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By keeping
our horses in stables we are really changing
things. Not only do we remove the natural
eating cycle but also stop any movement.
This can have a two-fold effect. We have to
work even harder to reproduce the grazing
pattern and also be mindful that because the
horse is stood all day, circulatory problems
as well as digestive problems can manifest -
stiffness, filling legs, colic.
As the stabled horse has
more time on his hooves, he needs to be kept
mentally occupied otherwise stable vices may
develop. So think about where your stable is
sited – what does your horse look at all
day? If you were confined to a single room
how would you feel – would you like a light,
airy environment? How would you keep
yourself occupied – what mischief could you
get up to?
So how can we keep our
stabled horse a happy horse?
1
| Re-create as
natural an eating cycle as possible
– little and often – we've all heard
that one so listen and act upon it.
This is not just common sense but
also important because of the
make-up of the horse’s digestive
system.
It is preferable
to feed hay off the floor but this
is not always feasible if your horse
is a bit wasteful or, regarding his
hard feed, knocks his bucket over.
Hayracks are preferable to hay nets
(set at an appropriate height) as
they eliminate the danger of hooves
becoming caught in them.
Signs of chewing
around the stable are not always due
to boredom. The horse has an
in-built desire to chew so make sure
the he is fed plenty of bulk to
satisfy the urge. If you have to
restrict bulk because of the
waistline, feed from racks with
smaller holes to slow down the
intake or arrange to feed in smaller
quantities throughout the day (back
to "little and often" again).
2
|
Think about
the stable itself – its site, size,
etc. The atmosphere – fresh and airy
or dark and stuffy. A
well-ventilated stable is not only
healthier but also far more
pleasant. A stable sited "round the
back, behind the wall" etc. is no
fun for your horse either; that’s
like you being in a room with no
windows. Imagine being in Alcatraz
24/7!
3
| Again
companionship is important. Ok, so
they can't physically socialise
together but at least they can
communicate visually, vocally and
telepathically.
4
|
As with
the grass-kept horse, make sure
there are as few a things as
possible to injure himself on such
as protruding catches and sharp
edges. Remember – horses just love
to rub.
5
|
If your horses has rugs on, check
the fit; an uncomfortable horse may
start rug tearing or worse, he may
get sore patches.
(At this point we recommend "Bossy’s
Bibs" – see "links" on our web site)
6
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Even though you horse is exercised
regularly or may have some turn-out
time, he still spends a lot of time
confined. Horses need sensory
stimulation and have a tendency to
create their own amusement! There
are all sorts of horse toys on the
market to help occupy an active
mind. Some horses like to make a
noise which, although annoying to
us, is marvellous fun for them. Rack
chains satisfy the urge!
Feed licks are a
good way of alleviating boredom but
be mindful that your horse does not
overdose on them (we have yet to
find a horse that keeps a "Horslyx"
for 6 weeks, they are just so
good!!)
**
* * * * * *
REMEMBER:- "RAGWORT: Keep
vigilant, remove any you find growing in
your paddocks – it is a killer.
* * * * * *
This series will cover
all aspects of equine management and
training but is only intended to provide a
guideline and is not to be construed as a
substitute to seeking professional advice
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