Your Horse’s Hay Last Longer with the Equilibrium Portion Pacer Hay Net

If your horse is a bit of a greedy guts and eats their hay too fast, this could be the net for you! The Equilibrium Portion Pacer Hay Net is designed to help extend your horse's hay consumption time, perfect for managing forage intake during long periods in the stable. Available in two versions: Slow Feeder (small holes) and Steady Feeder (larger holes), both support natural grazing behaviours by encouraging horses to eat slowly, little and often. This trickle-feeding approach not only helps prevent your horse from consuming hay too quickly but also promotes healthy weight management. By mimicking natural feeding patterns, the Equilibrium Portion Pacer ensures your horse’s hay lasts longer, reducing boredom and promoting better digestion.

Winter Activities to Keep Your Horse Happy

If you know your horse will spend more time stabled during the winter, it’s vital to dedicate extra time to keeping them mentally and physically stimulated. Here are some boredom-busting activities to try with your horse during the colder months:

1. Lunging, Long-Reining, and In-Hand Work:Keep your horse fit and focused with groundwork exercises like lunging and long-reining. These activities help burn energy and maintain fitness while stimulating their mind.
2. Grooming Bond with your horse through grooming sessions: Not only does this enhance your connection, but it also offers them a relaxing massage all while keeping them clean and comfortable.
3. Hacking: Don’t be a fair-weather rider, take your horse on a winter hack to stretch their legs and explore new surroundings. This can be mentally stimulating and a refreshing change of scenery for your horse.
4. Turnout with Other Horses: When possible, turn your horse out with other horses to allow social interaction and movement. Even brief turnout sessions can significantly improve their mood.
5. Plan an Outing: If your local ground conditions are poor, consider hiring an all-weather arena or gallops. This allows your horse to move freely without worrying about dangerous ground.
6. Liberty Work and Learning Tricks: Who says an old horse can’t learn new tricks. Engage your horse’s mind with liberty work and teaching tricks. Horses love learning new skills, and this kind of activity can be both fun and rewarding for both of you.
7. Spending Time Together: Simply spending time with your horse in the stable or on the yard can be enriching. This quiet time helps build trust and offers your horse company during their time indoors.

Helping Horses & Their Owners Stay Happy This Winter

Stabling your horse for extended periods doesn't have to be a stressful experience for either of you. By providing enriching toys, activities, and plenty of time together, you can keep your horse happy, even when they’re stuck inside. Remember to plan ahead for the winter months and explore creative ways to keep your horse occupied in the stable.

Alongside keeping your horse entertained in the stable, it’s important to tackle challenges like waterproofing turnout rugs, preventing mud fever, and maintaining field conditions. And if they are staying in, don’t forget your stall chain or stable guard - a handy accessory that can make going in and out of the stable easier for you while providing an extra barrier for sneaky horses that may try to escape.

We offer everything a horse owner needs to survive the winter months and keep their equine companion happy and healthy. Discover winter stable rugs and horse care products at Country & Stable - your go-to online tack shop.