Readers Help Their Horses Battle Boredom in the Stall

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[reza eslahi]

More than 620 readers of TheHorse.com responded to a poll asking, "How do you promote the health (both physical and emotional) of your stall-confined horse?"

Results were as follows:

• A combination of the above: 68.33% (425)
• Balance his/her stall time with turnout and/or exercise as much as possible: 14.79% (92)
• Other (please explain below): 12.22% (76)
• Ensure he/she always has hay to munch: 2.25% (14)
• Ensure a companion is stalled nearby/within sight: 1.93% (12)
• Provide a means of entertainment (stall balls, treat-serving toys, etc.): 0.48% (3)

Readers shared how they help their horses battle boredom in the comments below.
Results of weekly polls from TheHorse.com are published in The Horse Health E-Newsletter. Published every week, this e-newsletter offers news on diseases, veterinary research, health events, and in-depth articles on common equine health conditions and what you can do to recognize, avoid, or treat them. Sign up for our e-newsletters using the form above or on our e-newsletter page.
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• I do not confine my horses in stalls.
• I divide my paddock of 3/4 acre into two sections. During the day I switch them so they move around.
• I don't believe in keeping a horse in a stall unless it
• My horse loves companinonship even more than food. I do give her all of the above also
• I gave up stall life, my horses are a lot happier out doors w/provided Shelter run In's.
• All of the above, hide different feeds to search for, his own Pygmy goat lives in stall with him
• Horse in stalls are like birds in cages.
• Assuming that you really mean "stall confinement", I cut off all grain allow free choice quality hay
• A companion in sight and constant hay.
• constant hay and a companion close by
• my horses are in a pasture 24/7 with other horses
• I don't confine my horses to a stall that is wrong.
• Provide as much turnout as possible in addition to regular controlled exercise
• Owner rides 5 times/ wk. Single turnout next to other horses every day
• hide carrots in stall, hang carrots from ceiling
• 24/7 turnout with companions, daily visits
• Our horses are left outside with run in shelters and are stalled only in the most inclement weather
• I never stall my horses. Therefore, they do not suffer mental or physical problems associated with
• No stall confinement here. Group living with 24 hour access to pastures and shelter.
• I combine the above, but do anything possible to keep them out- only in 3-4 days/year
• All day or all night turnout. Plenty of hay, and toys for the really curious ones
• only stalled @nite in winter/rain in summer
• I avoid stalling horses unless absolutely necessary for medical reasons
• I live in Chicago, so have to board, I pay extra for daily turnout & extra hay, & ride 6 days/week
• The more stuff 2 do the happier the horse!
• Keep it outin alargepaddack asmuch as possible. They'remeant to graze, not stand
• I don't keep my horses in stalls.
• Plus one-on-one time with me daily
• All of the above, just add LOVE
• He stays on 24 hour turn out.
• I love the nibble net to make the hay last longer. Can use an old hockey net. Satisfies horse!
• If confined due to injury, maximize ventilation, provide free-choice hay, window with active view.
• Stall are horrible with mental and emotional health of horses. Therefore, I don't.
• never confine them. treat them like horses
• I stall with attached paddock, keeping horses stalled is unhealthy and cruel
• Take him for a quiet walk if allowed as many times a day as I can manage.
• leave out except in bad weather.
• I only stall my horses in bad weather and in case of recovery from injury or illness.
• I read in The Horse that horses prefer clasical music. So it plays in the barn all the time.
• All of the above.
• You people who have your horses in a stall are nuts! Would you like to be kept in a very small room
• when in a stall my horses have outdoor poddocks so they can go out and socilaize with their herd mat
• at least 10 hours of turnout a day!
• they can go in and out
• All of my horses have pens attached to stalls but still get turnout time
• Horses outside 24/7. When stabled (show, injury) they get toys and tons of hay.
• don't ever stall if can help it
• I have not yet had to confine any of my horses
• ALL OF THE ABOVE WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD CHOICE
• Turn out at least 8 hours a day. While stall bound, lots of hay and companions in sight
• Horses live out as much as possible
• My horses can go in & out of their stalls at will; not confined unless absolutely necessary.
• My horse is not stalled but I do most of these things anyway
• We only horses stall to treat an illness as with laminitis and try to keep then as happy as we can.
• Boarding barns manage turnout & hay the 2 best methods, making it very difficult.
