Horse Toy

Ideally, you should increase leisure outings. The horse needs large spaces and nature. If he goes from the arena to his stall without a walk, he doesn't have the opportunity to change pace or discover new horizons. If you don't have the time, allow him to go to the paddock to join his peers to combat boredom.

In his stall, a horse toy is a good remedy for the solitude of boredom. A ball hung at muzzle height is enough to entertain the horse. A hay ball amuses and occupies him for a long time. So engrossed by his activity and the necessity to eat, he no longer sees the time passing.

Offering a horse treat seems the simplest way to motivate him to exercise. But there are several ways to stimulate him. Your presence enriches his daily life. Your company allows him to experience moments of sharing during which he forgets the confinement of his stall. You can pet him and talk to him softly, brush him or simply go about your tasks nearby. But he also needs to gallop freely and graze fresh grass without any objective to fulfill. The paddock is the ideal place to let off steam and reconnect with his instincts as a horse when you're not available.

When you have some time on your hands, go for a walk with him in the forest. This new environment will awaken his senses and stimulate his desire to travel a long distance. To enhance the effects of this experience, you can dismount and let him taste the wild vegetation as a break. When he has to stay alone in his stall, hiding treats in the hay creates a surprise. A horse toy attached to the wall also contributes to his sensory awakening.

Have you ever tried making him a necklace of apples to crunch? Simple to make, it only requires coring the fruits and threading a rope inside, as if you were stringing beads. Once hung up, the homemade toy is quickly devoured!

But you can easily create a more durable horse toy yourself. Simply gather a ball about 25 cm in diameter, a vegetable net, and a sturdy rope.

Once the ball is placed inside the net, close the bundle with the rope and hang the toy at head level, against the stall wall. Your horse will enjoy moving it with small nudges and following its movements with amusement.

If you want to spice up the game with treats to catch, you can wedge hay or carrots between the ball and the netting. However, ensure the materials' resistance as the horse might chew the net's mesh. If you need to leave him unattended, prefer a hay ball for horses designed to withstand the usage conditions.