• 24/7 pasture with barn as run in shelter
• My horses are never confined to a stall.
• All of the above and I used this time to teach him tricks
• Don't put them in a stall to begin with. Horses are gregarious grazers. A stall is a jail cell.
• Try to keep them out as much as possible
• we only keep our horses up in bad weather. The enjoy the time up because they are close to each other
• My4 horses are not stall confined,
• try to avoid stall confinement more than during the night
• My boys see each other inside & outside-runouts on stalls. Closed in by dutchdoors only in storms.
• my horse is in the pasture year round with shelter from wind and rain/snow if he wants it
• our horses are on pasture
• My horses are on 24 hour turnout. They don't have vices.
• Stall confinement is inhumane unless necessary for rehab would you live in your coat closet?
• I use stall guards instead of closing the door so she can see whats going on
• my horse is kept in a paddock with a run-in
• All of the above! They are stalled at night, turned out during daylight
• For Winter, each horse has a small turnout. Warm months turnout 12 hrs, stall 12 hrs. Works!
• Don't confine my horses unless vet ordered.
• Pretty much all of those! Enough exercise, hay, friend, etc.
• My horses are kept outside 24/7.
• My TWH is only stalled in bad weather; otherwise in pastured. We just keep her pals stalled nearby!
• Don't have stalls at all just a shed roof in the corrals all 4 horses are together except at feeding
• Out during day in winter with free choice hay/Reverse in summer
• She's turned out by herself, 24/7 but there are horses on both sides
• My horses have in and out stalls.
• We even turn him out in his pasture on horse show days.
• I spend quality time daily interacting w/each horse (3 of them).
• I only confine them for medical reasons. Other than that they are free to wander 24/7.
• Offer optional outdoor time in an individual dry lot behind each stall.
• my 23 yr old horse has never been confined in a stall
• not confined unless bad weather
• 24/7 turn out with run in stalls
• I keep all of the my horses outside 24/7 so they don't get bored.
• She's not stall confined, ever
• My horses are not stalled.
• We don't stall our horses.
• Have loafing sheds, walkout to large paddocks, hay to munch exercise track, 30 mins exercise reg.
• My horse loves to bang plastic jugs around! I tie them in a single strand of twine to avoid tangles
• I kept her on a schedule. She knew exactly after her noon time hay she went for a walk rain or shine
• Free choice hay always and a stable buddy!
• I keep him healthy by letting him be a horse and do horse things as much as I can.
• Horses are meant to walk and graze. Toys, hay, friends, all will help.
• Only time our horses are stalled is due to illness or injury
• I take the horse walking, just like a dog, in my area.
• Turnout is always best, not always logical. Let them get exercise as much as possible
• try not to have any horses confined unless ill
• Let them be a horse, don't stall
• they always have hay in front of them, toys, and turn out daily
• I don't stall any of my horses
• I do not stall my horses.
• Keep him out 24/7 on a forage-based diet with as much stimuation and variety as possible.
• No horse should be jailed in a stall!
• try not to stall a horse unless absolutely neccessary, then try to ensure he has plenty of hay to mu
• Pasture horses only stalled if sick or injured
• Never confine my horses to stalls.
• Mental stimulation via Natural Horsemanship techniques even inside the stall or in a small area
• They are in the barn only for feeding or severe weather
• the use of a slow feeder, barn companion, turnout, and either riding or grooming time.
• horses are out all day
• I don't stall them
• My horses are rarely stalled.
• OUr horses are stalled as little as possible - about an hour a day
• MY HORSE LIVES IN A 50' X 50' PEN AND IS TURNED OUT 12 HRS DAILY ON 2 ACRES.
• I ride 2/3 of my horse all winter and feed 4x daily. (very tiring!)
• I do not confine my horses to stalls
• I do on-the ground clicker training, simple tricks, fun for both of us.
• Horses are stalled ONLY if seriously injured.
• I don't stall the horse. They are healthier and saner where they can move.
• Pasture turnout 24/7 like nature intended
• I allow my mare as much turn out time as possible, as she's always content in the field!
• All our horses live out. But water can be a problem
• All of the above with multiple hand walk/grazing/grooming sessions.
• Mine not confined to a stall.Only in one if not well.They have access to them 24/7 at their will.
• We hand-walk and turn out in paddocks close to the barn. Air out barn as much as possible.
• 100% turnout - not in stalls
• lots of hay, bran mash on cold nights, turn out i fpossible but hand walking or round pen lunging, i
• all of the above.
• Mine are in pasture 24/7
• Our horse had 2 Jolly Balls, constant feeding, and hand grazing time when he was on stall rest